To complement the new ‘Your Finances’ app for gathering financial information from clients, two new letters have been added to the Financial Remedy guide. The first, Letter to client instructed to commence proceedings with financial remedy – Form E shared via LawConnect, contains step-by-step instructions for using LawConnect which clients can follow. The second, Letter to client with financial statement for signing – eSignature, contains guidance for clients on signing the Financial Statement using DocuSign. We invite you to explore these new letters. Comments and feedback are always welcomed.

In accordance with the recent approval of a new Practice Direction 57AC promoting and enforcing best practice during the preparation of witness statements, the general precedent Witness Statement – Civil matters has been amended to include the new required wording. This can be found in the C. Blank Deeds, Agreements, Statements, Declarations, Consents & Execution Clauses folder which is on every matter plan. The wording is required in all witness statements which are signed on or after 6 April 2021 and are for trials in the Business and Property Courts. We are including the changes now so that practitioners are able to plan ahead and prepare their witnesses accordingly. Comments and feedback are always welcomed.

The Commercial Lease guide has been enhanced with points to note from the recent case of Sara & Hossein Asset Holdings Ltd v Blacks Outdoor Retail Ltd [2020] EWHC 1263 (Ch) regarding service charge certificates.

The Estates commentary has been updated to reflect operational changes brought in by HM Revenue & Customs and the Probate Registry. HM Revenue & Customs will no longer print and stamp the inheritance tax Probate Summary, form IHT421, and return it to customers. Instead, they will email the IHT421 directly to the HM Courts & Tribunals Service. They will let the agent or taxpayer know when they have done this either by writing, or by adding a note to the IHT calculation. HM Revenue & Customs will no longer be accepting cheque payments for IHT, or making IHT repayments by cheque. They have started to update various IHT forms to include space to add bank details. To date, the provision to add bank details has been added to the Claim for Relief – Loss on Sale of Shares, form IHT35, and Inheritance Tax Account, form IHT100. Practitioners should make sure that they are using the latest versions of all forms. Probate applications should be sent to the Oxford and Newcastle district registries only, and not Cardiff or Harlow. The Estates commentary provides practical guidance for all those running probate files.

In response to the criticism levelled at the profession for failing to adequately advise buyers of the distinction between freehold and leasehold titles to residential property, By Lawyers have produced a brief appreciation that can be sent to clients with their initial letter. You will find the precedent ‘Enclosure - A short explanation of the important distinction between freehold title and leasehold title’ on the purchase matter plan.

In response to a subscriber request, By Lawyers have published a New Build Contract for Sale. We would welcome any feedback subscribers might have.

Two new precedents have been incorporated into the expansive Sale and Purchase of Business publication. Read more...

The Domestic Violence Orders publication has been expanded to include additional information about Legal Aid funding, some new precedent letters, and ready access to the Legal Aid Agency forms. Read more...

We have created a policy for firms to use within their staff handbooks which promotes the responsible use of AI in law firms, and requires staff to verify the output before use. Read more...

Following user feedback, we have included new sections on contact with children in local authority care, placement orders and their revocation, and adoption orders. Read more...

The Family Procedure Rules have been amended to encourage the use of non-court dispute resolution before cases reach court. Read more…

The By Lawyers Criminal Offences app now includes new sentencing guidelines for Perverting the Course of Justice and updated sentencing guidelines for Witness Intimidation. The guidelines are effective from 1 October 2023. Read more...

The accelerated first appointment procedure enables clients to reduce costs and skip straight to a financial dispute resolution hearing if an agreement has been reached. Read more...

The Purchase of land guide now includes new precedents and commentary. Read more..

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 heralds the biggest change to divorce law for decades and a new guide tailored to fit the new process has been published. The commentary and matter plan both guide practitioners through the new process, and new letters reflect the updated terminology.