8th July 2024

Delays in the probate system have hit the headlines of late, with bereaved families having to wait many months to obtain a grant of probate – a stark contrast to the 16 weeks the Government says the application should take.  ...

2nd July 2024

An employee builds up valuable knowledge and contacts during the time that they work for you, but your commercial interests may be vulnerable if they leave and go on to work for a competitor. It is therefore prudent to take steps to ...

4th June 2024

Our wills and probate solicitors can provide bespoke advice for your high-net-worth estate and your individual family circumstances.

21st May 2024

The Family Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2023 came into force in April 2024, with the primary aim of encouraging early non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) in the vast majority of private family matters. The changes seek to ensure ...

10th May 2024

What is a Cohabitation Agreement? Cohabitation agreements have gained significant recognition and importance in the United Kingdom as the dynamics of relationships continue to evolve. In recent years, the number of couples choosing to ...

7th May 2024

Calculating holiday allowances can be tricky for any staff which work irregular hours.  In an effort to simplify things, this year the government has introduced changes to the rules on holiday rights as part of reforms to some ...

29th April 2024

‘Your pets are an important part of your family, but providing for them in your will is not as straightforward as providing for other family members,’ says Georgia Chandler, an Associate Solicitor in the wills and probate team with ...

MacDonald Oates LLP Solicitors
18th April 2024

We are delighted to announce the date of our next Charity Quiz on Thursday 16th May 2024 at the Petersfield Golf Club. We are supporting Stop Domestic Abuse this year and we would love to raise as much funds as possible for this ...

8th April 2024

Clear pathways and opportunities for promotion together with increasing pay grades can help to improve employee performance, keep staff motivated and help with retaining talent. A fair and consistent practice should also reduce the ...

21st March 2024

Employment law evolves with societal changes and 2024 is a busier year for employment legislation, compared to the last few years. The Government has backed a number of private members’ bills which are now coming into force. In ...

13th March 2024

If you are helping a loved one who is ill or vulnerable in their later life, whether formally or informally, there are various bodies that you might encounter with whom you will need to liaise to assist you with your loved one’s ...

7th March 2024

Child maintenance is regular financial support paid by one parent to another to assist with a child’s everyday living expenses. It is ordinarily paid to the primary carer of the child (otherwise known as the resident parent) and is ...

Emily Bull
21st February 2024

With a rise in people investing in cryptocurrency, the existence and potential distribution of these digital assets is becoming an increasingly normal issue for those going through a divorce or dissolution. The first step towards ...

7th February 2024

‘Many people who opt to make a home-made will do so because they think they will save money on legal fees. Unfortunately, this can lead to problems and unexpected costs later down the line for the family who may be left to unravel ...

1st February 2024

The right to request flexible working has been around for over 20 years, and in that time eligibility to the right has been extended from parents and carers of young children to all employees after 26 weeks in a job. Access to this ...

30th January 2024

Whether you are setting up a UK office and want your managers to have a general understanding of UK employment law, or you simply want to empower your existing leaders with an overview of employment law, our workshops are just what you ...

22nd January 2024

We are delighted to be supporting the charity Stop Domestic Abuse as our charity of the year 2024. Our chosen charity comes from staff nominations and we are pleased to be raising funds for such a worthwhile cause. Watch this space for ...

10th January 2024

Carrying out the duties of an executor is both a privilege and a burden.  You have been tasked with ensuring that someone’s wishes are carried out after their death, and this can often be more complex and take longer than you ...

8th January 2024

Following Brexit, 1st January 2024 signalled the end of the supremacy of EU law in the UK. What does this mean for employers and employment law? The government has attempted to retain and codify key rights and principles, but it is ...

12th December 2023

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. ...

11th December 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 ...

6th December 2023

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 ...