Kestrel Radio interview, Jan08
Kestrel Radio interview, Jan08 Howard Gardener comments on why there is always a seasonal spike in divorce applications just after Christmas. Read here
Phillips' 'Legal Eagles' are broadcasting on the airwaves in a Kestrel FM radio campaign giving legal tips to listeners on a range of business and private client issues. We also give interviews on topical issues - you can read two of the interviews by clicking in the boxes on the right.
Kestrel FM is Basingstoke's local radio station on 107.6 FM and broadcasts 24 hours a day to Basingstoke and the surrounding area. It has just achieved record market share, reaching an audience in and around Basingstoke of well over 130,000. Listeners can hear many of Phillips' own specialist solicitors giving tips on everything from starting your own business to making a Will. Check out just some of the top tips below and keep visiting our website for many more:
Kestrel Radio interview, Jan08
Shirah Real advises on how to cope with a bereavement over the festive period. Read here
Top tips
1. Buying your first home
Buying your first home can be both exciting and terrifying. Solicitors, estate agents, mortgage advisers, surveyors - what do they all do? And the contracts, exchanges, completions - what do they all mean? Well, don't worry, we're expert at cutting through the jargon, getting things running smoothly and keeping you informed about what's happening. After all, our team move people all the time and we promise to make this important event in your life as stress-free as possible. So take the chance out of it and choose us, we're local and we won't let you down.
2. Moving house
Finding the house of your dreams is hugely exciting but just the start of what could be a stressful time. You might need to sell your present house, get a bigger mortgage or re-locate. It's a lot to manage ... but we can help at Phillips. Whilst we don't do miracles, we do promise to help you achieve what you want - you can talk to us and we'll listen, you can email us and we'll reply, you can call in to our local office and we'll see you. We'll tell you truthfully what is and is not possible - no nonsense, just facts and advice, pure and simple.
3. When you move
If you are moving house, by the time you get to the moving day your head could well be in a whirl. So here are a few tips for when you are about to take the plunge:
Moving people is what we're good at here at Phillips, so you enjoy your new house and let us look after the hassles for you.
1. Reaching breaking point
If your relationship has reached breaking point and you're considering separation or divorce, you'll need someone to help you through the financial, practical and emotional difficulties. We understand how emotions can run high when couples no longer want to be together and how devastating it can be for children. If it all seems too much, then get in touch. I'll help you find a practical solution that means you can get on with the rest of your lives.
2. Mediation
Separation and divorce usually involve a major crisis for a family. The same is true of commercial disputes where business can be disrupted and court costs astronomical.
Mediation is a process that helps you to be in charge of the legal and decision making process, helps you communicate better and reduce the conflict.
At Phillips we can act as mediators for private individuals and commercial clients and we're very good at it - after all, we pioneered Town Gate Mediation. So take control of your situation and resolve the issues amicably, with our help - it can be cheaper, emotionally and financially, than contested litigation.
3. Partnership disputes
Partnership disputes are simply awful - getting through all the processes is bad enough, never mind the emotional pain and the financial implications. So if your dispute is business or pleasure, gay or heterosexual, married or co-habiting, property or company, you can be sure we will listen and understand. We'll look after the legal stuff and put you on the right track.
1. Starting your own business
It’s very exciting when you start your own business but it can be fraught with risks if you aren’t clear what you need to do and where you can go for help. First talk to your bank and they will help with your business plan and finances. You’ll need a good accountant to keep track of your accounts and of course you must take proper legal advice. Sometimes it all seems too daunting but we can advise you on your method of trading, we can incorporate your new company on the same day and help you achieve what you want.
2. Incorporating your new company
If you are planning to incorporate your new company here’s a tip that will help future-proof your registration and make life much easier. Let us get it done online for you, direct to Companies House, giving you a tailor-made service within a few hours, with a choice of new incorporations or ready made companies. That means you’ll be ready when Companies House changes to electronic filing. Talk to us as well about our complete company secretarial service which will give you peace of mind, and leave you to get on with your business.
3. Company secretary
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s important for your business to have a company secretary, here are a few good reasons:
So if you haven’t got a company secretary why not let us handle that side of your business, leaving you free to get on with running your business.
4. Selling your business
If you are considering selling or listing your company within the next five years here are three golden tips to help you prepare for the future:
5. Director difficulties
Business relationships can sometimes be as difficult as personal ones. If you have fallen out with your fellow directors and shareholders, you need to know what options are open to you.
Would you want to sell your shares back to the company or fellow shareholders and how would they be valued?
Or would you want to buy out your fellow shareholders?
It can be tricky and you need to get it right. Getting expert legal advice that you can trust should be your first priority. So if you’ve had a falling out, get proper legal advice and put yourself in ‘safe hands’.
Flexible and part time working
Flexible and Part Time working is increasingly commonplace and extremely useful, particularly for those looking not so much for a 'Work/Life balance' but more for a Life/work balance.
When employees with young children request flexible working hours, employers must give proper consideration to such a request. Employers do have the right to refuse the request but if they do so, then they must give clear and correct reasons why.
There are also best practice guidelines for treating full and part time staff equally, so if you don't want to fall foul of the law, come and see us at Phillips and we will help you to sleep at night.
1. Landlords
If you are planning to invest your money in property to let out on a commercial basis, there are a few things you should consider:
Getting through the legal maze of contracts, searches, covenants and enquiries, right up to completion of your transaction can be a nightmare. But it needn’t be - our team can simpifiy the complexities and help you to achieve the outcome you want.
2. Leases
If you are planning to take a lease on a commercial property from which to run your business, our team at Phillips could help you to get a better deal:
So leave the complicated legal issues to us, we’ll help you make the right decisions so that you can get on with your business.
3. Planning
If you are a property developer you probably know a lot about taking business risks. But there are ways of minimising even the biggest risks. Proper astute advice from us can help to steer you through every stage of a transaction from negotiations, through the legal maze of contracts, searches, covenants and enquiries, right up to completion. If you could do with someone to advise you on change of planning use, to have discussions with the council and to move forward the redevelopment process, including funding, then get in touch with us at Phillips.
We can turn around large and complex transactions quickly and we understand the ins and outs of acquiring large sites for development purposes……leaving you to get on with your business.
1. Do-it-yourself wills
Do-it-yourself projects in the home are something most of us successfully have a bash at, but if you write a DIY Will and get it wrong, it won’t be legally binding and you could leave your loved ones with a heap of worry, bitterness and expense.
You may own a house or some shares and bank accounts, in which case your best bet is to get proper legal advice. That way you can be sure that not only will your wishes be legally carried out, but also that your loved ones won’t be left in a mess.
2. If you haven’t made a Will
If you are one of those people who has put off making your Will, then be warned - dealing with the estate of someone who dies without a Will can be very complex. More than that, you can’t be sure that the person you want to leave things to will in fact receive them - even your wife, husband or partner.
So if it matters to you who gets what and who deals with it after you die, then get proper legal advice, make a Will and review it every few years. That way you’ll have peace of mind and your loved ones won’t be left in a mess.
3. Administration of estates
The word ‘death’ can strike fear into the hearts of many people. And when a loved one dies you need all the professional help you can get.
Our lives are getting more complicated and sorting an estate of someone who has died often involves Inland Revenue returns, payments of Inheritance Tax and a host of forms before you even get probate, which allows you to deal with the estate.
But you don’t need to go it alone, call us and we’ll be happy to take away the legal burden and help you sort out the affairs.
4. Inheritance tax
If you own a house in or around Basingstoke and have other assets, it is likely that your relatives will have to pay hefty Inheritance Tax after you die.
The law is very complicated in this area but if you would like to minimise your tax liabilities and plan your affairs, take a moment to come and talk to us. You’ll be glad you did - and so will your loved ones.