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News relating to Hancocks’ private client team and their work.

Wellbeing in the Workplace – a Mental Health Day for Hancocks’ Staff

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Wellbeing in the Workplace – Supporting our Team

Wellbeing in the workplace has gained considerable attention and Hancocks acknowledge that our entire team has worked tirelessly during the pandemic. A high level of change and high workload can place severe pressure on mental health, and that’s why we’re taking a “firm holiday” on Monday 12 July.

Working from home at Hancocks was a huge change for all of us, and many of us have faced the inevitable challenges that arise from balancing family and work obligations. We have been working hard to support everyone across the firm, especially those who have had an exceptionally busy year.

In July 2020, the Government applied a nil-rate Stamp Duty Land Tax to property sales of up to £500,000, to support the economy during Covid restrictions. As a result, first-time home buyers and existing homeowners alike have benefited from the “SDLT holiday”. In addition to providing an important stimulus to the housing market, it has meant that our Banbury and Bicester conveyancing departments have had an incredibly busy time helping people buy and sell homes throughout Oxfordshire – and further afield.

The SDLT holiday has now ended and we feel it’s time for our employees to enjoy a short break. We will continue to help our valued clients progress with their house sales and purchases but we will be avoiding completions on 12 July. The team has worked extremely hard under enormous pressure for many months and we feel this is a way we can show our wholehearted commitment to their wellbeing.

We hope our one-day holiday will not cause too much inconvenience to our clients and that they will benefit from our team returning refreshed from their break. Our employees’ mental health is very important to us and this pandemic has created additional demands beyond those created by the SDLT holiday. We hope this extended weekend will go some way to showing our immense appreciation for their efforts. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Why instruct a solicitor to make your Will?

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Why make a Will?

It is important to make a will during your lifetime so that after your death, your assets and personal possessions (known as ‘your estate’) pass to the people and organisations (known as ‘your beneficiaries’) you choose. If you have children under the age of 18, you can also appoint guardians to take care of your children in the event of the death of both parents. COVID-19 reminds us that wills are for everyone, not just the elderly!

There are now lots of providers of wills, will writers, and DIY Will Kits available. However, you need to exercise caution.

Do I need a Solicitor to write a Will?

Writing a will is not as simple as just listing who you want to get what. A solicitor will help you consider the types of assets you have, how they are owned, what the default position in law is, what family you have and how they are related to you. You should also consider  the age at which you want your beneficiaries to inherit, whether you need a trust to be created, whether you have business assets and how they are owned…. the list goes on.

If you use a DIY Will Kit there is a risk that you will not receive any specific advice tailored to your individual situation. This might mean you write a will that does not do what you think it does. In addition, the formalities of executing a will are strict and must be followed. When you get specific legal advice you can ensure your will is correctly executed.

Making a will without using a solicitor can result in mistakes and inconsistencies. In the worst case the will might not be valid. It may also result in your executor having to resolve any mistakes or errors and paying legal costs after your death.

If you have your will drafted by a solicitor you get the added bonus of the will being kept safely.

We appreciate that solicitors are more expensive than DIY wills, but the extra outlay sooner might avoid a costly mistake later. If you wish to make a will please email Laura Lewis or call her on 01869 228980.

Banbury Solicitors’ Make a Will Week raises over £2500 for Katharine House Hospice

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Hancocks has been involved with Katharine House Hospice since it was established in the late 1980s. This is the 5th year that our solicitors have given their time free of charge to make Wills in exchange for donations to the Hospice. This year we helped 11 people to make Wills and we are delighted that KHH has raised over £2500 as a result.

Our private client solicitors enjoy this opportunity to support the community in and around Banbury. We know how valuable the funds are to KHH and their work in providing palliative care for adults in North Oxfordshire, South Northamptonshire and South Warwickshire. Furthermore, writing a Will is an important way for us to ensure that the people we care about are looked after properly when we are gone; Make a Will Week encourages people to think about this.

We look forward to raising further funds for Katharine House Hospice in 2020.

Shipston Solicitors Acquired By Banbury-Brailes Firm

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Long-established Banbury law firm, Hancocks Solicitors, has acquired Brooks Law from David Brooks.

Senior partner Michael Barlow said of the acquisition:
“This is a great fit. Hancocks originated in Shipston-on-Stour so, for me, it’s a bit like coming home. With David’s son George coming on board, we are pleased that the Brooks name will continue to be associated with the firm. And, with Laura Parker and Siobhan Sibley joining us last year, we have gained both strength in depth and civil litigation expertise.”
Brooks Law provided conveyancing, wills and probate, family law, and civil litigation services to private and commercial clients from its office in Sheep Street. David set up the firm in 1997, and he and his wife Susan are retiring. However, George, a legal executive, is remaining with the larger firm. George specialises in private client and conveyancing work, and he will be based at the firm’s office at The Barns, Springfield Farm, Brailes OX15 5JH with family lawyer Laura, office manager Zoe Nairn, and commercial and agricultural property partner Andrew Hardcastle.

Hancocks acquired the Brailes office, which is only a few miles from Shipston and where there is plenty of car parking, with its acquisition of Cotswold Family Law in 2015. Michael, family law partner Ian Davies, and associates Toni Peppard (conveyancing and elderly client) and Siobhan (conveyancing and civil litigation) are based at the firm’s office at 46 The Green, South Bar Street, Banbury OX16 9AB, day to day, but they are more than happy to make appointments at Brailes, if more convenient.

David commented:
“I am confident that Brooks Law’s reputation and clients are in safe hands with Hancocks. George, Susan and I have been working together over the last few months with the partners in Hancocks to ensure a smooth transition, and our experience has been a good one in every way. Moreover, over the last 20 years Brooks Law has developed an approach to its clients which is personal and friendly, whilst remaining professional, and I have been delighted to find that Hancocks approach their clients in exactly the same way, such that the principles we have established will continue as before.”

Located in Banbury since 1959, Hancocks (formerly, the Banbury office of Shipston firm, F B Hancock & Co, which was founded in the 19th Century) is a three partner/seven solicitor private client and commercial practice specialising in conveyancing, wills and probate, elderly client, family law, civil litigation, and commercial property for individuals and SME to PLC clients in Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and beyond, including London and overseas.