Making a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family, but it is not a task you complete once and forget. A Will reflects your life at a single moment, and life rarely stands still. Marriage, divorce, a new child, a house move or the...
Buying your first home in Scotland means navigating a process that works quite differently from the rest of the UK. From the Home Report and noting interest to missives, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and the all-important date of entry, the steps are unfamiliar...
A Glasgow Sheriff has reduced a homemade Will after finding that the deceased’s daughter had procured it from her dementia-affected mother through facility and circumvention. The case is a stark reminder that DIY Wills, particularly those involving elderly or...
Scotland’s cohabitation laws are among the most progressive in the UK, but they still fall well short of the rights enjoyed by married couples. If you live with your partner without being married or in a civil partnership, the law gives you only limited...
A Power of Attorney in Scotland is one of the most important legal documents you will ever sign, yet most people put it off until it is too late. Once mental capacity is lost, a Power of Attorney can no longer be granted, leaving the family with the slower, more...
When parents separate, decisions about where children will live and how they will spend time with each parent are among the most important, and most emotive, that any family can face. Scots law places the welfare of the child at the heart of every such decision and...
If you die without a valid Will in Scotland, you lose all say in what happens to your estate. The law steps in and distributes your assets according to a fixed set of rules under the Succession (Scotland) Act 1964, rules that may bear no resemblance to your wishes,...
Zero hours contracts are used by hundreds of thousands of employers across the UK, and Scotland is no exception. Whether you work in hospitality, retail, care or any number of other sectors, you may be on a zero hours arrangement without fully understanding what you...
Many Scottish homeowners in or approaching retirement find themselves in an unusual position: significant wealth tied up in property, but limited cash flow to meet everyday costs, fund care needs, or support their family. Equity release in Scotland can offer a way to...
For most couples in Scotland, the family home is their most significant shared asset and, during divorce, one of the most emotionally charged matters to resolve. Under the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981, both spouses have occupancy rights to...
