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Solicitor definition

What does Solicitor mean? A solicitor is a client-facing lawyer who advises on the law, drafts and negotiates documents, manages transactions, and conducts and supervises litigation, often instructing barristers for specialist advocacy. The term is statutory in each jurisdiction and refers to a lawyer admitted to the roll, holding a current practising certificate, and authorised to perform reserved legal activities, subject to professional conduct and accounts rules. Regulation differs slightly across the UK and Ireland: in England and Wales, solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA); in Scotland by the Law Society of Scotland; in Northern Ireland by the Law Society of Northern...

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Separating joint owners: same solicitor on sale and A’s purchase; declaration of trust re proceeds

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Joint ownership and severance

Whether the pair are married or merely cohabiting is not stated; what is clear is that the house is their home and that title is held jointly. It is possible that, on transfer, an express declaration of trust was included to the effect that they were to hold upon trust for themselves as beneficial joint tenants or, in the alternative, as tenants in common in agreed shares which need not be equal. If an express declaration of trust exists, it would be conclusive of the extent of their interests. Should it provide that they are to hold as beneficial joint tenants, that would mean neither owns a divided portion of the property; but if the joint tenancy were to be severed, they would, from that point, hold as tenants in common in equal shares. Section 36 of the Law of Property Act 1925 sets out the position on severance of a beneficial joint tenancy...

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Helen Galley
Helen Galley

Helen has built up a reputation as a well-respected commercial Chancery practitioner with an emphasis on property and trusts related issues. She has built up extensive and wide ranging expertise in both non contentious and contentious property matters ranging from small scale cases to multi-million pound developments. Helen has also acted in a wide range of commercial and business disputes in areas as diverse as travel, hire purchase, the media, entertainment, IPR, IT and e-commerce. Contentious and non-contentious trusts matters, both on and offshore, are a regular feature of her caseload. Helen is a member of STEP, ACTAPS, the Property Bar Association, the Chancery Bar Association and IAL as well as an accredited mediator. Helen is recommended as “a first-rate advocate” in Legal 500 2015 for private client (trusts and probate), partnership and professional negligence. She is said to be...

Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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