Divorce lawyer calls for swift talks over private school fees
Categories: NewsORJ’s family law expert Angela Parker has advised separating parents to address private school fees head-on at the earliest possible opportunity as the cost of private education continues to soar. Angela, Head of Family at ORJ, warned that expensive court battles can follow if parents cannot agree on who pays for schooling. If parents cannot […]
Why January is the peak month for divorce enquiries
Categories: NewsAs routines return to normal following the Christmas break, the Family team at ORJ is preparing for what has become known as ‘Divorce Day’. Occurring on the first working Monday in January, the day traditionally sees a spike in enquiries from people considering separation or divorce. While it has been hyped up by the media […]
Growing Law Firm Appoints Two New Directors
Categories: NewsThriving law firm ORJ has appointed two new directors as the business builds on its success over the last 12 months. ORJ – which has offices in Stafford, Shrewsbury and Birmingham – has appointed Nicola Fury and Zoe Smith to senior positions. Nicola joins the firm as Conveyancing Director, having worked for the last 12 […]
Why it’s important to choose a good conveyancer
Categories: NewsSome 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 urged to check solar decommissioning terms
Categories: NewsFarmers 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 […]
The pros and cons of overage agreements
Categories: NewsZoe 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 delay on LPA, legal expert advises
Categories: NewsDon’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 […]
Stats show impact of no-fault divorce
Categories: NewsFears 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 […]
Pension tax changes will exacerbate probate delays
Categories: NewsChanges 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 […]
What happens if I’ve lost my title deeds?
Categories: NewsAt 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 […]