Part of our series of common legal questions and their answers, we look at the difference between holding a deposit as stakeholder or agent for the seller, and holding to order on the sale of land. Read more...

Part of our series of common legal questions and their answers, we look at the steps for applying to the Court of Protection to be a deputy. Read more...

Following user requests, we have published two new precedents: a simple and straightforward Construction Agreement, suitable for use by homeowners and contractors, and a Deed of Release and Grant, which releases existing property easements and grants new ones. Read more...

Practitioners now benefit from a section of the Looking to the Future commentary that has a breakdown of the relevant pledges from the manifesto documents of the main political parties. Read more…

As part of the continual updates and enhancements which take place across all our guides, we have enhanced the Freehold property disputes – Acting for the claimant guide. Read more...

The Motoring offences commentary has been updated to include guidance on various types of unusual motor vehicles, including e-scooters. Comments and feedback are always welcomed.

By Lawyers are delighted to announce the release of our new publication on Lease extensions. This useful new publication will enable practitioners to guide landlord and tenant clients through the statutory process of extending the term of a lease. The commentary discusses important issues in these areas including: Qualifying criteria Valuations Costs Timetables Conveyancing process Withdrawal and termination The new guide also contains a complete suite of essential and useful precedents such as: To Do lists with timetables Enclosures for clients explaining the process All the statutory forms and notices Deed of surrender and regrant of lease This guide is an invaluable tool for all practitioners working in leasehold property departments, including those with limited experience or supervising less experienced practitioners.

The period of enforced suspended animation brought about by the pandemic is coming to an end and for the majority there is a sigh of relief and a strong desire to return to normality. However, having been enveloped in a state-controlled protective cocoon for months, the reality is that the Piper’s very large bill now needs be paid and the wake-up call is going to be harsh. Read more...

In order to further enhance communications between practitioners and their clients we have added to the initial letter an informative summary of the conveyancing process. This easy to follow chart is a step by step explanation of the process from the point of view of both the seller and the buyer. The matter plan provides letters for each step of the process, informing the client, the agent and other interested parties that the transaction has advanced to that stage.

By Lawyers is monitoring the increasing emphasis on anti-money laundering in the profession. Read more...

A co-ownership deed has been added to the Purchase of Land guide, setting out the arrangements between tenants in common. Read more...

The rise in later-life divorce – often referred to as silver splitters – is an increasingly visible trend in family law. This article explores key legal issues and practical considerations for practitioners handling later-life divorce, particularly in high-net-worth cases. Read more…

The Domestic Violence Orders guide has been renamed to Domestic Abuse. Read more...

The By Lawyers Criminal Offences App has been updated to reflect new sentencing guidelines for blackmail, kidnap, and false imprisonment, and for those convicted of offences involving taking vehicles without the owner’s consent.

As the first steps when opening a matter are so important, we have reviewed this section of our commentaries. Read more…