Celebrating 20 years at Brooks & Partners

On the 10th of October this year Ian Temple suddenly announced that he had been with the firm for 20 years and produced a few bottles of bubbly with which to celebrate. Unbeknown to Ian, planning for a surprise party the following week with everyone from the office as well as a few family members had been underway for weeks.
Those at the firm who have known Ian over a long period know it is very rare to catch him out so it was a wonderful moment to see the look on his face when the surprise was sprung! Grateful thanks must go to everyone who had managed to keep this secret for so long, and especially Yvonne, Ian’s wife.
Needless to say an extremely good time was had by all before Ian was wisked off for dinner at WE Restaurant in Fleet.
Congratulations Ian, we are all very proud of you!

Could it be big news

Today I was going to do something on the US Presidential elections but, frankly, bored myself before I got to the second paragraph.
Then I thought about perhaps doing more on the economy but we are all drowning in a media frenzy of gloom on that subject.
So I was left ruminating on what to BLOG….
Did You Know …
If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced
enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
(I would have expired from lack of caffeine by this time.)
The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps round the body to
squirt blood 30 feet.
(As I have low blood pressure would mine not go so far?)
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to
death.
(I know some people like that.)
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.
(I know some people like that too.)
Butterflies taste with their feet.
(Something I always wanted to know – I hate feet.)
Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed
people.
(If you’re ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)
Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.
(and that’s a good thing……………….)
An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know even more people like that.)
And in case you are wondering, no, I am not a complete idiot – some bits are missing!

Sharing the Business?

Michael Brooks recently wrote to the President of the Law Society in regard to "pack" material that was being handed to Registrars by an organisation called Probate Bereavement Advice so that when relatives came to register the death of a friend or family member the packs were passed on. Although the packs themselves included some useful information the basic purpose, it seemed to us, was to enable a company called ITC Legal Services to obtain Probate instructions!

The response Michael received from the Law Society was as follows ....

"I have heard of ITC and the Probate Bereavement Advice service although my knowledge of them is limited. Having spoken to colleagues here, I understand that the Probate Bereavement Advice is a not-for-profit organisation. ITC has existed for some years and now provides estate administration services mainly be telephone. It is staffed by solicitors as well as others. I think they are able to offer a cheaper service than some solicitors as they operate mainly via a telephone service. Some time ago a Law Society policy adviser called them as a "mystery shopper" to check what they were saying to customers and they did advise her to go to a solicitor if she wanted face-to-face service.

Personally, I do not think that Government departments should be parading advertising opportunities in this way. In our discussion with the Government over HIPS we did manage to ensure that the HIP regulation specifically excluded this type of activity".

The above was an interesting response from the Law Society but the question must be posed of course - do we really think ITC/Probate Bereavement Advice is a not-for-profit organisation or is that just sceptical?

On The Up!

Last season Brooks sponsored local football team Crookham Rovers, purchasing a new kit and some wet weather gear. Although they had an uncertain start to last season they very quickly pulled things together and were still involved in three cups and racing up the league on the run up to Christmas. Disaster then struck! Awful weather meant that they did not play for thirteen weeks and when eventually the team got back into the good football in March it was all a little late.

Following a summer where the whole team continued to train all the way through, as well as some interesting new signings, this season has started well with three wins and a draw out of four games as well as coming through the first round of the Hampshire Cup.

They have two tough games coming up and we wish them well.

Free Lunch? Not Likely!

Solicitors for the Elderly

ONLINE WILLS – THE PUBLIC BEWARE!


As a long standing and well regarded law firm in this area, Brooks and Partners Solicitors feel it our duty to draw people’s attention to the pitfalls and potential disasters of using an online Will service. Deciding to make a Will is an important step and needs to be carried out with an expert who can understand your circumstances, what you want to accomplish from your Will and can guide you through the law so that this can be achieved.

Solicitors are governed by the Solicitors Act and regulated by The Solicitors Regulation Authority, and will have undergone many years of training to qualify. The lawyer will want to see a client face to face to ensure that the client understands what they want to do and that they have the mental capacity to sign a Will. An identity check is carried out to ensure the person is whom they claim to be. The lawyer will also check that they are not being forced or bullied into doing it. Commonly, the lawyer will read a client’s body language to assist in forming this view. They will provide advice ranging from tax considerations to preserving assets from care fees to ensure that what is proposed is the best way of achieving the desired outcome.

Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), a national association of lawyers who specialise in acting for older and vulnerable adults, increasingly are hearing of problems concerning cheap or free Wills services, automated online. Some of these services make money by charging high sums for the storage of the Will, whereas solicitors generally never charge. A recent business model claims that the on line Will, will be checked by a solicitor; something SFE and its members are concerned about.

Local SFE member, Louisa Herrington-Green of Brooks and Partners Solicitors said,
“Remembering the old adage that there is no such thing as a free lunch, solicitors are being asked to check these Wills free of charge, yet we have never met the client and so can’t ascertain the person’s identity, their mental capacity, any conflicts, pressures or undue influences. Also, I understand that many online systems do not ask for financial details so they can’t check the Inheritance Tax and other legal implications. Whilst a free or cheap Will may seem attractive, it is fraught with danger and the worst thing is that, no matter how bad the Will is, the Will maker is likely to think they received a great deal because the problems will not manifest themselves until after death.”

Press contact: for further info please contact Louisa Herrington-Green, email: louisa@brooks-partners.co.uk or tel: 01276 681217For further information about making a Will please contact Louisa Herrington-Green.