Karen Yates

Find out what our clients have to say about Karen here

Karen joined Clough & Willis in 2005. As a Solicitor and a member of the Private Client team she specialises in private client work as well as dealing with property transactions and residential conveyancing.

Karen acts for all types of clients, from individuals to companies across Bury, Manchester and the North West, and nationally across the UK.

PRIVATE CLIENT

Karen offers specialist advice in a number of key areas:

• Estate Administration (Probate and Intestacy); and
• Wills
• Lasting powers of attorney & Court of Protection Matters
• Deputyships

Wills: Making a Will is the only method of ensuring that your wishes are met on your death. Your individual requirements will determine how complex your Will needs to be. Karen will guide you through this process to ensure that your property and goods pass according to your wishes on your death.

Estate administration: Those responsible for administering an estate (e.g. Executors) have significant duties and responsibilities. They assume a personal liability and must account for all actions taken during the estate administration. It is therefore important that the estate is dealt with properly. We can provide support at this difficult time and help the Executors/Administrators, regardless of the size of the estate. Karen can advise on all aspects of Probate and Intestacy (where the deceased did not leave a will). She can provide general guidance for those that want to be involved in the process themselves or comprehensive assistance for those who would like to pass the responsibility of administering the estate over to a professional. 

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA): Karen can advise and assist with all aspects of putting in place a Lasting Power of Attorney from taking initial instructions through to completing the registration process for clients at The Office of the Public Guardian. She can also advise the chosen attorneys on their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and their responsibility to have regard to the Code of Practice under the Act. Karen is also able to deal with the registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney.

Deputyships: Karen provides assistance to people who are dealing with a family member or friend who has lost the ability to look after his or her own financial affairs. In the absence of a Power of Attorney document, an application must be made to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order. This can be a time consuming and often complicated process. Karen can make the application on behalf of clients, including completing all the necessary paperwork, dealing with the Court of Protection and ensuring the strict time limits and regulations imposed by the Court are adhered to. Karen can provide support for families who are dealing with mental illnesses helping them through a difficult time by dealing with all the legal formalities.

RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCING

Sales and Purchases: The legal transfer of property from one owner to another. Karen is experienced in dealing with all types of properties, including new builds; properties purchased 'off-plan'; leasehold or freehold properties; conversions; Buy-to-Let properties; listed buildings; flats and apartments.

Transfer or Sale of Property following death of an owner: The legal transfer of a property where an owner of a property has died. The property will need to be transferred in accordance with the terms of the will of the deceased owner or sold and the proceeds of sale distributed to the beneficiaries.

Deeds of Gift: The transfer of one owner's property (or share in a property) to another person where no payment is made in return.

Sale and Purchase of Freeholds/Ground rents: A ground rent is a sum of money payable by the owner of leasehold properties. There are rules which allow the owner of the property to apply to purchase the freehold interest. Alternatively, the freeholder may offer the freehold interest for sale. Karen regularly acts for clients purchasing the freehold to their property or for freeholders who wish to dispose of their interests.

Registration of Ownership:  Making a voluntary first registration application to the Land Registry to register your ownership. Registering the title to your property provides an up-to-date official record of your ownership of the land and eliminates the need to examine the past history of the title.  It also helps to prevent fraud which can occur where title deeds are lost or stolen.

Proving ownership: A common problem is that title deeds may have been lost over the years.  In order to prove ownership, an application will need to be submitted to the Land Registry for the current owner to be noted as the person legally entitled to the land or property.  This is more complicated than a simple first registration and it is important to ensure that the application is correct. Karen is experienced in such matters and is able to advise you of any potential issues and guide you smoothly through the process.

Karen graduated from Leeds University after having completed a BA Honours degree in Latin followed by a Masters degree in Law. She then completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School before joining Clough & Willis in 2005.

Email: karen.yates@clough-willis.co.uk