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I am regulated by The Solicitors' Regulation Authority and can assist you in the following areas:
I can assist you with the sale and purchase of
residential property in England and Wales. All
the work involved is done by me personally and
is not delegated. You will have the benefit
of my 23 years experience in conveyancing and
property law. I act as your independent advisor
and attract many new clients through personal
recommendations. I do not pay for the introduction
of clients and will never do so.
I advise you on all legal aspects of the house-buying
process including:
| • | I can prepare your HIP before you market your property |
| • | The advantage of instructing me to prepare your HIP and not a non-legal HIP company is that your buyer can legally rely on the contents of a HIP provided by me |
| • | Non-legal providers have no knowledge of your property which could lead to inaccurate information that could be challenged legally by the buyer at a later stage. Therefore is it safe to rely on the HIP that they provide? |
| • | I can advise you on the completion of all HIP pack forms including the Property Information Questionnaire |
| • | The nature of joint tenancies and tenancies in common |
| • | The nature of property searches and their limitations |
| • | What particular concerns you may have such as the existence of a right of way |
| • | The enforceability of otherwise of restrictive covenants |
| • | The nature of a seller's duty of full and frank disclosure of past events when selling a property and the effect of concealing or misrepresenting material facts |
| • | The onerous duty on purchasers to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax |
| • | The dangers of underdeclaring the true property value |
| • | The advantages of making a will when purchasing property |
| • | Advice on the desirability of a deed of trust to reflect unequal contributions to the purchase price of a property |
| • | I provide purchaser clients with a full detailed written report on title detailing in depth the results of my searches and enquiries into the property being purchased together with copies of property searches undertaken and my advice whether it is reasonable to purchase the property |
I advise you on all non-legal aspects of the house-buying process including
| • | The merits of different types of survey and their likely costs |
| • | What type of surveyor to commission to carry out the report |
| • | Why some standard surveys are not worth their exorbitant cost and tell the buyer next to nothing |
| • | The importance of dealing directly with the person from whom you are buying or selling |
| • | Once you have agreed to purchase a property but problems arise the advantages of not conducting further negotiations through estate agents |
| • | Acting for tenants acquiring a new lease |
| • | Acting for tenants assigning an existing lease |
| • | Acting for landlords on the grant of a new lease |
| • | Acting for tenants acquiring an existing lease |
| • | Termination of Leases and surrenders of leases |
| • | Is it likely to take hold? |
| • | Are there any real advantages over the current leasehold system |
| • | Is it cheaper and more efficient to operate by leaseholders owning the freehold through their management company and each having 999 year leases |
| • | Shorthold tenancies prepared |
| • | The rights and obligations of landlords and tenants under shorthold tenancies explained |
| • | Deeds of trust |
| • | Advice on contracts and their termination and consequences of breach of contract |
| • | Debt collection |
| • | Consumer rights |
| • | Deeds of Easement |
| • | Deeds of Variation |
| • | Deeds of Change of Name |
| • | Taking declarations and oaths |
| • | Drafting declarations and affidavits |
These can no longer be made. But in respect of an Enduring Power of Attorney executed before 31/10/08 I will provide:
| • | Advice on restrictions on the attorney's powers |
| • | Advice on their drawbacks and the scope for abuse by the attorney |
| • | Advice for attorneys on the duty to register an Enduring Power of Attorney when the donor becomes mentally incapacitated |
| • | Advice on the attorney's duties when an Enduring Power of Attorney is registered and the powers of the Court of Protection to supervise the attorneys actions |
| • | Advice and assistance for preparation of a Lasting Power of Attorney in relation to property and affairs. |
| • | Advice and assistance for preparation of a Lasting Power of Attorney in relation to personal welfare. |
| • | These are complex documents to prepare and the process is time consuming. I will guide you through the various steps that have to be taken to ensure the power is validly executed. |
| • | Dealing with registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney at the Office of the Public Guardian in London. |
| • | Advice for attorneys on the principles which they must have regard to governing their use of Lasting Powers of Attorney on behalf of the donor. |
| • | The dangers of granting a Lasting Power of Attorney in relation to personal welfare explained and why a living will may be the better option when dealing with health matters. |
| • | When can a receiver be appointed? |
| • | When must a receiver be appointed? |
| • | The role of the receiver |
| • | The role of the Court of Protection |
| • | The advantages of having a will |
| • | The necessity for a personal will preparation service |
| • | Internet wills are dangerous and likely to lead to litigation since the testator's mental capacity can only be judged by a professional during a personal interview. |
| • | Home or hospital visits arranged |
| • | Advice on the ability of the testator to make a valid will |
| • | The necessity of interviewing the testator on his or her own |
| • | How can wills be challenged |
| • | What is undue influence? |
| • | What are the limits to the freedom of testamentary capacity. What obligations must a testator have regard to when making a will. |
| • | Does the will deal with any foreign property? If not should it? Has a foreign will already been made in respect of a foreign property. The dangers of 2 wills in different jurisdictions. |
| • | An English will for Spain and France: the law explained |
| • | Advice on Inheritance Tax |
| • | How best to mitigate the effects of Inheritance Tax |
| • | Discretionary wills trusts explained |
| • | How a discretionary will trust for a married couple can still save Inheritance Tax |
| • | Advice on the transfer of deceased spouse's or civil partner's nil rate band Inheritance Tax allowance on the death of the second spouse or civil partner |
| • | Living Wills are also called Advanced Directives |
| • | Their nature and effect |
| • | Are they legally binding? |
| • | Can they be revoked? |
| • | Obtaining probate or where there is no will letters of administration |
| • | Advice for personal representative clients |
| • | The rights and duties of an executor |
| • | The advantage (still) of a deed of variation to save Inheritance Tax |
| • | Administration and winding up of estates for executor and administrator clients |
| • | Help with property situated in France and Spain |
| • | Advice on the dangers inherent in extending to attorneys, deputies and parties claiming to know the wishes of the patient, the power to order dehydration and withdrawal of simple cures (such as insulin and antibiotics) and by placing in the hands of bureaucrats the power of non-voluntary abortion and sterilisation |
| • | How the Mental Capacity Act 2005 gravely endangers the mentally incapacitated |
16 Priory Gardens, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2DS England
Tel: +44 (0) 1442 862 475 Email: paul.williamson@lineone.net
Regulated by The Solicitors' Regulation Authority
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