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With an ageing population, purpose-built retirement properties are becoming more and more prevalent. It is important when considering the purchase of such a property to look very carefully at the detail of the contract (this is normally in the form of a long leasehold) and, in particular, to understand the implications of clauses which relate to future events as well as those with more immediate impact. A recent case illustrates the point. It involved residents of a retirement village in Hampshire who wished to sell properties they held under long leases....

For some years now, pensions have been made increasingly flexible, and the Government recently introduced greater choice as to how savers can use their pension pots on retirement. The cornerstone of the much-vaunted 'liberation' of the private pension market is the self-invested personal pension (SIPP). SIPPs have given the pension holder a degree of freedom over their pension fund never seen before, and financial advisers have seized upon the liberation of pensions, and SIPPs in particular, as areas in which they can profitably provide advice. However, not all such advisers...

For some years now, pensions have been made increasingly flexible, and the Government recently introduced greater choice as to how savers can use their pension pots on retirement. The cornerstone of the much-vaunted 'liberation' of the private pension market is the self-invested personal pension (SIPP). SIPPs have given the pension holder a degree of freedom over their pension fund never seen before, and financial advisers have seized upon the liberation of pensions, and SIPPs in particular, as areas in which they can profitably provide advice. However, not all such advisers...

With new guidance having been issued regarding the interpretation of 'need' for the purpose of financial settlements on divorce, a recent case shows how the courts have been moving away from a rigid adherence to the principle of 'equality' in the division of assets. It involved a wealthy couple who had in excess of £10 million in assets when they commenced divorce proceedings 14 years after they married. The ex-husband argued that his former wife's claim for a half share of the assets was not appropriate because he already owned...