Why are you here?
Let us be honest, the reason why we have this web site is down to you. What happens next is also down to you. If you want to find out about us then give us a call and/or arrange to meet. There is no obligation – we are happy for you to just pop in and see us if you wish to do so. We have a lovely small office in Lostwithiel, which quite properly promotes itself as the hidden treasure of Cornwall.
If you want to find out about what we do, then our web site can be helpful. In our case, we will have a go at anything, apart from crime and personal injury. Not that we have not or cannot do those things, they are very important reasons why people need lawyers, it is just that there is not much of either in Lostwithiel.
If you have time to do so and want to, there are a few links to other areas of this site, but we really do think it is better to talk to us than scroll down a screen.
Let us also be realistic. If you do not work or live in North and Mid Cornwall, we are unlikely to get to meet you. Though we have grown quite a bit in the last year or more our main areas of client work will be local to where we are. Mind you, that has not stopped us in being involved in the odd overseas matter. A divorce in Australia, an employment matter in the Falkland Island, acting for property investor in America, a probate in France and several sales in London during the last year for example. Yes we know London is not overseas, but if you thought of that you need to spend some time in Cornwall.
What we do not do here is tell you any law. That would be dangerous because sometimes it changes and frankly we do not have the resources or the interest to constantly update this site. The big firms can do that and we are sure the financial institutions and large companies who want to sell law services as a commodity can do that.
What next?
What next?
Well, if you need any help, just give us a call on 01208 871485.
If you want to browse, do so, but we tend to do more work for the real surfers rather than the internet ones. That is just because of where we are.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Conveyancing
Conveyancing
This is the bread of butter of the business. It is the reason why most people want to see a lawyer – at least until the credit crunch came along. Presumably, if you are looking at this, you want to sell or buy and if you were not a valued customer, beforehand you sure are now!
We have changed the way we charge for our conveyancing work. It isn’t the case that all registered land conveyancing is the same, but the public perception is that it is. There really isn’t any justification for the old practises of charging vastly differing amounts depending on the value of the property being sold ,or purchased . We also used to charge differently as to whether you were getting a mortgage to buy your property or not, because in fairness if you are then there is more work involved. So we have hit upon a simple formula of a fixed fee for all registered conveyancing for our services plus disbursements and an extra £100.00 if it is an unregistered property to reflect the fact that there is often more work to do. That will cover 99% of what we have to do in conveyancing matters, though there may be one or two matters where it will be clear from the outset that considerably more work is going to be involved and then we shall give you a reliable estimate as to what you may have to pay. Otherwise, you can by and large go on the figures in the schedule.
Wills & Probate
Wills & Probate
Let us be clear – everybody should make a Will particularly if they have any property as part of their assets. Not to do so can lead to lots of costs for those who have to deal with matters when you are gone.
Also, even though the property prices have shot up in the last decade to bring many more people within the scope of leaving assets beyond the inheritance tax threshold, the vast majority of us do not have to worry about complicated tax planning schemes. If that is necessary, then we will review matters with you and give a fair estimate of what is going to be involved.
Again, when it comes to dealing with the estate the amount of work involved will differ depending upon the different assets and the different requirements that the Will has set up, but that does not mean to say we cannot give a realistic estimate of what it is likely to cost.
We do not do scale fees. Frankly, they are an unfair way of charging for the work that is involved given that usually the most significant asset is the home. In the case of a Will, we will agree with you at the initial meeting a fee for the work we are going to have to do. This will be arranged from £75.00 - £150.00 depending really how complicated you want to make your arrangements for giving away, after your death, what you have left behind.
Matrimonial Work
Matrimonial Work
We do not undertake legal aid work of any kind and that effectively excludes our involvement in any matters relating to children. It is a personally held view, having been involved in some very difficult claims, usually where couples after separation live very far apart, but the involvement of lawyers in Court cases to decide what should happen with arrangements for the children are more likely than not to result in more bitterness and division. If you have to fight over your kids, then we are sorry for you, but going to Court to try and deal with that fight is not something that we want to do. Therefore, if that is what is developing, we will quite clearly tell you that we do not wish to deal with the dispute as to children matters and ask you to go elsewhere.
There is a massive role to play, however, for a lawyer in helping in a divorce. The sooner the parties can get to have some advice as to what they can expect to obtain from the matrimonial pot and what they should be doing to arrange for their lives apart when the marriage has broken down, the better.
If this is the situation you face, then we are more than willing to discuss matters on an informal, non-chargeable basis for half an hour or so.