Pre-Action Protocol For Debt Recovery.

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It is worth being aware that a new Civil Procedure Protocol comes in to effect on 1st October for debt recovery.  Therefore, if you are a business seeking payment of a debt from an individual, including a sole trader there is a protocol you should be adhering to before you issue County Court proceedings.  This includes proceedings within the small claims track.  A formal letter of claim must be sent, containing specific information and providing the debtor with prescribed forms to complete and return within 30 days.

The protocol does not apply to business to business transactions and dealings.

The protocol could have a significant affect on companies and businesses owed money as the process to recover debts will be more cumbersome and time consuming.   Debtors can delay payment by up to 90 days.

There will be penalties for businesses failing to adhere to the protocol by suing individuals before the protocol, including the letter of claim have been complied with. The consequences include:-

a)      Further delay in collection of debts if the court determines that formal legal proceedings are stayed (paused) whilst failures to comply with the Protocol are dealt with.

b)      The possibility of costs sanctions in that the creditor may not be able to recover their legal costs, or worst still will have to pay the debtor’s legal costs.

c)      Inability to recover interest from a debtor or recovery at a reduced rate.

Some organisations may need to revise their debt recovery procedures to take into the new protocol.

We can provide advice on the procedures that you are required under the protocol to have in place.  We can write on your behalf the formal Letter of Claim that is a requirement of the Protocol.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney ?

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We all know that writing a Will is important, but too few of us recognise that we should also consider something called a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA.) LPAs give another individual the legal authority to look after specific aspects of your affairs. There are two types of LPA:

1.  Health and Welfare– This allows you to choose a person (or persons) to make decisions about things like your daily routine and medical care.

2. Property  and Financial Affairs- This allows you to choose a person (or persons) to make decisions about money and property such as paying bills or selling your home.

Why should I make an LPA?

As people may become incapacitated through accident or illness, we would recommend putting in place an LPA at the earliest opportunity. If you do not have an LPA and later become mentally incapacitated, relatives may face delays and expense applying to the Court of Protection to take control of your finances.
For an LPA to be effective, it must be registered with The Office of Public Guardian. Your Attorneys can only act on your behalf once the LPA has been registered. If it is a Health and Welfare LPA, then they can only act once the LPA has been registered and you have lost mental capacity.

I have already made an Enduring Power of Attorney- do I need to make an LPA?

EPAs were replaced by LPAs in 2007. If you have already made an EPA, it is still valid, but does not allow your Attorneys to make decisions about your health and welfare. You may therefore wish to consider putting an LPA in place for Health and Welfare.

Thank You From Sawston Village College.

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We were delighted to receive this “thank-you” from Sawston Village college where Adams Harrison sponsored the Sportsperson Of The Year award 2017.

It was our absolute pleasure to support such a worthwhile event.

Sawston Village College Thank You Note 25 9 17

Pretty Muddy And Pretty Successful Fund Raising

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One of our solicitors, Dawn Staal, who took part in the Pretty Muddy fund raising for Cancer Research – Dawn raised well over £200.00 for the cause.

Thank you to the partners for donating to this worthy cause in return for my sporting the Adams Harrison T Shirt. Thank you also to those of you who also donated.

I had a lot of fun doing this and I am pleased to say that I completed ALL of the obstacles. I also got pretty muddy as you can see from the photos.

Will Writing For Charity

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Hayley Ford of the Saffron Walden and Christine Gee of the Sawston offices participated in will writing for charity and raised a very good amount by giving their time for free and all amounts raised for the preparation of the Wills went to the Addenbrooke’s Charity.

Certificate Of Appreciation For Adams Harrison from Addenbrookes

Congratulations to Hannah Jeffries

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We are very pleased to announce that Hannah Jeffries, one of our secretaries in the Conveyancing Department, based in our Saffron Walden office, has achieved a Distinction in her Cilex Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice.

Congratulations Hannah from all at Adams Harrison.

More Success For Matt

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Matthew Darmon Adams Harrison 200 x 300Matt Darmon our trainee within the Commercial and Residential Conveyancing Departments, has just received his LPC results and achieved a distinction in employment law which gives him a distinction overall for the course.

Absolutely brilliant news for Matt and a very well done for all of the team.

Adams Harrison Diversity Data 2017

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 As required by the Law Society Adams Harrison are pleased to publish their diversity data for 2017.

Adams Harrison Diversity Data July 2017

 

Adams Harrison Conveyancing Quality Scheme, CQS, Membership

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Adams Harrison have once again successfully secured membership of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme – the mark of excellence for the home buying process.

New Image cqs logo

 

This is the sixth year in a row that Adams Harrison has achieved the CQS accreditation.  AH underwent rigorous assessment by the Law Society in order to continue to hold CQS status, which marks the firm out as continuing to meet high standards in the residential conveyancing process.

Law Society President Andrew Caplen said that the CQS accreditation is the hallmark of high standards and establishes a level of credibility for regulators, lenders, insurers and consumers.

Adams Harrison has got Legal Talent

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Adams Harrison took part on the weekend of 8th July in the Saffron Walden Carnival (which, by all accounts, is second in size to the Notting Hill Carnival).

Their float was designed around the theme of “Adams Harrison has got Legal Talent” – based on the Britain’s Got Talent.

Afterwards Jenny Carpenter wrote;

“A huge thanks to everyone that took part in the Saffron Walden Carnival procession on Saturday. As you can see from the attached photos we completely transformed the lorry.
Thank you for giving up your time, especially early on a Saturday morning to get it all ready and the preparation that was done in advance by many.”