10 Feb February 2026. Legal matters. Legal hints and tips.
Welcome to our latest Legal Matters newsletter. In this edition, we explore the essential steps you can take to protect your assets and your business.
On the personal side, we clarify how pensions are handled during a divorce and debunk the “next of kin” myth regarding your health and financial decisions. We also provide a practical checklist to help you budget for the true costs of moving home.
For our commercial clients, we highlight three critical legal shifts that will impact your balance sheet over the next 18 months and what the government’s proposed ground rent cap could mean for you.
For you and your family
What happens to pensions during a divorce?
A pension may be one of your most valuable assets. When a marriage breaks down, the parties will need to divide up all the matrimonial assets between them so that their future needs can be met, this will include any pensions held by either spouse.
The ‘next of kin’ myth
Relying on the term ‘next of kin’ for legal protection is a common mistake that can leave families unable to make vital decisions. In the eyes of the law, a ‘next of kin’ holds no legal right to manage your finances or health decisions if you lose capacity. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is the only legal document that provides the authority your family needs.
Check if your family is protected
What does it cost to move home?
When you’re buying or selling a property, carefully managing your budget is essential. While we’ll take care of the conveyancing, there are other costs you’ll need to plan for. Our simple checklist highlights the key expenses to consider before you move. You can also get an instant, no-obligation conveyancing quote from our website anytime.
Show me what to include in my moving budget.
For your business
Three legal shifts that could affect your balance sheet
Over the next 18 months, three specific legal updates will directly affect operational costs and commercial property values. We are advising our business clients to act now on the following:
- Property compliance as a capital cost – Tightening energy efficiency standards mean older properties could become active financial liabilities. Without planned investment, you risk sharp devaluation or finding your asset is legally un-leasable.
- Evolving contract & dispute risk – The surge in AI, digital trade, and new court mandates for mediation means your old contracts may be dangerously exposed.
- Inefficient corporate structures – A messy structure can drain cash through admin friction and severely devalue your business during a future sale.
Is your business prepared for these changes?
Is your business truly protected?
If you sell a product or service of any kind, you will need a contract with your clients. A contract is a legally binding agreement between you and the customer. It outlines the obligations between you and your clients, providing a clear roadmap for a successful working relationship. While it’s tempting to rely on a handshake or a quick email, a professionally drafted contract is your single most important tool for protecting your business and ensuring clarity.
Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about business contracts
What the new ground rent cap means for you
Under the Government’s proposals set out in the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill ground rents will be capped at a maximum of £250 a year for existing leases, and gradually reduced to a nominal “peppercorn” (effectively zero) after 40 years.
This is a major step in leasehold reform aimed at reducing costs for owners and making properties easier to sell. The changes are expected to be introduced in legislation over the next few years and could come into force in late 2028, subject to parliamentary approval and the normal legislative process. For leaseholders, this cap will help ease financial pressures and make homes with high or escalating ground rents more attractive to sell or remortgage. For landlords and investors, it’s important to review portfolios and plan for how the cap might affect future income and valuations.
Find out what the new ground rent cap means for landlords and leaseholders
Sharing the knowledge
We hope you found these updates useful. If you know a friend, family member, or colleague who is currently moving home or managing a business, please forward this email to them.
Not sure where you stand?
If you have a legal question, don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule an appointment.
About HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors
The experienced team at HRJ Foreman Laws Solicitors in Hertfordshire, are here to help you with the wide range of legal services you may need today or in the future. Our expertise spans across various areas, including company and commercial law, commercial property law, equine law, family law, insolvency, litigation, residential property, Will writing, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and probate. Whether you require assistance with business-related matters, property transactions, family issues, or estate planning, our experienced solicitors are here to provide you with professional support and tailored advice.
Meet the team here.
We are recognised by Lexcel – the Law Society’s quality mark for excellence and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We operate to the highest standards required by the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS). Our track record in leasehold enfranchisement is acknowledged by ALEP (Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners). We follow a professional code of practice recognised by the family law group ‘Resolution. As members of STEP we are acknowledged Trust and Estate Practitioners. We also work with Certainty, the National Will Register.
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For legal advice
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