The team at Woodcocks, Haworth and Nuttall (WHN) has walked over 800 miles during Mental Health Awareness Week to recognise the positive benefits of movement on wellbeing. Mental Health Awareness Week is led annually by the Mental Health Foundation. The theme for this year’s event, which took place from May 13 to 19 is ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’. To support the initiative, WHN staff members collectively walked a total of 1,878,488 steps during the week, equivalent to around 840 miles. Each WHN office also closed for half an hour during the week to give staff the opportunity ..read more

Woodcocks, Haworth and Nuttall (WHN) is backing a new local authority-led business exhibition designed to celebrate businesses in Rossendale and support local economic growth. Rossendale Means Business (RMB) is designed to showcase businesses from the borough while giving them the opportunity to meet new contacts, gain inspiration and expert advice and also learn more about the council’s investment plans within Rossendale. The event, which will take place on place Tuesday, June 11, at The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery in Rawtenstall (pictured above), will also promote Rossendale’s heritage ..read more

When considering the purchase of a residential property, clients often ask what searches are involved during the conveyancing process and why they are required. Here, Elizabeth Kelly, a conveyancer in WHN’s residential property team, offers a short guide to explain the key searches involved. Searches are an essential part of buying property as they provide crucial information about the property and highlight potential issues that could impact the transaction. The standard searches which are usually required are set out below. Local authority search (LLC1 and CON29R) This search is obtained fro ..read more

Ending a marriage is one of the most significant and stressful decisions a couple may ever make. But if your relationship has broken down, the decision to divorce may be necessary for both parties to move forward. Associate solicitor Louise Daniel, from WHN’s Haslingden office, provides a guide to help explain the divorce process. Divorce law and the divorce process changed in April 2022 in England and Wales. The new system aims to make the process as smooth and amicable as possible for divorcing parties. Under the old law, which was predominantly a fault-based system, parties seeking divorce ..read more

The UK personal tax system may seem complicated and difficult to navigate, but there are several opportunities to reduce your tax bill and save money through annual allowances. As we start a new tax year, WHN’s wealth management team provides a reminder of the tax allowances you should know about in the UK. These helpful deductions enable you to earn a certain amount of income and utilising it without paying tax, and essentially keeping more money in your pocket. 1. Personal Allowance for income tax This is the cornerstone of income tax relief, enabling everyone to earn a basic tax-free amount ..read more

North West law firm Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall Solicitors (WHN) has made three new appointments to strengthen the service provided to clients at its Blackburn office. Nick Bennetts (residential property solicitor) and Stacey Power (conveyancer) have both joined the firm’s residential property team while Yasar Khan (solicitor) has joined the family law team. Nick has gained experience at a range of North West law firms, including a four-year spell at Birchall Blackburn and most recently Blackburn-based AMT. He will support clients on a range of residential property matters including freehold ..read more

Assigning a commercial lease involves transferring the lease to another person who then becomes the new tenant. In most cases this may require the consent of the landlord. Nicola Phelps, a director at WHN who specialises in commercial property matters, provides an outline of the process for commercial landlords. The process of assigning a commercial lease happens for several reasons. The existing tenant may wish to leave the commercial premises due to poor business performance, change of circumstances, or perhaps has been approached by another business wishing to take over the lease for their ..read more

There are many reasons a parent may not have provided for one of their children in their will, which could cause surprise and upset to a son or daughter.   This could include a family fallout, a parent remarrying, which changes the family dynamic, or a parent simply choosing to leave a child less than they expected. Katie Lofthouse, associate solicitor in WHN Solicitors’ dispute resolution team, highlights three ways to challenge a deceased parent’s will. English law asserts the importance of respecting the wishes of a deceased person and therefore there is no legal right for a child to i ..read more

The law treats a business as an asset, making its ownership significant in financial matters related to divorce. David Connor is a director at WHN’s Rawtenstall office and leads the firm’s services for individuals and families. He shares key advice on protecting your business in the event of a divorce. A key aspect in determining how a business is viewed in divorce proceedings is how it is structured. It could be run by a sole trader, as a partnership, limited liability partnership or limited company. A trust can also be established to operate a business. Even though a business may be a separa ..read more

Maintaining healthy cash flow is paramount to business success and unpaid debts can significantly impact this, leading to financial strain and operational challenges. A report by credit management company Intrum last year found that UK firms are losing 71 days per year chasing late payments, at a cost of over £27 billion to the UK economy. For businesses looking to recover unpaid debts, engaging a legal professional can prove to be a strong strategic decision. Sara Beaumont, a director based at WHN’s Bury office, and specialist in debt recovery, outlines the key benefits of engaging a professi ..read more