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Please come back for regular updates, articles and information relating to a variety of legal topics as well as firm news.

Class Action against Facebook & Meta

Daniel Crook
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No sooner had the ink dried on my recent article on a Class Action being brought against BT, another even larger claim has hit the headlines. In this instance the Competition Appeal Tribunal will determine a claim on behalf of approximately 44 Million UK...

Life of a solicitor apprentice

Rhian Taylor
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As a solicitor apprentice, 20% of my week is dedicated to undertaking my professional course which I do at BPP University. The professional course covers the legal areas required by the SRA to be covered to later qualify as a solicitor. The apprenticeship...

The BT class action reaches Court

Daniel Crook
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BT has been made the subject of a Class Action, backed by over 3 million claimants in the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The trial commenced on Monday 29 th January and is scheduled to last up to 8 weeks. The Tribunal is considering allegations that BT...

Litigation Funding - the Post Office and Horizon IT scandal

Daniel Crook
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The recent ITV series Mr Bates vs The Post Office has drawn to the Public’s attention the fact that over 900 postmasters were wrongly criminally convicted of theft and false accounting  as a consequence of the accounting defects within the...

How long does conveyancing take?

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One of the questions we are most frequently asked by home movers is, how long does conveyancing take? We take a look at the process and the amount of time it might take until you can complete your sale or purchase. If you would like to move quickly, it is...

Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023

Rhian Taylor
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An Act making provision about the enforcement of child support maintenance and other maintenance received Royal Assent on 20 July becoming law.  It seeks to up-date the 1991 Child Support Act and 2008 Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act, by...

Carer's Leave Act 2023

Daniel Crook
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This new Act makes provision about an employee’s entitlement to unpaid leave should they have caring responsibilities. The Act received Royal Assent on 24 May 2023 The Act introduces a statutory entitlement to grant employees, who are providing or...

How long does it take to move house?

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Property transactions of any form are a huge milestone, but moving house is often especially exciting. One of the most asked questions that clients are keen to know is exactly how long does it take to move house? There is no way to calculate the exact...

5 top tips for selling your home

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Buying a new home is an exciting prospect, however, the reverse is often true for selling a property. Selling your house can feel like a daunting task, and for good reason. The average home takes roughly 2-3 months to sell and can be an incredibly complex...

How much does conveyancing cost?

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Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one party to another. It's an essential step in any property transaction, and many homeowners are keen to know how much it contributes to the cost of buying a house. ...

Why you should consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney.

Marcus Parsons
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Why you should consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney. If you have had cause to visit any central or east Kent Hospitals recently, you may have bumped into our advert and associated content in the ‘ League of Friends Magazine’ 2023- 2024...

Buying or Selling Property or Land at Auction

Daninder Kaur-Dhillon
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Introduction It is becoming increasingly popular to buy property or land for development purposes at auction, as savvy buyers believe they may be able to secure property, or land at a price with real value for money. According to information supplied by...

Property Development Agreements

James Mackay
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The way property development projects are managed depends on the agreements made between the landowner and developer. These agreements demand considerable care and attention not just in the negotiation but also in the drafting. There are different types of...

Commercial Landlords - what to do if your lease is set to expire

James Mackay
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When a commercial tenant’s lease expires complex legal issues can be created for the Landlord if the Tenant remains in occupation. To avoid these issues the Landlord should take the correct steps leading up to the expiry date to protect itself. ...

What do we mean by SEND Law?

Thomas Browne
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I have been a litigation lawyer for many years and for the past 6, or 7 I have had to grapple with the complexities of Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (‘SEND’) Law after my autistic children were diagnosed as such. From the very...

First time guide to making a Will?

Marcus Parsons
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Firstly solicitors don’t bite and we are human (well most of us are!), I appreciate that visiting a solicitor can be a daunting prospect but we are very much here to help you so please do not be nervous. This guide highlights some of the things that...

Insolvency Update

Graeme Weir
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(Corporate Insolvency & Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus)) (Amendment of Schedule 10 Regulations 2021) The temporary insolvency restrictions previously put in place by the government to ease financial pressures on business are being lifted. Instead...

Inheritance Act Claims

Daniel Crook
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I think it is fair to say that most people are surprised when I advise that the court has the power to go behind the deceased’s will, even where there was nothing wrong with it. This is despite the principles of Inheritance (Provision for Family and...

Employment Settlement Agreements

Thomas Browne
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Settlement agreements (formerly known as compromise agreements) in an employment context are presently widespread and set out binding terms agreed between an employer and employee covering the ending of the employment relationship. Often, they will arise...

The Building Safety Bill

Thomas Browne
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Setting out the future on how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained The Building Safety Bill published on 5 July 2021 will create a clear pathway for the future of how residential buildings should be constructed and maintained. The...

Insolvency Update - March 2021

Graeme Weir
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What next for your business as we (hopefully) come out of Lockdown? Introduction On 26 June 2020 the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 came into force introducing measures to relieve the burden on businesses during the Coronavirus...

LPAs Explained (7 FAQs)

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How can I make sure that someone I trust can speak for me or make decisions on my behalf in the future if I can’t (or don’t want to?) By making a legal document called a Lasting Power of Attorney (an LPA).  There are two kinds: a...

Care home fees and my house

Marcus Parsons
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When your partner faces the prospect of having to move into a care or nursing home it is an emotional and scary time. We often meet with families who are just overwhelmed not just emotionally but also with all the information, they have been given. This...

Supreme Court Judgment rules in FCAs Test Case

Graeme Weir
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Supreme Court Judgment rules in favour of FCA's Business Interruption Insurance Test Case The Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the FCA’s Business Interruption Insurance Test Case on 15 January 2021. This has been welcomed as a lifeline...

Insolvency law update

Graeme Weir
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The Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (Coronavirus) (Extension of the Relevant Period) Regulations 2020 You may recall that the Government passed an Act in Parliament in June 2020 to support businesses in addressing the challenges arising...

Over 18 - Make a Will

Marcus Parsons
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Most people decide to make a Will when they have retired from the working world. Whilst for a small majority of people this may be fine for the rest of us it’s the wrong way to be thinking. Why? - let me give you a few examples of situations where a...

The Advantages of Making a Part 36 Offer to Settle

Graeme Weir
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A Part 36 offer may be made at any time until judgment is handed down; including before proceedings having been issued. Although making an offer early on can be beneficial, it is wise to assess whether you are informed enough to make the offer if any...

Possession claims stayed for another month

Daniel Crook
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Those who read my previous short article will be aware of the stay on possession claims imposed by CPR 55.29 was due to end on Sunday 23 August. At the mast minute, on 20 August 2020 the Lord Chancellor directed the Master of the Rolls and the Civil...

The risks surrounding DIY Wills

Elizabeth Isaac-Garner
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We all like to save a couple of pennies here and there for a rainy day or for that holiday that we are all planning for in 2021. Looking online you can purchase a Wills DIY pack for as little as £11.00 so no wonder people are tempted. If someone...

NEW - STAMP DUTY LAND TAX

Kellie Darke
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Temporary reduced rates until 31 st March 2021 . SCALE 1 RATES FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS OR IF YOU ARE SELLING YOUR PRIMARY HOME AND PURCHASING A DIRECT REPLACEMENT   SCALE 2 RATES FOR PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL/INVESTMENT PROPERTIES ...

Planning for later life

Marcus Parsons
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We are all getting older and just by reading this sentence you are a few seconds older than when you started! But why do so few of us fail to prepare for later life, do we just want to put off thinking about it for another day. In my role, I often face the...

Loyalty points and death

Marcus Parsons
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When I am not behind my desk at work I will often be found on an aeroplane flying to another country to explore. I always try and fly British Airways so I can collect Avios points and tier points. Collecting tier and Avios points gets a bit addictive but we...

Do you have a 'problem' tenant?

Graeme Weir
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A guide to securing possession of residential premises. The Standard Procedure - Section 8 Housing Act 1988 (as amended). As an alternative to the well known ‘Section 21’ procedure there are still a number advantages to using the standard...

Stay of Possessions set to be extended

Daniel Crook
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From 25 June 2020 the present stay of domestic possession proceedings which came in following the lockdown is going to be extended until 23 August 2020. Part 55 of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR) will be amended meaning possession...

ENFORCING A COURT JUDGMENT

Graeme Weir
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Introduction Unfortunately, the fact that you have been able to secure a money judgment against a defendant does not mean that the judgment will be automatically discharged, without having to take further enforcement measures. The onus will be on you and...

The Late Payment of Commercial Debts - Is fresh salvation on the horizon?

Graeme Weir
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The Small Business Commissioner and Late Payments etc Bill started its journey through Parliament this year. It will seek to sharpen the teeth previously given to SME’s under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 and other...

Practical Debt Recovery and Credit Control Tips and Hints

Graeme Weir
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Know your Client – they may be a Debt Risk! The adage Prevention is better than Cure equally applies in the world of Debt Recovery. If you do not have access or wish to incur the costs of a Credit Risk company such as Experian use some free or cheap...

The Corporate Insolvency & Governance Bill

Graeme Weir
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The Government has recently introduced a Bill in Parliament to support businesses in addressing the challenges arising from the impact of Covid 19. The Bill will amend Insolvency and Company law to support business and consists of six insolvency measures...

Towers School Art at Kingsfords

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Kingsfords believe that it is important to support and nurture young talent and we will be displaying artwork from pupils at the Towers School at our Elwick Road office. Please check our social media for posts showcasing the work or visit our Elwick Road office. Thank you to Mrs Gregory of the Towers School for introducing us to such amazing young artists.

 

Ashford Snowdogs Educational Partners Video

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Ashford Snowdogs have recently posted this video about Kingsfords being the campaigns education partner and had this to say about us...

 

Sponsoring Charing FC Under 13's football team

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Kingsfords Solicitors are proudly sponsoring Charing FC Under 13’s football team. Charing Football Club was formed over a 100 years ago and has developed into a community institution, running teams from as young as under 7’s all the way through to the adult first teams.

 

Ashford Snowdogs - Inspiration Week

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My inspiration for the Pilgrim's Hospice Ashford Snowdog campaign came from my love of animals and the fact this was an appeal based in Ashford town centre, which has been the home of Kingsfords Solicitors since the late 1800's.  I thought this appeal was a wonderful opportunity to connect with local people, many of whom have been our clients for  years.

 

Snow Pup Design Competition

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We are today launching our Snow Pup Design Competition for primary school children aged 11 years and under.