Court Fees Increase From 22nd April 2014

2014 No. 874 (L. 17) 1. This explanatory memorandum has been prepared by the Ministry of Justice and is laid before Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. This memorandum contains information for the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. 2. Purpose of the instrument 2.1 This instrument changes existing fees in the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008. The fee changes are being brought as part of a wider review of fees across the civil court system to ensure that the income they generate more closely matches the costof the service being provided. The instrument changes the wording for some fees to reflect changes resulting from the creation of the single County Court on 22 April 2014. 3. Matters of special interest to the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments 3.1 References in the Order to "a county court" or "county courts…

Make A Will And Dying Matters Awareness Week (18-25 May 2015)

Every year St. Leonard's Hospice joins forces with the national organisation 'Dying Matters' to encourage people to be more open about death, dying and bereavement. Make a Will and letting your family and friends know your wishes are vital, and it can be a lot more affordable and straightforward than you think. This year, St. Leonard's Hospice are offering you the opportunity to have a Will written, in exchange for a donation to the Hospice. St. Leonard's Hospice are very grateful to the participating solicitors who are giving their time, free of charge, to write basic Wills in exchange for a suggested donation to St. Leonard's Hospice. To take part, simply contact Ware & Kay. Arrange an appointment Please do this within a month of the campaign launch.  Numbers are limited, so please book early…

Key Changes In Employment Law

Some significant changes to employment law started in April this year, mainly in the area of family leave.  The headline news is the introduction of shared parental leave but various other changes will also take effect. Gillian Reid our Head of Employment at Ware & Kay, looks at the main changes and what you need to do as a result. Shared parental leave A flexible system of shared parental leave and pay will be available where the expected week of childbirth started on or after 5 April 2015.  The mother must still take the first two weeks off after the birth but the rest of her leave and pay can then be shared between the parents, either in turns or at the same time.  This means that up to 50 weeks' leave and 37 weeks…

Boundary Disputes Where Do You Draw The Line

"To hear the words 'a boundary dispute' is to fill a judge, even of the most stalwart and amiable disposition, with a deep foreboding since disputes with neighbours tend always to compel… some unreasonable and extravagant display of unneighbourly behaviour which profits no one but the lawyers" A little cynical, perhaps; but that was Lord Justice Ward's view in the leading case of Alan Wibberley Building v Insley (1998), who rightfully observes, that whilst every dispute has the potential to become personal to the parties involved - the parties become entrenched and it becomes a "matter of principle" - that is even more so, when the parties are engaged in a boundary dispute. Often, the land subject to the dispute has little or no substantial monetary value; but it may have a real non-money value…

Martin House Make A Will During May

Leave your legacy to help us continue ours... Martin House Children's Hospice is launching their third Make a Will Month, working with local solicitors Ware & Kay. During the month of May, you can make or update a Will with Ware & Kay for a reduced fee of £60 for a single simple Will and £110 for a pair. In the York area alone Martin House currently supports over 65 families. To these families with children with a shortened life expectancy the hospice, based in Clifford near Wetherby, provides support and practical help when it really matters. "Legacies make up more than a quarter of our entire voluntary income, meaning the cost of caring for one in four of our children is covered by gifts left in Wills" explains Alyson Wort from Martin House. "There…

Court Fees On The Rise

Court fees are set to increase with effect from 9 March 2015, the necessary legislation having passed through the House of Lords this week. For claims under £10,000, fees to issue the claim will not increase. For claims above £10,000, the fee to issue the claim will increase to 5% of the value of the claim, for example £750 to issue a claim for £15,000 (as opposed to £455 now) or £2,500 to issue a claim for £50,000 (as against £610 now). The maximum issue fee for a money claim will be capped at £10,000 (for claims of £200,000 or above). The current maximum issue fee is £1,910, so, not surprisingly, the increases are controversial, and seen as having potential implications for access to justice. Money claims include both debts and claims for damages (for…

Family Solicitor Jonathan Leach Retires After Over 33 Years

A York, Wetherby & Malton firm of Solicitors says 'farewell' to one of its long-serving Solicitors after over 33 years with the firm. Ware & Kay held a celebratory evening at Merchant Taylors Hall, Aldwalk, York in honor of retiring Family Solicitor, Jonathan Leach with family, friends, colleagues, clients and former clients on Wednesday 28th January. Jonathan has built up a long and distinguished reputation as one of the leading Family Lawyers in Yorkshire and was instrumental in setting up the Mediation Department for which he has a particular expertise. Jonathan was educated at Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley and Liverpool University. Following several years of study and training in Leeds he moved to York in January 1982 which led to him becoming Managing Partner, before taking up the role of Consultant and Head of…

Outstanding Solicitor Retires After 33 Years

A York law firm is bidding farewell to a family solicitor who has served more than 33 years with the business. A celebratory event is being held next week at Merchant Taylors Hall, in Aldwark, to mark the retirement of Jonathan Leach from Ware & Kay Solicitors. Having served at the firm's York, Wetherby & Malton offices, Mr Leach played a key role in setting up Ware & Kay's mediation department. Mr Leach also serves as a part-time deputy district judge of York, and is acting senior coroner, with both roles set to continue following his retirement. He is also a member of and an assessor for the Law Society Family Law Panel and assistant coroner for West Yorkshire Eastern District. Mr Leach said "It has been a privilege and a pleasure to work at…

Ware & Kay Goes From Strength To Strength

At Ware & Kay Solicitors, we have never been known to stand still. We are already planning our next steps to grow as a firm to continue to deliver the best legal services across Yorkshire and beyond. Ware & Kay consolidated a 12 month period of rapid growth following the merger with Sykes Lee & Brydson in 2013. We recorded revenue equating to more than 25 per cent growth in 2013/14 compared to the previous 12 months and are expecting it to grow 12 per cent on those figures for 2014/2015. We also had a busy year with the firm increasing our headcount by more than 25 per cent, bringing the total number of staff to 76 across our offices in York, Wetherby & Malton .  Our modern, stable-block offices in Wetherby town centre have…

Up To Speed With The New Rules For Combating Long Term Sickness Absence

Employers will be glad to hear of the government's new scheme to reduce long-term sickness absence in the workplace. In October 2014, a new Health and Work Service was introduced to help employees who are off sick for four weeks or more return to work. Managing sickness absence can be time-consuming and costly for many employers. The government has reported that almost a million (960,000) employees were on sick leave for a month or more each year on average between September 2010 and October 2013. The new Health and Work Service could cut sick pay costs to businesses by up to £165 million a year, as well as increase economic output by up to £900 million a year, through reducing absence levels between 20 to 40 per cent. The service will carry out a state-funded…