Harold Stock & Co. Solicitors

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Harold Stock & Co

Wills – what to think about before an appointment

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Clients often ask what they need to consider prior to a Will appointment. Here is a guide to help you prepare:

Executors: Who do you want to carry out your wishes? We would suggest you name at least two people you trust, just in case one person is unable or no longer willing to act as your Executor.  

Trustees:  Perhaps someone due to inherit from you is underage, or vulnerable, then their share would be placed in a trust. Who would you wish to be responsible for this?

Harold Stock & Co. can be your Executors or Trustees if you wish to choose someone independent, and we can discuss this in more detail with you.

Specific gifts: Is there a particular item you wish to leave to someone e.g. jewellery, a property,  a painting, a collection you have.  These will pass to the named people before the rest of your estate is dealt with.

Pecuniary gifts: These are gifts of money. You may wish to leave an amount of money to a specific person,  people, or a charity, instead of gifting them a share of everything you own.  Again these are paid out before the rest of your estate is dealt with.  

Residue: Who is to receive the remainder of your estate?  You may wish to leave this just to one person or divide this up between several people. You can also put in place substitutes, such as your named person’s child/ren. 

Guardians: If you have young children, consider who would you trust to care for them, give them a home, and raise them, if you were sadly no longer around?  

Animals:  Who would look after your beloved pet?  You may choose to help your nominated person by leaving some financial support to help pay for your pet’s food, vet bills and any other expenses.

Funeral: Have you any preferences as to a certain type of service, burial, cremation, your ashes etc?  You can give basic details in your Will to help your Executors carry out your wishes.

The full names, and spellings, of everyone you wish to name in your Will will be required.  It is also helpful to provide their addresses, as even though people move home from time to time, it is a way of identifying them in the future.

If you are considering making a Will, our friendly Wills and Probate team will guide you through the process, explaining everything in plain English.


For an appointment with one of the team click here https://www.haroldstock.com/contact/

if you prefer call 0330 400 4040 or email info@haroldstock.com

Can I make a Will during lockdown?

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Our specialist Wills and Probate team have always taken instructions from clients wishing to make a Will or make amendments to their Will via telephone, video calling and email and during lockdown is no different. However, a key factor in making a valid Will is how the Will is ‘executed’. In other words, how it is signed in front of witnesses.

New rules, implemented due to the pandemic, now allow for Wills to be witnessed via video. Previously, witnessing a Will to ensure it is valid has always included the need for physical presence and a line of sight, so that the Will maker and the two witness can all see each other sign the document. Clearly these requirements pose a problem with lockdown and social distancing.

Whilst this change is welcome to those shielding, and video witnessing is a service we can offer our clients, the video witnessing of Wills should be very much a last resort. The reason for this is that the person making the Will and the witnesses must all sign the same document and therefore when the same document has to be transported between the location of the Will maker and the two witnesses of the Will, this can cause delay and should anything happen to any one of the three people signing the Will during this delay, the Will would not be validly executed. There is also the possibility of a Will maker being influenced by someone behind the scenes (which is much harder to detect remotely) and, the novelty and potential ambiguity of the new rules mean that Wills signed by video are more likely to be challenged by disgruntled family members. Therefore, a Will that has been video witnessed should only be treated as a holding Will, until you are able to physically execute a further Will in person.

For many it is possible to sign their Wills at home with their neighbours witnessing from a safe distance over the garden fence (don’t worry they don’t have to read the Will), having colleagues witness their Wills at work and our team have witnessed countless Wills on ‘doorsteps’ since last March (whilst maintaining a safe distance).

Our team understand that we are in uncertain times and therefore they are happy to chat without obligation to anyone who is unsure of whether they should amend or make a new Will.

We also understand that not everyone is able to attend, or virtually attend, appointments during the usual 9-5 hours and as a result we have continued to offer our clients the flexibility of “out of hours” appointments where required.

For an appointment with one of the team click here https://www.haroldstock.com/contact/

if you prefer call 0330 400 4040 or email info@haroldstock.com

Couples feeling the strain?

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During the COVID pandemic there has been a lot of focus on effects of lockdown and restrictions upon mental health but it seems clear that relationships have also felt the strain. Couples who had been managing to get along in normal times have struggled to cope with extended periods of confinement with each other, or perhaps the pandemic has made them re-evaluate priorities and to consider whether they want move on from an unsatisfactory relationship. Whatever the catalyst, in these changed times it still remains the case that getting proper advice is as vital as ever.

If you have decided to end your marriage or Civil Partnership, do not just concentrate on the legal process to dissolve it. Any decent family law solicitor will tell you that the divorce is just the tip of the iceberg. It is far more important to consider the other consequences of leaving the relationship, particularly the future arrangements for your children if you have them. After that, sorting out the money is hugely important – what should happen about the house, dividing assets, pensions – should there be maintenance?  Getting all that right is crucial, especially in these uncertain times.  We see many self–negotiated settlements where people sell themselves short or have agreed to schemes which fail because they are unworkable.

If you get advice from a family law solicitor, you will probably be able to negotiate an agreement without having to spend lots of time energy and money on a dispute which has to be resolved by a Court. The cost will be modest compared to what you might lose if you go ahead without advice and settle for less than the law would consider fair and reasonable or agree to a deal which falls down and needs to be revisited later.

Our family team are on hand to offer the appropriate advice on these sensitive matters in a proactive and courteous manner.

National Lockdown – Can I move house?

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The short answer is “Yes you can!”

In the current climate, we appreciate that moving house may be more difficult than it would normally be, but whilst the lockdown rules have changed, house moves are still permitted to go ahead.

Our offices may be closed but we continue to work and are still available to assist you with all your conveyancing needs. In some cases, this may be from a laptop on our dining room tables and we may or may not be wearing slippers, but you can rest assured that the commitment to client service will still remain!

We are here for you (and sometimes we have a little help!)

Whilst Guidance issued by the UK Government states people can still move home, anyone outside of your household or support bubble should not help with moving, unless absolutely necessary.

Estate and letting agents and removal firms can continue to work with property viewings still also allowed if anyone is looking to move.

It has been stressed the importance of following the national guidance on moving home safely, which includes advice on social distancing, letting fresh air in, and wearing a face covering.

If you require any assistance with your home move or have enquiries prior to committing to new sale or purchase please do not hesitate to contact us and we would be happy to help on 0330 400 4040 or info@haroldstock.com

We know that you may be juggling more than you are used to at the moment and that 9-5 does not always suit you. We get it. Our staff are working flexibly around child care, homeschooling and other responsibilities too. It means that should you need it, we can schedule an appointment at a time to suit you, just let us know.

Welcome Back!

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As the second national lockdown comes to an end tomorrow, we look forward to welcoming clients back to our Failsworth, Mossley and Stockport offices for face to face meetings.

Whilst we can’t wait to meet you at whichever office is the easiest for you, please help us to keep everyone safe by only attending if you have called first to arrange an appointment.

It is hard to believe that we have been advised to work with you remotely for so long, but so much has happened at Harold Stock & Co in 2020 that we are excited to share with you.

Ashley Singer joined us just before the pandemic and has helped us to grow the work coming in to the firm, and specifically in to the litigation departments. Ashley has a wealth of experience in resolving court disputes, for businesses and individuals, and in personal injury and clinical negligence claims, and whilst based at our Stockport office can see clients wherever is most convenient .

Our property team was boosted by the arrival of Sarah Major as Head of Department in September. Sarah’s expertise in all aspects of residential conveyancing work is a welcome addition to our busy team working across all of our offices.

Also in September, Chris Bowen joined our family team. Chris has substantial family law experience and is a member of Resolution and a trained Collaborative Family Lawyer. Maureen Judge joined the team this week as Family Law Executive. Our family law team have a combined experience of around 60 years and, as with all our lawyers, are happy to talk through any issues you have before you decide whether we can help you.

In October, we moved “down the road” from our home on Pole Lane, Failsworth to modern offices based at Ivy Mill, Crown Street, Failsworth. Our new offices give us the space and facilities to support our clients, offering welcoming meeting rooms and client parking. We can’t wait to start meeting clients there as well as in our offices in Mossley and Stockport, or, if you  still prefer to avoid face to face meetings we can still advise by telephone, video conferencing or in any other way that suits you.

Ivy Business Centre, Failsworth

To make an appointment to see or speak to one of our legal experts, please call us on 0330 400 4040 or email info@haroldstock.com

Moving Home during Lockdown

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Moving Home

Moving home can be a daunting prospect and here at Harold Stock we understand that in the current climate this can seem even more of a challenge 

Please rest assured that our team will be working throughout the new lockdown period and that you will receive the usual professional service associated with Harold Stock.

We will continue to advise you on the new guidance, in particular ensuing that any contract you enter into has sufficient flexibility to allow the purchase to be delayed in the event that an individual in one of the parties contracts COVID-19 or has to self-isolate and whilst there may be unavoidable delays we will assist every step of the way.

If you have any queries at all in respect of your home move, from how to deal with viewings, access for surveyors to moving day please do not hesitate to contact us on 0330 400 4040.

Please see the link below detailing the government guidance in full in respect of moving home

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak#advice-to-the-public