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New rules will be added to the UK’s Highway Code on Saturday 29th January 2022. The changes, including 49 amendments to existing rules, will depend on a final green light from parliament. The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will update the code and the new rules...
Inheritance Tax is simply a tax on the estate of someone who has died. An estate includes someone’s money, personal possessions, property and any other assets such as shares, cryptocurrency and vehicles. The standard Inheritance Tax rate is currently 40%, which is charged on...
Birchall Blackburn Law took home not one but two trophies at the LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards last week. Our conveyancing team won Conveyancing Firm of the Year – North of England and National Conveyancing Firm of the Year. We’re incredibly proud of our team, as they...
Property prices coming to the market have dropped by an average of £2,044 or 0.6%, according to the latest data from Rightmove’s House Price Index. Buyer demand is still high – the average time it took to secure a buyer for a property was 36 days in October this year,...
Choosing the right conveyancing solicitors in Manchester doesn’t have to be a stressful ordeal. However, it can be difficult to know where to start when finding the right solicitor for your needs. We bring you some of our most effective tips on finding the best conveyancing...
Photo credit: Ben Wicks, Unsplash. No matter how old your children are, it’s always a good idea to keep their knowledge fresh. Whether they’ve just started nursery or they’re in their last year of school, there’s always something about road safety you can teach your kids wh...
Two weeks after the clocks go back, there are around 278 more road traffic collisions than in the two weeks before. That amounts to around 20 more incidents per day¹ – a figure that can be reduced if we take the right safety measures. Why do the clocks go back? At 2am...
Our Serious Injury Solicitor, Rob Jones, explains how smart motorways came about, how to stay safe on smart motorways and what happens if someone has a collision… Smart motorways were first trialled in the UK in 2006. There are now approximately 500 miles of smart moto...
In the last decade hospital admissions for dog attacks rose by 76%, according to figures released by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. RSPCA figures show that 37 people have been killed by dogs between 1991 and 2016, 28 of which were attacked by dogs that ar...
The current fuel crisis due to panic buying and HGV driver shortages may affect law practitioners’ ability to attend court and visit clients in person, according to the Law Society. Some law firms, including Birchall Blackburn Law, will use carpools or public transport wher...
True or False: “100% of your estate automatically goes to your spouse if you die” The average married couple seems to share everything – but if one of you were to die without a will, do you think your estate would automatically pass to the other? Common misunderstandings abo...
An estimated 64% of weddings were cancelled or postponed last year due to coronavirus. But we’re very likely to see a big increase in the number of weddings taking place this year. As you’ll already know, getting married comes with a fair amount of admin. For example,...
Put simply, conveyancing is the act of transferring property from one person to another. It’s essentially the legal ‘legwork’ involved in homeownership; starting when an offer on the property is accepted and ending when the new owner receives the keys to their new home. It m...
Inevitably, some drivers will be careless and collisions are therefore an unfortunate fact of life. Pedestrians are amongst the most vulnerable of all road users and the injuries they suffer are usually life changing and often fatal. Unlike the driver, the pedestrian will no...
Although prenuptial agreements may sound like an unromantic topic to talk about, they are arguably the best way to ensure there is as little conflict as possible over property and financial assets should your marriage come to an end. What is a prenuptial agreement? Prenuptia...
From time to time we all hear news headlines about a claimant being awarded hundreds of thousands and, occasionally, millions of pounds in compensation. Sometimes those stories involve fantastically large sums paid to celebrities after media intrusion – but on other oc...
Social media usage is growing by the day, and so is it’s impact on our relationships. Since social media’s launch in the early 2000s, it has gone from strength to strength and changed the way in which we interact with the world. Sites like Facebook and Instagram allow us a d...
Losing an arm or losing a leg is life-changing. The same is true for losing a hand, foot, fingers, or toes. Not only does the victim suffer horrendous pain and loss of function, financial losses are also incurred. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of t...
Birchall Blackburn Law has been recognised for delivering outstanding customer service to its clients, making the shortlist of The ESTAS – the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry. Our Leyland, Manchester, Morecambe, Preston and Southport teams...
At present, there are 500 miles of smart motorways in the UK, with a further 300 miles planned by 2025. Smart motorways are sections of the motorway that use technology to reduce congestion, though they have received a lot of negative press. There are major concerns about th...
We are supporting a national campaign aiming to change the public’s perception and attitudes towards compensation claims after an injury. A serious injury can happen to anyone at any time, but until it has happened to you or a loved-one there is little understanding or empat...
The temptation to write your own will at home to save some money can be tempting. However, as wills are complex legal documents, they have to be written and executed in a certain way and trained professional solicitors will ensure they meet the strict legal guidelines in ord...
Headway UK analysed that every 90 seconds someone in the UK is admitted to hospital for an acquired brain injury (ABI) and every three minutes someone is admitted to hospital with a head injury. Whilst not every one of these was life changing, many are, thus affecting not on...
Violent crimes accounted for 1.2 million incidents, according to the latest data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (2020). In many cases, the victim may not know their attacker or, for whatever reason, no one was ever convicted of a crime. If you don’t know the ide...
Before the global pandemic, almost 600,000 people were living with work-related stress, depression and anxiety. However, the way we work could change forever, with many white collar workers employees saying that they prefer a mixture of working from home and time spen...
E-scooters are fast becoming a popular way to travel, as they’re cost-effective and eco-friendly. Over 100 rental e-scooter schemes are in operation in cities around the world. Rental e-scooter schemes are currently available in UK cities such as London, Liverpool, Salford a...
The simple answer to whether you can make a compensation claim for an e-scooter collision is ‘yes’ if your injuries are caused solely or in part by the negligence of the rider. However, the law surrounding the use of e-scooters is unclear and many e-scooter riders are unlike...
The widow of a man killed by an asbestos-related lung cancer needs the memories of former Springfield Paper Mill workers in Maidstone during the 1950s and 1960s. Mary Salt’s husband, Keith died in Maidstone Hospital on September 15, 2018. An inquest hearing at The Archbishop...
The extension of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday and the rising buyer demands has resulted in a property boom for the North West, North East and Yorkshire. Over two-thirds of properties for sale in these areas are listed for less than £250,000. Before the pandemic, fi...
An estimated 650,208 people were injured in the workplace, according to the last available data from Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) and the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Slips, trips and falls accounted for nearly a third of self-...
Did you know? The average distance moved by homeowners is 10 miles, according to research from Really Moving. No matter how far you’re moving house, it will inevitably mean lots of packing – and lots of packing means lots of planning. Here are some of our favouri...
With so many more people working from home, the jump in interest in countryside properties is said to be caused partly by home-movers looking for more space during the pandemic while they simultaneously work and take care of their families. In the second half of 2020, home s...
London businesses are set to take over an additional 13 million square feet of office space in the capital over the next five years, according to research from commercial property experts CB Richard Ellis (CBRE). The forecast for commercial space in 2021 looks positive, desp...
Our offices have reopened We are delighted to reopen our offices to visitors. The health and wellbeing of you and our staff is important to everyone and we will be doing what we can to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Our Leyland, Chorley, Morecambe, Preston, Manche...
A client with a life-changing equestrian injury is awarded an offer that will make an enormous difference to her future quality of life. Circumstances of the Injury Date: 16th May 2016 Location: South Wales Solicitor involved in case: Robert Jones, Serious and Catastrophic I...
With the vast majority of us spending a lot more time in our homes and gardens it is inevitable that our minds will turn to some of the many outstanding jobs on our household ‘to-do’ lists, which we normally never find time to start and finish. As well as fresh c...
After ITV’s broadcast of the heart-breaking yet inspiring documentary Finding Derek, Kate Garraway has been highly praised by law firms and professional bodies across the country for bringing Lasting Powers of Attorney into the limelight. Last year, Kate Garraway also took t...
Our Associate Solicitor, Robert Jones, from the Serious Injury team tells us about a client who sought a second opinion for their injury… What happened? I have recently reached a settlement on behalf of a Client (referred to in this article as “D”). D suffered an accident in...
Presently, there are over 1,600 different cryptocurrencies in the world. Bitcoin is by far the most popular cryptocurrency at the moment, with 32 million Bitcoin wallets set and 7.1 million active Bitcoin users. What happens to a person’s cryptocurrency when they die? We ta...
The Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday has been extended until 30th June 2021, announced Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak while delivering the spring Budget. Properties with a value of up to £500,000 won’t be subject to SDLT costs until after 30th June. Home purchase...
The deadline for homebuyers to take advantage of the current Help to Buy scheme has been extended to the 31st May 2021. The Help to Buy equity loan scheme enables people to buy a new-build home with a 5% deposit. The government tops the deposit up with a 20% loan, which rem...
The average sale price of a house in the UK is now £227,826, the country’s highest ever figure, reported Nationwide. House prices grew by 5.8% year-on-year in October 2020, the biggest increase since January 2015. The stamp duty relief scheme is said to play a...
After a life changing injury, people often require a new home because their existing property can’t be adapted to meet their needs. In personal injury and clinical negligence claims the injured person (the claimant) may be compensated for the purchase of a more expensive pro...
Members of Parliament met over a video conference call yesterday to discuss the potential extension of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Holiday. The Stamp Duty Land Tax Holiday or Stamp Duty Land Tax Relief scheme was launched on the 8th July last year in an attempt to keep t...
The average house price in the UK is £250,772, according to the latest available data from the official UK House Price Index – a year-on-year increase of 8.9%. However, if you’re looking to maximise the value of your property, there are several ways you can ach...
If you believe your marriage has broken down and you’re looking into divorce, it is important to know what the grounds for divorce actually are. In the United Kingdom, there is only one legal ground for divorce, which is the ‘irretrievable breakdown of a marriage’. You can o...
From high dose chemotherapy and intensive care to running 50 miles in one month, asbestos-disease specialist solicitor Helen Bradley sprints past her fundraising target for cancer care charity Maggie’s. Helen Bradley, a specialist solicitor from Birchall Blackburn Law’s Indu...
With the current pandemic placing strains on the NHS, how will existing and future clinical negligence cases be affected? Susan Liver, Medical Negligence Partner at Birchall Blackburn Law, explains: “The claim for pain and suffering is unlikely to be affected because damages...
The number of amputations performed in England and Wales each year due to an error or omission by a medical professional is very small, but they do happen and the consequences are physically and mentally devastating. If a person suspects that a medical mistake or poor care m...
Parents of children or young people who lack the mental capacity to make their own financial decisions will not need to pay the court fees to access a Child Trust Fund. Families may need to access their child’s funds in order to support the child’s future. If a young perso...
A new Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme will be available to eligible, first-time buyers from the 1st April 2021 year until 31 March 2023. First time buyers can apply for the scheme to a Help to Buy registered homebuilder from 16 December 2020. First-time buyers can borrow up t...
A virtual service to remember those who have died or been injured on our roads will be held in Liverpool this weekend on Sunday November 15, at 2pm. RoadPeace NorthWest has organised the remembrance as part of the charity’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims a...
TV presenter Kate Garraway recently highlighted the importance of having everything in place with an LPA ‘just in case’. A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone to make decisions based on financial issues and health and wellbeing, should you not be able to....
Around 54% of adults in the UK haven’t yet got round to making a will, but Wills Week is here again to help people complete their wills whilst also helping a popular local cause. St Catherine’s Hospice is hosting its annual Wills Week from the 9th to 13th November and, as al...
One beneficial consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic is that more people are walking. This is a huge positive, endorsed by government, local authorities and health advisors who are keen to encouraging us to continue to keep on our feet. The AA motoring association conducted a...
Under normal circumstances, it is generally accepted that the conveyancing process can take between 6 to 12 weeks to complete but the process can be complicated by many factors, including a pandemic. When it comes to buying and selling a home, the housing market is not back...
As drivers return to the roads in larger numbers and road traffic crashes inevitably increase as some drivers continue to ignore their own and others’ safety, we are reminded of the short comings of the UK’s bereavement damages system – writes Chris Bolton, serious and...
The Ministry of Justice has announced that it will allow Wills to be witnessed remotely by video for the next two years in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. For a Will to be valid it must be signed in the presence of two witnesses. It means that three people must be physica...
The fast moving development of digital technology means that it is getting easier and cheaper to gather secret surveillance evidence in personal injury cases, writes Chris Bolton, serious and catastrophic injury specialist solicitor with Birchall Blackburn Law. Whilst the us...
A family needs the help of former ICI employees in Runcorn and Northwich after their grandfather died from an asbestos-related lung cancer. Christopher Lees, from Sandiway in Northwich, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in February of this year. Mesothelioma is an aggressive a...
Financial institutions are releasing up to £125,000 from estates to bereaved relatives without requiring a grant of probate, according to Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE). The SFE has raised concerns that the practice risks abuse, fraud and inheritance tax disputes. Traditio...
It is compulsory in England for anyone aged 11 or over to wear a face covering on public transport and whilst visiting an NHS facility – and from July 24 this was extended to inside shops too. Wearing a face mask helps stop the spread of coronavirus and reduces the ris...
It has been a difficult time for families who have not only had to cope with the death of a loved one but to do so under coronavirus restrictions. Probate is the entire process of administering a deceased person’s estate, e.g. dealing with money, debts, and personal possessi...
We believe that our legal services are essential services, especially during periods of uncertainty and major change, which is why we have never stopped working since the Covid-19 lockdown began. We had to work a little differently, close our physical high street offices and...
An ex-NHS auxiliary nurse is asking for help from former hospital staff in Cheshire and Staffordshire who can remember the presence of asbestos in two of the regions’ hospitals during the 1970s and 1980s. The mother of two and grandmother was recently diagnosed with an aggre...
During any period of uncertainty it is human nature to seek to put plans in place that will provide some peace of mind if life does take a different turn. It is no surprise then that during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and lockdown we have seen a rise in the number of...
Since the start of the Government lockdown, we have seen an increase in the demand for our Wills service, which is only natural during this uncertain period. Not only are people looking to secure their family’s financial future during a worrying time, but also many people ha...
It started with thorough handwashing, progressed to closing schools and pubs and then finally as of Monday 23rd March 2020 the UK seemed to grind to a halt after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address to the Nation. Amongst other things, that historic address prohibited the...
The short answer to this question is no. Many of us are stepping outside once a day to make the most of our exercise regime during this difficult time. It is a good time to remind ourselves how to observe the law and keep safe when it comes to pedestrians and drivers. When...
Rob Jones, Associate Solicitor for our Serious & Catastrophic Injury team, discusses the nationwide campaign to encourage drivers not to use their mobile phones on the road. Last year the National Police Chiefs Council ran a national campaign to crackdown on drivers usin...
UK weather can be unpredictable. Severe weather conditions can arise when least expected and be extremely dangerous if you’re on the road. Driving is a risky business at the best of times – 5 people die on UK roads every day – so hazards such as darkness, rain, fog, ice, and...
It is not unheard of for a marriage to have broken down and for both parties to agree that divorce is the best choice. You may wonder if you need an expert divorce lawyer to assist you through the divorce process. Whilst it is not set in stone that you must instruct a lawyer...
If your marriage has broken down and you’re thinking of divorce, it is important to understand what happens during the divorce process. ‘Divorce’ refers to the official ending of your marriage contract. There are several other matters that will need to be dealt with when you...
If you’re house-hunting then you’ve more than likely come across the words “chain.” This will include, but isn’t limited to, no chain, upward chain, onward chain, short chain and long chain. The average property chain length is hard to determine, although 8 or more pro...
You may have heard a lot about Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPA), but have you considered making a Financial one? There are two different types of Lasting Power of Attorneys, Health and Welfare and Property and Financial affairs. What happens if I don’t...
If you’re ready to take your first step on the property ladder and become a homeowner, there are a few factors you need to take into account. From assessing your finances to making a successful offer, here are some of our best tips and advice for first-time buyers. Work out...
Around 67% of the UK population are regular users of social media – that’s over 45 million people! The majority of us are active on our accounts every single day. Sometimes we can’t even go hours without checking it, posting on our timelines, sharing pictures, and chat...
New Year’s Eve is a fantastic chance to throw a party at home and catch up with your loved ones. Some of you may choose to hit the town for the ultimate night out of the year. Whatever you end up doing to celebrate the beginning of the new decade, it might involve dri...
The conveyancing process differs from case to case, but generally there is an order to it. Here’s a rough breakdown of what you can expect from conveyancing, whether you’re a buyer or seller! The Conveyancing Process for the Seller You agree the sale price with the buyer and...
From this week, couples of the opposite sex will be able to register their intent for a civil partnership. After a hard-fought campaign and legal challenge spanning half a decade from the Equal Civil Partnership Campaign Group, with campaigners Dr Rebecca Steinfeld and Charl...
With marriages gradually declining over the decades, living together without saying “I do” has become the choice for many. People may prioritise saving up for a house deposit, travel or education over marriage, as the costs can add up. According to the latest available data...
With the festive season in full swing, there are lots of people out doing their Christmas shopping. More people means it’s busier and more chance of an incident on the roads. There has been an alarming increase in the incidence of pedestrians suffering injury as a resu...
As part of our new Moving to… series we take a look at some of the most popular areas to live in. We’ll cover the local property market, food & drink, education, transport, culture & attractions and much more. This month we head to the small but mighty city of Prest...
The Christmas period is a time of heightened emotions whether positive or negative. It is a magical time of year for children, and a season filled with good food, friends and family. But if you and your partner have separated, it can be a very isolating and lonely time of ye...
Last year, an average of 73 people were killed per day on Britain’s roads. The stats come from a report conducted by insurance provider Ageas and the Road Safety Foundation. They highlighted the 40 riskiest roads in the UK which had a minimum of one serious or fatal crash pe...
A Will is a very important document – so where should you keep it? There are plenty of options and no legal requirements as to where you keep your Will. However, some options are better than others. When deciding where to keep your Will, you need to make sure that yo...
Here at Birchall Blackburn Law, our Private Client Team is excited to again take part in the annual Wills Week campaign in support of St Catherine’s Hospice. Wills Week this year runs from 11th to 15th November and, as always, appointments are booking up fast! During Wills W...
Young drivers face a lot of pressure to be the safest on the road. While experience may have a part to play in why they are more likely to be involved with road traffic collisions than their older counterparts, studies suggest that young drivers seem to face growing distract...
As part of our new Moving to… series we take a look at some of the most popular areas to live in. We’ll cover the local property market, food and drink, education, transport, culture and attractions and much more. This month we take a closer at look at life in the community...
This month we cover the fastest growing property markets by region, the latest on the leasehold scandal, England’s most expensive streets and more… Liverpool and Leicester are among the fastest-growing property markets Some of the fastest-growing regional property markets i...
Have you ever been to a funeral and thought “Does my own funeral have to be religious if I’m not religious?” Non-religious funerals are still very much the real deal. Here, we detail a few ways you can have an alternative non-religious funeral. The reasons for not having a r...
This month we look at the improvements to the Funeral Expenses Payment claims process, the UK’s favourite funeral song, the rising importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney and much more… Faster access to funeral financial support for bereaved families The processing times f...
A new job, being closer to family, upsizing or even downsizing…there are so many reasons why people move house. In fact, the average British homeowner moves home every 23 years, according to the latest research by Savills Estate Agents. You may have found your dream ho...
The new school year is well underway, so that means the kids are back in the playground at break times. Children are naturally energetic, playful and less able to identify risk. Unfortunately injuries are bound to occur from time to time. A broken wrist, for example, can gr...
Not only does commercial property account for 13% of the value of all buildings in the UK, the actual value itself was £883 million according to latest data. So, the question is, what’s the best way to go about preparing for the sale of your commercial property? There are m...
As part of our new Moving to… series we take a look at some of the most popular areas to live in. We’ll cover the local property market, food and drink, education, transport, culture and attractions and much more. This month we take a closer at look at life in the Merseysid...
Making a will has many advantages. However, many people die without leaving a valid will and this then poses two big questions: • “Who is entitled to deal with the estate?” and • “Who will inherit?” When someone dies without making a Will, it isn’t always clear who can legal...
Many people mistakenly believe if they write a Will, that’s all they need to do. However, as life goes on, personal and financial circumstances can change, which may affect the terms of your Will. The law sets out the rules which govern the validity of Wills. Why should...
From January to March this year 162,270 new houses were built by private developers, with plenty more on the way later this year. There are several reasons to opt for a new-build house, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. Here are just a few of the best reasons to buy a...
This month we take a look at the latest property news including the city with the strongest growth in house prices, the new landlord ‘blacklist,’ the PM’s stamp duty pledges and more… Liverpool, Nottingham and Cardiff house growth strongest in England and Wales Liverpo...
After a life changing injury, people often require a new home because their existing property can’t...
During 2019/2020 there were around 13.4 million NHS eye tests conducted in England. Even though we’r...
With the current pandemic placing strains on the NHS, how will existing and future clinical negligen...
The number of amputations performed in England and Wales each year due to an error or omission by a...
A neurosurgeon practicing in Coventry, Warwick and Northampton has been stopped from carrying out tw...