1. Date 19 January 2011
Page 24
WE COULD LOSE THE WILL TO LIVE
Fiona
McNulty
OUR LAWYER ANSWERS
YOUR QUESTIONS
Q
MY HUSBAND and I have
been with the same family
solicitor for about 25
years. We moved to a new
area in Putney five years ago and
told our solicitor to keep our wills,
our children’s trust documents
and our lasting powers of attorney.
We have just heard from some old
neighbours that our solicitor’s firm
has closed down and the office is
empty. We are really concerned
about our documents — what can
we do?
A
S YOU haven’t heard from
your family solicitor it sounds
as though the firm did not
close voluntarily, as it would
presumably have made appropriate
arrangements for its closure in
accordance with the relevant needs to act to protect the interests which have been held by the firm on
regulations contained in the of the clients of the firm and to behalf of clients.
Solicitors’ Code of Conduct. protect clients’ money if, for As you have not heard anything
If the firm did not close voluntarily instance, a solicitor has died or from your solicitor or an intervention
there would have been what is known abandoned the practice. agent, telephone the SRA (0870 606
as an intervention by the Solicitors The SRA will appoint an 2555), obtain the intervention agent’s
Regulation Authority (SRA). This intervention agent who will details and request the return of
occurs if the SRA considers that it distribute documents and money your documents.
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2. Date 19 January 2011
Page 24
Q
WHAT’S I BEGAN the process of buying a leasehold
YOUR apartment in August last year. Completion is
PROBLEM? planned for later this month. My solicitor
IF YOU have had quoted £2,500 (plus VAT) for legal fees
a question for but has not invoiced me as we agreed I would be
Fiona McNulty, invoiced on exchange of contracts.
please email In view of the recent VAT increase, what rate of VAT
legalsolutions@ will be payable on my legal fees?
A
standard.co.uk,
or write to Legal THE VAT increase from 17.5 per cent to 20 per
Solutions, Homes cent was announced in June last year, and came
& Property, into effect on January 4 this year. All goods and
London Evening services supplied on or after this date must have
Standard, 2 Derry VAT charged on them at 20 per cent.
Street, W8 5EE. If goods or services were supplied within 14 days
We regret that of January 4 and an invoice was raised on that date, or
questions cannot one is raised after it, VAT at 20 per cent should be
be answered charged.
individually but In addition, any invoices raised on January 4 or later for
we will try to goods and services provided before that date can have
feature them here.
VAT charged at 20 per cent.
Fiona is a partner
in the private client The legal work carried out by your solicitor spans
property practice of across the two periods where the two different VAT rates
Thring Townsend apply, so your solicitor can choose to charge VAT on the
Lee & Pembertons entire fee at 20 per cent, or charge 17.5 per cent VAT on
LLP. (ttuk.com) the legal work which was completed between August last
year and January 3 this year, and 20 per cent on the work
from January 4 to the completion of your purchase.
If your solicitor is agreeable to the second option then
they will have to issue two invoices.
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