Conveyancing
The property market is at present stagnant and property prices are falling. The government is procrastinating and failing to respond to the needs of the market and the people of the UK. They should immediately stop the payment of stamp duty in order to kick start the market. It would also help the house building industry. It is a requirement that the Seller provides a HIP pack before selling the property. Generally it is acknowledged by persons experienced in selling property that HIPS do not assist with the house selling/buying process. However Marshall Hall Levy can assist clients in minimizing their impact.
Family care cases
A new rapid call-out service to test for evidence of alcohol abuse by parents might to used to speed up the launch of child care proceedings. Hair samples would be taken within 90 minutes of an initial request. Test results, measuring alcohol or drug consumption over a period of up to 12 months, would be provided in 7 to 10 days. These tests would enable a local authority to quickly determine whether an individual has a long-term alcohol dependance, or enable a parent to show that they do not.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
The first annual report of the office of the Public Guardian shows more people are making powers of attorney – setting out what should happen to their financial and health matters should they lose mental capacity – than ever before. Nearly three times more people have applied to register Lasting Power of Attorneys than in previous years. LPAs were introduced by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. From the 1st October 2007 they allow individuals to appoint Attorneys to look after their property and financial affairs (a Property and Affairs LPA) and also make health and personal welfare decisions (a Personal Welfare LPA) when they lack the capacity to make these decisions themselves in the future. The Attorney(s) can only use the LPA after it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
Plans to blacklist parents of illegal downloaders
On the 24th July 2008 the government announced plans to blacklist parents whose children download music and films illegally from the internet. Those blacklisted will be subjected to online monitoring and will have their internet speeds reduced making it difficult to download large files. Households where illegal downloading has been detected will be sent warning letters by their service provider. For many parents, this will be the first that they are aware of theirs children’s internet piracy. Leglislation may have to be introduced if no agreement can be reached between service providers and the film and music industries on how to sanction offenders thereafter.