When dealing with the administration of an estate, distributing the gifts is one of the final stages. It is important that executors do not make distributions too soon, to protect themselves and the estate against debts or claims. ...
News archive: 2023
We are delighted to host our Christmas Cake Sale at our Petersfield Office to raise funds for our fabulous charity of the year, Midhurst Palliative Care. Please do join us at our office between 12 and 2pm on Thursday 14th December for ...
On average, each employee in the UK took off 5.7 days due to sickness in 2022, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics. The estimate of working days lost to UK employers due to sickness or injury reached a ...
‘Trusts are typically used to preserve assets for loved ones in private client estate planning, and many trusts are fairly inactive a lot of the time,’ says Clare Ridout, an Associate in the Wills, Probate and Trusts team at MacDonald ...
As we approach Anti-Bullying Week from 13 to 17 November 2023, the Anti-Bullying Alliance is encouraging the public to ‘help make a noise to stop bullying.’ While the charity’s focus is on bullying in schools, small bullies grow up and ...
If you have been asked to be an attorney for someone under their power of attorney, whether for finances or health and welfare, then they have placed their trust in you to act in their best interests at all times. This will also be the ...
‘Being an executor is an important role and a serious responsibility,’ says Georgia Chandler, an Associate in the Wills, Probate and Trusts team with MacDonald Oates LLP in Petersfield and Midhurst. ‘Even a simple estate can be more ...
When did you last review or update the policy on social media use for your employees? Does it reflect the way that social media is being used on a day-to-day basis in your organisation? Deploying social media is now deeply embedded in ...
We are delighted to be taking part in the Great South Run on Sunday 15th October, running 10 miles to raise funds for our fabulous charity of the year, Midhurst Palliative Care. We would be very grateful for any donations towards our ...
Due to changes in ways of working since the pandemic or in response to the economic slowdown, some employers are downsizing their premises and asking employees to relocate to new premises or hubs. We take a look at the key contractual, ...
Part of the success of TV shows like the BBC Antiques Roadshow is the thrill when a long-cherished family heirloom turns out to be surprisingly valuable, for example a piece of china that has been on display in the home for many years. ...
We were delighted to sponsor the Farming Community Network (FCN) Cream Tea event held at Wintershill Hall Estate on Thursday 20th July. Clare Ridout commented “It was great to see the event so well attended and it was a beautiful ...
Whether the beneficiary of an estate is entitled to inherit a small personal item, a share or even the majority of the assets of the person who died, it can be a stressful time for them while they wait for probate to come through. ...
One story which received a great deal of media coverage earlier this year was the publication of the results of a six-month trial involving around 2,900 workers who had moved to a four-day working week. The organisers of the UK trial ...
If you are an attorney for health and welfare decisions (as opposed to financial decisions), it is important to make sure that you are clear about exactly what decision making powers have been granted to you. This will ensure you can ...
‘Using a settlement agreement to bring an employment relationship to an end, and effectively wipe the slate clean, can be very useful. But, to start the conversation, employers need to be able to speak off the record,’ says Linda ...
In a policy paper called ‘Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy’, the Government has set out a number of employment law measures as part of a package of reforms intended to grow the economy and cut costs for businesses. The plan to ...
‘If you have a child with a disability, you may be concerned about what will happen to them when you are no longer around,’ says Clare Ridout, an Associate Solicitor in the wills, probate and trusts team with MacDonald Oates in ...
Clare Ridout of MacDonald Oates, who is based in Petersfield, has been recognised with national accreditation for their expertise in legal support for older and vulnerable clients, their families and carers. Clare said: “I am delighted ...
According to the Office for National Statistics, before the Covid pandemic only one in eight working adults reported working from home at least once during the previous seven days. This figure peaked at 49 per cent between April and ...
The role of a deputy is similar to that of an attorney. If you are acting as an attorney, this will be because the person you are acting for specifically chose you to act and they made a document called a ‘power of attorney’ at a time ...