Herald - Issue 405

Page 54 • The HERALD • 22nd April 2021 v EMAIL: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk v ASK A PROFESSIONAL We can all agree that plain English is vital. The trouble is, just because it may appear to the casual observer that the everyday meaning of the word is blindingly obvious, that may not be the case in English law. Some choose to save money by preparing DIY Wills. They can be as simple and concise as you may choose. The trouble is that they are not always valid. e use of ordinary words in the dra ing of a will can be a mine eld for the unwary. Just consider the word “property”. You might assume that this covers your home or any other land or building that they own. is may not be the case. If your property is leasehold, it may be treated as being in the same category as your clothes and jewellery. In a recent case, a boat owner had hired out his yacht for charter during periods when he was not using it. As it had been chartered more than it had been used by the owner in the period before he died, it was classed as a business asset. Court battles over the management of wills have more than doubled in two years. When it goes wrong, the survivors can end up spending a lot of money contesting the will. is can be avoided with proper dra ing. Rebecca Hatton at Scott Bailey is a member of a dedicated team of specialists who can help ensure that your wishes will be carried out as you intended. Call Rebecca on: 01590 676933 or email at: rebecca@ scottbailey.co.uk. Should you prefer not to come to the o ce, Rebecca is happy to make a home visit. Do We Talk the Same Language? by Rebecca Hatton of Scott Bailey LOCAL LEADERS TO THE FORE The SME National Business Awards are delighted to announce that Jason Sinclair, Partner from Queensbury has joined the judging panel of these prestigious awards. The awards are in their h year and are open to all SMEs in the UK (www. smenationals.co.uk) e nal takes place on the Friday 3rd December at the iconic Wembley Stadium. Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Awards Director Damian Cummins said: “ We are thrilled that someone of Jason’s calibre has joined our panel, we rely on experienced business people from across all sectors to choose winners in these sought after awards and we welcome Jason with open arms ”. Jason had this to say: “The Partners at Queensbury are delighted to support the SME National Awards this year and I am delighted to return as a Judge! As a Management Consultancy and Legal firm working with a variety of SME’s in different markets, we are very aware of the contributions they make continually to UK Innovation, Employability and the Economy, even in the face of the challenges we have all faced during this pandemic. It is even more critical and timely that we take time to celebrate and honour all the many achievements of the Nations SME Community.” ey are also delighted to announce that John Paterson, CEO from Really Simple Systems has joined the judging panel of these prestigious awards. Awards Director Damian Cummins said: “ We are thrilled that someone of John’s calibre has joined our panel, we rely on experienced business people from across all sectors to choose winners in these sought after awards and we welcome John with open arms ”. John had this to say: “It is truism often stated and more often ignored that small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy. It is therefore an honour to be chosen to judge the SME National Business Awards.” Businesses can enter up to 3 categories and the only criteria apart from being an excellent business is that you have less than 250 employees. Awards Judge, Jason Sinclair, Partner, Queensbury Awards Judge, John Paterson, CEO, Really Simple Systems