Lee Dawkins's blog

The office is located upon a business Park in Binden Road, to the west of Taunton town centre. It is easily accessible from both Junction 25(the main Taunton Junction) and Junction 26 (the Wellington exit). There is also designated parking at the office for the use of clients.

The new Taunton office brings the total number of Slee Blackwell  offices to 6. It is the first time Slee Blackwell have had a presence outside their traditional Devon stronghold, though the firm has had a loyal client base in Somerset for many years.

Lee Dawkins examines the issue of domicile
 
The courts have recently confirmed that a person’s domicile of origin is not easily displaced. 
 
Domicile is an important concept in wills and probate and issues often arise in contentious probate cases and claims under the Inheritance Act 1975. 
 
The default position is that a person receives at birth a domicile of origin.  That domicile of origin remains applicable throughout a person’s life unless they require a domicile of choice. 

Professional negligence solicitor, Lee Dawkins echoes the ombudsman's warnings about unregulated and uninsured will writers.

The BBC is reporting that thousands of people in the UK are being 'ripped off' by 'cowboy' companies providing unregulated legal services such as will writing.

Quoting the Chief Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales the report says:
"One service which crops up a lot is will writing. It's a service carried out often by will-writing firms who aren't regulated."

Professional negligence solicitor Lee Dawkins reviews the legal position

Can a valuer get it wrong but still escape legal liability?  Well, the answer is a qualified “Yes”.  He can get it wrong, so long as it is not too wrong! 

Courts have long recognised that valuing a property is more of an art than a science.  Property prices fluctuate.  There are few absolutes and the best that many valuers can do is hunt around for comparables which are not always easy to find. 

The number of people in the UK dying intestate (without having made a Will) is falling.  Between 1997 and 2006 the rate remained steady, with between 60% to 65% of people dying without Wills.  However, since 2007 the level of intestacies has fallen.  Roughly 54% of people dying in 2009 had not made a Will.  This reflects the fact that more people are now making Wills. 

Interestingly, there is a significant variation between the sexes, with women being much more likely to make a Will than men.

Lee Dawkins, Solicitor and Law Society Personal Injury Law Panellist, investigates

We are often asked if children can bring a claim for compensation for personal injury suffered in an accident that was not their fault. 

The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes”!  In fact, not only are children allowed to bring a claim for damages, there is a legal obligation on the parents and guardians to pursue such a case where the child is likely to have reasonable prospects of succeeding. 

Professional Negligence Lawyer, Lee Dawkins explains

The new Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has opened its doors for business and first reports are that trade is brisk. 

The early signs suggest that referrals to the Legal Ombudsman are running at around 120,000 a year, though the system is capable of handling closer to 165,000 a year. 

by Lee Dawkins

The courts have recently revisited the often controversial and misunderstood area of mutual Wills.  It would therefore seem an ideal time to review the principles that are generally applicable:-

Solicitor, Lee Dawkins, who specialises in inheritance disputes and contested wills, looks at the benefits of inheritance planning.

A survey carried out by National Savings and Investments has revealed that there is widespread ignorance within families about future inheritance plans. 

The survey found that over one third of the population were in the dark about how their parents intended to distribute their estate.  Many did not even know whether they had made a Will. 

By Lee Dawkins

The courts have warned against creating an overprotective nanny state which robs young people of fun simply because there was some risk involved in certain activities. 

The comment was made in the case of The Scout Association v Mark Barnes where the Court of Appeal was asked to rule on the balance between the “sociable and educational value” of an activity and the risk of injury it presented to the young.