https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/ Plain-English legal advice you can trust en Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:18:01 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/frozen-funds-intestacy-bank-account-access/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/frozen-funds-intestacy-bank-account-access/ When someone dies without a will, their sole-name bank account is locked from the moment the bank is told — and no amount of grief or next-of-kin status unlocks it. This article explains why the wait is so long, who is actually entitled to apply, and the simple steps that spare families the freeze. Alan Curtis Legal Wills & Probate Thu, 05 Nov 2026 08:06:29 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/common-law-marriage-myth-unmarried-couples-rights/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/common-law-marriage-myth-unmarried-couples-rights/ Millions of cohabiting couples in England and Wales believe living together for years gives them legal status as partners. It doesn't. We explain what the law actually provides, where unmarried couples are exposed, and the practical steps you can take now. Alan Curtis Legal Family Law Wed, 04 Nov 2026 12:05:21 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/joint-and-several-liability-explained/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/joint-and-several-liability-explained/ Four words buried in a standard tenancy agreement can leave one tenant owing an entire year's rent because a flatmate vanished overnight. This article explains how joint and several liability actually works, who gets pursued first, and what you can do to protect yourself before you sign. Alan Curtis Legal Landlord & Tenant Tue, 03 Nov 2026 16:07:40 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/digital-estate-online-accounts-after-death/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/digital-estate-online-accounts-after-death/ From cryptocurrency wallets to cloud photo libraries, our digital lives now hold real financial and sentimental value — yet most wills say nothing about them. We explain how UK law treats digital assets and the practical steps you can take to spare your executors needless difficulty. Alan Curtis Legal Wills & Probate Tue, 03 Nov 2026 08:10:06 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/joint-tenants-or-tenants-in-common-uk-guide/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/joint-tenants-or-tenants-in-common-uk-guide/ Most couples never ask how they will legally own their home — they simply accept the default. Yet the distinction between joint tenants and tenants in common can determine whether a partner inherits automatically, whether children from a previous relationship are provided for, and how care fees are assessed. This guide explains the difference in plain English and sets out how to change your arrangement later. Alan Curtis Legal Conveyancing Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:12:36 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/section-21-notice-tenant-six-month-roadmap/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/section-21-notice-tenant-six-month-roadmap/ Receiving a Section 21 notice is unsettling, but panic is rarely necessary. This step-by-step roadmap sets out what tenants should check, in what order, from validating the notice and confirming deposit protection to negotiating a departure date and understanding what happens if the matter reaches county court. Alan Curtis Legal Landlord & Tenant Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:14:47 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/freehold-but-not-free-restrictive-covenants/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/freehold-but-not-free-restrictive-covenants/ Owning the freehold does not always mean doing as you like with your land. Restrictive covenants — some dating back a century or more — can dictate what you build, how you use your property, and who can enforce the rules. Here is what buyers and self-builders need to check before committing. Alan Curtis Legal Conveyancing Mon, 02 Nov 2026 00:02:54 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/where-homemade-wills-go-wrong/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/where-homemade-wills-go-wrong/ A template bought online might seem like a sensible saving, but small drafting errors can leave families facing years of dispute and thousands in legal fees. We look at the most common failures of DIY wills — and the situations where professional advice is not optional. Alan Curtis Legal Wills & Probate Sun, 01 Nov 2026 20:02:55 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/true-weight-of-a-guarantee-uk/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/true-weight-of-a-guarantee-uk/ Being asked to stand guarantor for a relative's tenancy or business loan can feel like a formality, but the liability is anything but routine. This article explains what you are actually committing to, how lenders pursue guarantors, and the safeguards that can protect your home before you sign. Alan Curtis Legal Business Law Sun, 01 Nov 2026 12:03:50 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/algorithm-decides-your-career-ai-workplace-law/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/algorithm-decides-your-career-ai-workplace-law/ From CV screening to performance scoring, artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping how people are hired, managed and let go. This article examines whether UK employment law and data protection rules have kept pace — and what you can do if you suspect a machine made an unfair call about you. Alan Curtis Legal Business Law Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:04:38 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/generosity-with-guardrails-bank-of-mum-and-dad/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/generosity-with-guardrails-bank-of-mum-and-dad/ Helping a child onto the property ladder is one of the most generous things a parent can do — and one of the easiest to get legally wrong. From declarations of trust to inheritance tax traps, here is how to give with confidence. Alan Curtis Legal Conveyancing Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:04:38 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/workplace-surveillance-employee-rights-uk/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/workplace-surveillance-employee-rights-uk/ Monitoring software, CCTV and email tracking are now routine in British workplaces — but routine is not the same as lawful. This explainer sets out what employers may monitor, what they must tell you, and the practical steps to take if you believe the watching has gone too far. Alan Curtis Legal Family Law Sun, 01 Nov 2026 04:04:56 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/recovering-money-owed-by-friends-small-claims/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/recovering-money-owed-by-friends-small-claims/ Lending money to a friend is easy; getting it back is anything but. This plain-English guide walks through the sensible steps — from a polite chasing email to a Letter Before Action and the small claims court — along with the costs, deadlines and honest questions to ask before you press on. Alan Curtis Legal Business Law Sun, 01 Nov 2026 04:04:56 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/dementia-lasting-powers-of-attorney-court-of-protection/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/dementia-lasting-powers-of-attorney-court-of-protection/ When a parent begins to lose capacity, families often discover too late that there is no Lasting Power of Attorney in place. We explain what an LPA does, what happens without one, and how the Court of Protection fills the gap — at a cost in time, money and family harmony. Alan Curtis Legal Wills & Probate Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:05:30 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/boundary-disputes-resolution-before-litigation/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/boundary-disputes-resolution-before-litigation/ Boundary and right-of-way disputes are among the most expensive legal fights a homeowner can start — often costing far more than the land is worth. This article argues for a disciplined, cheap-first approach to neighbour disagreements, with a practical checklist before any formal letter is sent. Alan Curtis Legal Landlord & Tenant Sun, 01 Nov 2026 00:05:30 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/children-relocation-abroad-after-separation-uk-law/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/children-relocation-abroad-after-separation-uk-law/ When one parent wishes to move abroad with the children, the law imposes strict requirements on both sides. This guide explains when consent or a court order is needed, how judges weigh relocation applications, and the practical steps available to a parent who objects. Alan Curtis Legal Family Law Sat, 31 Oct 2026 20:04:53 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/five-contract-clauses-small-business-should-read-twice/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/five-contract-clauses-small-business-should-read-twice/ Most small business owners sign contracts far too quickly, and the clauses they overlook are precisely the ones that cause disputes. From liability caps to the 'battle of the forms', here are five terms worth reading twice before you sign. Alan Curtis Legal Business Law Sat, 31 Oct 2026 20:04:53 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/landlord-selling-tenant-rights-guide/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/landlord-selling-tenant-rights-guide/ A 'For Sale' board outside your rented home is unsettling, but it does not mean you must leave immediately. This guide explains Section 21 notices, how the proposed abolition of no-fault evictions is progressing, and a practical action plan for renters. Alan Curtis Legal Landlord & Tenant Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:04:30 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/prenuptial-agreements-explained-uk-couples/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/prenuptial-agreements-explained-uk-couples/ Prenuptial agreements were once the preserve of celebrities and millionaires, but English courts increasingly take them seriously for couples of modest means. We explain who benefits, when a court will uphold an agreement, and the practical steps that make yours watertight. Alan Curtis Legal Family Law Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:04:30 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/plain-english-probate-terms-guide/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/plain-english-probate-terms-guide/ When someone dies, the legal vocabulary that follows can feel like a foreign language. We translate twelve of the most common probate terms into everyday English — and explain why understanding them could save your family time, stress and money. Alan Curtis Legal Wills & Probate Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:06:16 GMT https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/first-time-buyer-conveyancing-guide-2025/ https://www.alancurtislegal.co.uk/first-time-buyer-conveyancing-guide-2025/ With Help to Buy closed to new applicants, first-time buyers need a new playbook. From deposits and searches to shared ownership and realistic timelines, here is what to expect when buying your first home in 2025 — and why the right conveyancer matters more than ever. Alan Curtis Legal Conveyancing Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:06:16 GMT