Light At The End Of The Tunnel…
As the bells ring out on a year no-one will forget in a hurry, the team at Farleys look to 2021 with some hope and optimism – a fresh start
The new year not only offers a chance to get back to some sort of normality as the year progresses, but also a chance to refocus on what is important to us.
FAMILY
2020 was no doubt a challenging year, and the most challenging part for many of us was being unable to visit family members for much of the year. Many parents were away from grown up children and grandparents were advised to shield.
Now we are tentatively taking the steps to start socialising again, you may wish to look at how your family are provided for when you are no longer around. A new year is the ideal time to create or update a will and ensure your wishes are on record.
On the other hand, the pressures of lockdown and being confined to our homes for such a considerable period was sadly too much for some marriages and relationships. Our family law team were inundated with enquiries from couples seeking to divorce. While initially a difficult decision to make, a divorce or separation offers the opportunity to move forward positively.
BUSINESS
It’s no secret that businesses have struggled in the last nine months. Some took the difficult decision to close during the pandemic, while others looked at restructuring and streamlining to weather the storm. What was positive to see though was the way businesses innovated and came up with new ideas to continue trading safely whilst restrictions were in place – from new outdoor seating and cook at home restaurant boxes to contactless delivery and online events.
Going forward, these businesses may wish to permanently change the way in which they operate in order to futureproof their operations. To do this, they will need to ensure their terms and conditions and other commercial contracts reflect this.
PROPERTY
Despite the initial closure of the property market during the first lockdown, this industry is one area that has experienced a substantial boom in recent months due to the temporary abolition of stamp duty and changing trends in property demands.
Home owners took the opportunity to relocate out of the cities or to property with more outdoor space as they were no longer required to work from offices. We expect this to continue to be the case for some months yet as the stamp duty holiday remains in place.
Whatever your plans for the year ahead, be sure to seek professional advice for any big decisions made around you, your family and your business.
For legal advice on any of the matters mentioned above, Farleys are here to help
Call 01254 368040 or visit: farleys.com for more information
