Probate

A Deed Poll is a legal 'instrument' used to formally record a change of name.

In England and Wales, a Deed Poll is commonly used by someone who wants to stop using their former name and adopt a new one. Traditionally executed as a deed, it records a person's formal declaration and commitment to do something. The purpose of a change-of-name Deed Poll is to record a person's formal undertaking concerning their name, not to compel them to adopt a new one.

Technically speaking, a Deed Poll can be used for purposes other than changing a name. However, in everyday usage, the term is most commonly associated with officially documenting a change of name...

Prenuptial agreements are recognised in many countries, but in the UK they have a history of being seen as unromantic by couples about to embark on a life together.

Yet prenuptial agreements are increasingly being taken into consideration by the English courts when they are looking at financial settlements on divorce.

Find out more on when to use a prenuptial agreement, what a prenuptial agreement does and how to make it legally binding...

Before letting your property, you need to make sure that it is safe, suitable for occupation and compliant with the legal requirements that apply to your type of letting.

Getting the property ready before a tenant moves in can help prevent avoidable repair costs, reduce disputes and make the property more attractive to prospective tenants. It is often easier to complete necessary repairs while the property is empty than after the tenancy has started.

The requirements vary depending on the property's location, the type of tenancy and whether it is, for example, a house in multiple occupation (HMO). The following checklist focuses on England; landlords in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland should check their respective rules...

Following the enactment of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, the default tenancy for most private residential lettings in England is an Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT), referred to in the legislation as a ‘section 4A assured tenancy’. If you are intending to let a residential property, it is highly likely that this will be the type of tenancy you create.

An Assured Periodic Tenancy gives the tenant the right to exclusive possession of the property until the tenancy is lawfully terminated by either party, provided that the appropriate notice and legal procedures are followed. Unlike a fixed-term tenancy, an APT has no predetermined end date and continues periodically until it is brought to an end in accordance with the law...