Some people assume all conveyancers are equal – just legal box-tickers handling paperwork behind the scenes. But in reality, the conveyancer you choose can make a big difference in your home move. We all know the cliches: buying or selling a property is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make – and certainly […]

Farmers considering leasing their fields for solar farms have been warned to check the terms around decommissioning the equipment at the end of the agreement – or potentially face a huge bill to return the land to its original state. Leasing farmland for renewable energy projects can produce a valuable income stream – but Zoe […]

Zoe Smith, Head of Commercial Property at ORJ, gives an overview of overage agreements – and their risks. Overage agreements can be a useful way for landowners to dispose of assets that have greater potential value – but both buyer and seller must be very clear on the terms of the deal. With an overage […]

Don’t wait until old age or ill health to arrange a Lasting Power of Attorney – that’s the advice from ORJ’s expert Fiona Mainwaring after a study showed the vast majority of over-40s do not have the safeguard in place. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows people to nominate who can make decisions on […]

Fears that the introduction of no-fault divorce would lead to a spike in separations have been quashed by the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, writes ORJ Head of Family, Angie Parker. A monumental change in the divorce laws in England and Wales came into effect on April 6 2022, allowing people to divorce […]

Changes to pension tax rules will inevitably lead to further probate delays at a time when the system is already overloaded, writes Fiona Mainwaring, Head of Wills and Probate at ORJ. New inheritance tax (IHT) legislation set to come into force in 2027 will further complicate the administration of estates. Currently, most defined contribution pensions […]

At ORJ, our conveyancing team deals with a surprising number of cases where the title deeds for a property have been lost or damaged. From December 1 1990, it became a legal requirement for properties in England and Wales to be registered with HM Land Registry. This means if you bought your home after that […]

Property and land are classed as either registered or unregistered land.  It is now compulsory to register all property and land with the Land Registry at the point of every sale, transfer or mortgage.  Compulsory Registration did not apply in Shropshire until 1st April 1986.  If you purchased your home (or any land) prior to that date and have not re-mortgaged at any time […]

Experienced business leader Robin Hall has been appointed Chairman of a leading Stafford-based law firm. Robin has been handed the non-executive role at ORJ with a remit of driving the firm forward and assisting with the day-to-day running of the business. He has been working with ORJ in a consultancy role for the past two […]

Fiona Mainwaring, Head of Wills and Probate at ORJ, explains why anyone with assets or dependents should have a will – regardless of age. According to statistics, the average age to write a will in the UK is 58, compared to the significantly younger average age of buying a first home, which is 36. Writing […]