Legislation coming into force will permit wills to be executed and witnessed using video-link facilities. Whilst the legislation is not yet in force, it is anticipated that it will have retrospective effect, meaning that wills executed using video-conferencing since 21 January 2020 will be valid if the correct process was followed. Read more...

The By Lawyers Criminal Offences app now includes new offences created by the Public Order Act 2023. Read more...

We are very pleased to announce the release of the Short Residential Tenancies guide to complement our many comprehensive Conveyancing and Property guides. This guide covers all aspects of practice and procedure when preparing, managing and ending a short residential tenancy. The commentary is practical and easy to understand and is supported by numerous helpful precedents. Key content includes: Commentary on the types of short-term residential tenancies; Guidance on creating short-term residential tenancies; Tenancy agreements to suit various situations; An inventory and inspection report to assist with managing a tenancy; and Notices to end a tenancy. The Short Residential Tenancies guide is an invaluable resource for all practitioners who wish to prepare, manage and end a short residential tenancy. We invite you to explore the new guide. Comments and feedback are always welcomed.

A new article about avoiding disputes after the death of a loved one has been published. Read more...

We are pleased to announce that a new Estates Disputes publication has been published. Comprising two guides, Estate disputes – Acting for the claimant and Estate disputes – Acting for the defendant, the publication contains all the commentary, precedents, and forms needed. Read more...

A chapter has been added to the Powers of Attorney and Advance Decisions guide which deals with applications to the Court of Protection for deputyship orders. Commentary has been included on capacity issues, the application process and the role of a deputy. The matter plan includes all the necessary letters and forms to obtain an order, including those required for notifying the person involved and third parties. The Retainer Instructions and To Do List for these specific matters will ensure that thorough instructions are taken and the required timescales are met. We invite you to explore this updated publication. Comments and feedback are always welcomed.

As users will be aware, this folder of vital precedents is present in every guide and always located in the ‘Getting the matter underway’ folder. There has now been a full review of the accompanying commentary, with guidance added around privity, ‘force majeure’ clauses and electronic execution. The precedent documents have been reviewed and updated to ensure that each one is uniformly formatted and easy to read, use, amend and customise to a particular client and situation. A new standard clause excluding the rights of third parties has been included in the Standard clauses for deeds and agreements folder and a standard statutory declaration of solvency is now available in the Statements and declarations folder of the matter plan. General precedents for an affidavit and exhibits prepared outside court proceedings are also now included in this folder, as well as gathering together the general civil and family matter witness statement precedents that are already included in other publications. New deeds for change of name have been added in a folder of their own, Change of name, with subfolders to assist in the event that adults or minors wish to enrol their change of name deeds at the Supreme Court. The full list of new precedents is therefore: Third parties clause; Affidavit – General; Exhibit sheet for affidavits – General; Witness statement – Family matters; Exhibit sheet to witness statement – Family matters; Witness statement – Civil matters; Exhibit sheet to witness statement – Civil matters; Statutory declaration of solvency; Change of name deed for an adult – Concise; Change of name deed for a minor – Concise; Change of name deed for an adult - For enrolment; Statutory declaration – Enrolment of adult change of name deed; Notice for the London Gazette on the change of name of an adult; Consent to enrolment of change of name of an adult; Change of name deed for a minor – For enrolment; Statutory declaration – Enrolment of minor change of name deed; Affidavit of best interest for the change of name of a minor; Consent to enrolment of change of name of a minor. We invite you to explore this updated publication. Comments and feedback are always welcomed.

Dealing with coronavirus legal issues is currently a major challenge for legal practitioners everywhere. A great deal of emergency legislation has been passed already in response to the pandemic, both temporary and permanent. Temporary arrangements are daily being introduced by courts, the land registry and other authorities to allow business to be transacted despite the need for social distancing. There are also practical measures that can and must be taken to allow practitioners to continue to provide their services and assist their clients. By Lawyers have produced a publication which brings together in one place a collection of practical information to help the profession at this time. Dealing with coronavirus legal issues is a valuable resource for practitioners. It is available now by clicking on the link at the top of the matter plan in every By Lawyers Guide. The Dealing with coronavirus legal issues publication will be updated and enhanced as the response to the pandemic develops. As always, By Lawyers will keep practitioners abreast of ongoing changes and provide our trademark practical assistance to guide the profession in these difficult times.

Will commonhold become the cool kid on the block? Read more...

The Court of Appeal decision reminds judges to consider the sentencing guidelines for minors.

While the Autumn budget delivered this week by the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, was arguably a step forward for feminism, it was more notable for the significant changes to tax. Read more…

Legislation has now come into force that changes tenancies in Wales. Read more...

Following a subscriber request, we have published a new Scope of work – Deferred payment scheme. Read more…

By Lawyers has a new publication: Companies. With a comprehensive commentary and precedents, the companies publication deals with not only the incorporation of a new company, but also the ongoing running of a company and the hiccups that can occur along the way. The commentary discusses many issues such as: Appointing company officers; Articles of association; Shareholders agreements; Meetings, resolutions and records; Transfer of shares; and Tax. The matter plan provides the many essential everyday precedents as well as the more complex including: Two shareholders agreements, one concise and one extensive; Share certificate; Two agreements for sale of shares: one concise and one extensive; Deed of trust for purchase of shares by a trustee; Library of option precedents; and All of the necessary consents, minutes and resolutions. The new Company publication is available through the Legal Guides tab on the Forms & Precedents button in the LEAP matter.

The Individual Insolvency guide is now live. The guide provides commentary to take a practitioner through the practical steps involved in advising on individual debt alternatives, including debt respite schemes, individual voluntary arrangements and bankruptcy. Read more...