Commercial Property
Buying, selling, developing or leasing property for commercial reasons requires specialist advice if you’re to complete deals quickly and cost-effectively and avoid legal snags and expensive delays. From barn conversions to residential new builds, industrial, commercial, retail or leisure premises, our Commercial Department will advise and act for you on all types of transactions, including undertaking all negotiations on your behalf. With our extensive local knowledge and network of contacts we will find practical solutions to any issues that may arise and ensure your transactions progress quickly and on a sound commercial basis. Call us on 01432 276276 and ask for David Campion or Andrew Johnson – having the right solicitor on board is the first step to a successful business outcome, so contact us to discuss your plans at an early stage.
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Commercial Litigation
Business disputes can take up a great deal of time and resources, and can often be emotionally and psychologically draining too. We will advise you on the possible or likely outcome of your case, how long it may take to achieve resolution and how much it is likely to cost. We’ll help you make informed, balanced decisions every step of the way and use our knowledge and expertise to achieve the best outcome for you, hopefully avoiding the need for court proceedings. We have an excellent success record in settling claims and disputes out of Court, but we’ll take a skilled, knowledgeable and robust approach on your behalf if the case does go to trial, whether that’s at County Court, High Court or Court of Appeal level. In most cases litigation doesn’t have to mean court hearings and huge expense. Most disputes are more easily resolved and we are skilled at achieving the best result for our clients, in the shortest possible time, and at least cost to them. Whether you’re involved in a dispute or are considering making a claim, call us on 01432 276276. We’ll give you sound, practical advice and the best possible chance of achieving a successful outcome.
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Business and Corporate
Whether you’re thinking of starting up in business and want to get off on a strong footing, or you’re a long-established business looking for advice on a specific issue, our input will be commercially focused and practical, delivered by a highly experienced team with expert knowledge of a wide range of business and commercial matters. We advise businesses of all types and size – sole traders, partnerships and companies – including many well-known local firms. When you’re running a business, it’s hard enough keeping on top of cashflow worries, stray deliveries, staff shortages or mechanical breakdowns. You need to know that the legal advice at the core of your business is reliable, professional and cost-effective. So give us a call on 01432 276276 and speak to David Campion or Courtney Bowkett– we’ll be delighted to advise on business structure, on drafting contracts and leases, on employment law or any other issue affecting your business.
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Agricultural Property
Agriculture is key to the local economy and we have advised many generations of our clients on matters relating to agricultural law and business. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a farm or farm land, to diversify your activities, to develop land or buildings, or need advice on tax, wills or succession planning, our experienced solicitors will advise and act for you to achieve the best possible commercial and personal outcome. Several of our solicitors have farming backgrounds, while others live in rural areas, so we are very aware of current issues and concerns affecting rural land, agricultural businesses and the countryside generally. We offer specialist advice, expert local knowledge of places, people and issues, and a genuine interest in the commercial success and welfare of the farming community and the countryside we share. Call us on 01432 276276 and ask for David Campion or Andrew Johnson – we’d be delighted to discuss your farm business plans, development or investment ideas, or to advise on any dispute, or partnership, tenancy or other issues affecting your agricultural property or business.
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Litigation
In life, things don’t always go to plan. If you find yourself involved in a dispute it can feel extremely stressful, complex and time consuming, and you may be wondering where to seek advice and representation. We have years of experience in helping clients over a wide range of disputes, so you can rely on us to offer you assistance when you need it the most and we assure you that your case will receive the care and attention it deserves. Often legal costs are a concern when seeking advice from a law firm. We have a range of fee structures that we are happy to discuss with you including “no win-no fee” conditional fee arrangements, fixed fee structures and hourly rate charges. We pride ourselves on offering practical advice and achieving the best result for our clients in the shortest possible time. Most disputes can be resolved without the case proceeding to Court. Where appropriate, we can advise on and facilitate mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution to negotiate settlement. But in circumstances where litigation is unavoidable, rest assured that our skilled litigation solicitors have the expertise and skill, knowledge and determination to bring the matter to conclusion. We regularly accept instructions in respect of contractual disputes, contested estates, property damage, boundary and neighbour disputes, cohabitation issues, debt recovery, personal injury and clinical negligence. If you have a question about a dispute and need legal advice, please contact our Litigation Department who will be happy to help.
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Wills and Probate
Few of us want to think about a time when we won’t be around, but making a will is the best way of ensuring that our wishes, thoughts and feelings still matter when we’re gone. Whatever the size of your estate, we will make sure that your wishes are fully understood and recorded, and that the assets you’ve spent a lifetime working for are passed on to those you care most about. For larger estates or more complex wills, our expertise will help you mitigate any Inheritance or Capital Gains Tax. We can advise on whether it would be useful, for practical reasons or from a tax planning point of view, to create a Trust for the benefit of your beneficiaries. If you’re planning ahead, we can also provide advice on the appointment of an attorney, usually a close relative, friend or legal adviser, to manage your affairs and make decisions regarding your welfare if a time comes when you’re no longer willing or able to shoulder that responsibility yourself. Call our Wills and Probate team on 01432 276276 and let us help you plan ahead to give you the reassurance that comes from knowing that your and your family’s interests are properly safeguarded. Services Included Wills Tax planning Trusts Probate Estate administration Lasting Powers of Attorney Probate Our team has many years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to probate and estate administration. ‘Probate’ is the term often used to describe the legal process of applying to the Probate Registry to obtain proof of authority to deal with a deceased person’s estate. The generic name given to the document issued by the Probate Registry is a ‘Grant of Representation’. This may be: What is the process followed and how long does it take? Please note The above is a simplified process of what happens throughout an administration of an estate and is not an exhaustive list. Where we are dependent on third parties such as HMRC or DWP it can be more difficult to predict how long estate administration may take. What does is Cost? If you instruct us to administer the estate on behalf of the Executors (or Administrators) our charges will fall into one of the following brackets: £750.00 – £2,000.00 (Straight forward estates with 1 to 2 assets, no inheritance tax payable). £2,000.00 – £4,500.00 (several assets, no inheritance tax payable); or £4,500.00 – £7,500.00 (several assets, inheritance tax payable). £7,500.00 – £20,000.00+ Please note All of the above are not inclusive of VAT and disbursements. Also, if there is a property to sell or transfer this will attract a separate fee to be charged by one of our property solicitors. Costs are likely to be at the higher end of the range if: There are multiple beneficiaries; There is a property, multiple properties, Agricultural Property or Foreign Property. There are multiple bank accounts, investments or shareholdings (stocks and bonds); There is no valid Will and a genealogist needs to be instructed; There are disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets or there is a claim against the estate. In […]
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Family, Matrimonial and Children
We recognise that the end of a relationship – whether it’s a marriage, civil partnership or co-habitation – especially when children are involved, is deeply traumatic and stressful for all concerned. Our Approach Separation and divorce are not only a personal crisis, they can also relate to complex legal matters, and each case raises its own specific issues. Our family solicitors have a wealth of experience they can bring to even the most difficult cases, and their expert knowledge will ensure you achieve the best possible outcome for you and your children. We are committed to dealing with family law matters in a constructive, non-confrontational way, aimed at achieving the right outcome for our clients as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, and having regard to the best interests of any children that may be involved. Whatever the issues that may arise on separation, we will outline the options available to you, guide you through every step of the process, protect your financial interests and do our very best to minimise conflict and stress. Family Mediation Humfrys & Symonds works in partnership with Mediation Herefordshire, a member of National Family Mediation. Mediation offers couples a chance to talk together and come to an agreement regarding their children, property and other financial matters, without going to court. This can help to reduce the emotional, as well as the financial costs of separation and divorce. If mediation is appropriate for you, and you choose to participate in the process, you will be offered mediation services and legal advice on a fixed fee basis, giving you the reassurance of knowing how much it may cost to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with your partner, and to make it legally binding. To find out how mediation could work for you, visit National Family Mediation. Other Services Our wide-ranging expertise means that we can also advise on issues relating to cohabitation, civil partnerships, pre-nuptial agreements, domestic abuse, injunctions and child care proceedings. Who We Work With Resolution Anna Tay-Lodge is a long-standing member of Resolution – an organisation that promotes an approach to family law that is sensitive, constructive, cost-effective and most likely to result in an agreement. The principles set out in Resolution’s Code of Practice are recognised by the Law Society as best practice for all family lawyers. Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC) Our Head of Family Law, Huw Jones, and Anna Tay-Lodge are both members of the Association of Lawyers for Children, an organisation dedicated to developing the skills and practice of lawyers to best meet the needs of children who become involved in legal processes. Law Society’s Children Law Scheme / Family Law Accreditation Scheme Our highly experienced solicitors Huw Jones and Anna Tay-Lodge are accredited members of the Law Society’s Children law Scheme and Anna Tay Lodge is accredited to the Law Society’s Family Law Accreditation Scheme. To achieve these accreditations, our solicitors will have shown, to the satisfaction of the Law Society, that they have and maintain a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of family law and children law, including representing parents and children […]
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Residential Property
For most of us, buying or selling our house is the biggest financial commitment of our lives and one of the most important decisions we ever have to make. Our highly experienced conveyancing team, with a wealth of local knowledge, will guide you through the process, explaining everything along the way, and ensuring that your sale and / or purchase runs smoothly and that all queries and issues are resolved promptly to avoid frustrating and unnecessary delays. We’ll be available to answer your questions, make enquiries on your behalf, track down missing information, and do everything possible to ensure your completion day is drama-free. Our expertise and quality of service is recognised by The Law Society, which has awarded us its Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation – your assurance that every aspect of our service will be to the highest possible standard. Call us on 01432 276276 and our Conveyancing Department will be on hand to give you a competitive quote, with no hidden extras, or to offer advice on buying, selling, remortgaging or transferring any kind of property. Alternatively if you would prefer an electronic quote please click below and this will link you to our Conveyancing Costs Information page.
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