New time limits have been introduced for challenges to be registered with the NHS. Different time limits now apply to claims concerning living individuals currently receiving care; and claims by families in respect of recovering historic care home fees paid by or on behalf of deceased relatives (known as “retrospective reviews”).
Those currently receiving care
A new time limit has been introduced for challenging decisions of Primary Care Trusts in the cases of living individuals. On 1 April 2012, a time limit of six months has been imposed for the individual or their representative to seek a review of the Primary Care Trust’s decision.
Retrospective reviews
If you are considering claiming back care home fees paid, in respect of an individual who is now deceased, the new time limits are as follows:-
For care home fees wrongly paid in England between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2011, a claim needs to be registered with the Primary Care Trust before 30 September 2012.
For care home fees wrongly paid in England between 1 April 2011 and 31 March 2012, a claim is to be registered with the Primary Care Trust before 31 March 2013.
It is crucial that people are aware of these new deadlines, as the clock is ticking for families and Executors of Estates to reclaim wrongly paid nursing home fees.
If you think you have a claim and would like advice, please contact us without delay
Daniel Winter (profile) 
Wednesday 16th May 2012
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It has been possible to rectify the Will of a deceased person since the Administration of Justice Act 1982 came into force. The recent case in the Estate of Bridget Murray is an extreme example of a claim for rectification and demonstrates just how far some families will go to enforce changes to a Will which on the face of it, appears to incorporate the deceased’s last wishes.
Mrs Caroline Barrett was named a beneficiary of Bridget Murray’s Will. Bridget Murray, Mrs Barrett’s grandmother, a strict Catholic, made the Will a few months before she died. However, Mrs Barrett’s aunt and two uncles issued a claim to rectify the Will on the basis that:
(1) the legacy to Mrs Barrett was a drafting error by the solicitor who drew up the Will, and
(2) Mrs Murray actually had no intention of leaving any of her Estate to her granddaughter because, in her mind, her granddaughter had lived in sin by moving out of her family home to live with her boyfriend for the 18 month period prior to their wedding.
Under the Administration of Justice Act 1982 if a Court is satisfied that the deceased’s Will failed to carry out their intentions due to either a clerical error by the person who drafted the Will, or a failure by the Will draftsman to understand the instructions of the deceased, the Court may order that the Will be rectified to carry out the true intentions of the person making the Will.
In this particular case, the Court was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Mrs Murray did indeed intend to cut her granddaughter out of her Will. The Judge accepted that some might not agree with the strong religious views held by Mrs Murray, but it was not the Court’s decision as to whether those views were held fairly.
This case was widely reported in the press and is a good example of how rectification claims work in practice. It is also a clear example of how important it is that anyone who wishes to make a Will seeks professional advice and instructs someone who has sufficient experience and legal knowledge to draft the Will accurately so that it will carry out their intentions.
Daniel Winter (profile) Wednesday 2nd May 2012
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If you missed our hugely successful briefing on "Lettings without the headache" download the slides HERE.
In front of around 100 landlords from both London and the local area, Mullucks Wells and Nockolds provided an excellent presentation on the regulations affecting landlord’s, the do's and don’ts of renting properties, common concerns with tenanted properties, buy to let mortgages, commercial rental market and what to do when things go wrong.
Feedback from the event was excellent, such as “Very informative discussion” and “What a great event it put my mind at rest that I was doing the right thing”.
If you are interested in attending other events in this area please contact marketing@nockolds.co.uk
Maria-Christina Peyman (profile) 
Monday 30th April 2012
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This week Nockolds Solicitors received official confirmation that Alfonso Valero, Solicitor and Spanish Abogado, is ranked in the Global Chambers publication as a “Leading Practitioner” within two categories Dispute Resolution (UK and Spain) and Intellectual Property (UK and Spain).
The Chambers Global Publication researches into the strengths and reputations of law firms and individuals. Their methodology has been approved by the British Market Research Bureau. This intensive, continuous research identifies the world’s leading lawyers and law firms - those which perform best according to the criteria most valued by clients. No lawyer can buy their way into Global Chambers rankings. As a result, the directories - published annually - are known to be the most accurate and the most reliable.
“We are immensely proud of the recognition that Alfonso has received through his international work with clients at Nockolds. Alfonso is ranked alongside some of London’s “Magic Circle” firms which is an outstanding achievement for a Hertfordshire based firm.”
Darren Hayward, Managing Partner.
Nockolds International Team was established in 2005 and provides a unique combination of skills through Alfonso as a dual qualified Solicitor and Spanish Abogado and Dalila Segador, a Certified Legal Translator in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
For more information concerning Alfonso’s Ranking please go to http://www.chambersandpartners.com/Global/Firms/5120-46041/871721
Alfonso Valero (profile) 
Sunday 15th April 2012
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Women in Business (WIB) is a professional women’s membership group set up to empower business women in the area and enable networking and promotion of their businesses.
The group, established in 1997, has seen its membership grow over the years. It was initially set up by the highly respected Diana Smillie and, under the new leadership of Bilyana Zilic - Munic, Commercial Solicitor at Nockolds, it continues to expand.
WIB meets 5 times a year at various venues in the local area for lunch. Each lunch has a speaker who imparts knowledge, advice and their own experience of being in business and sometimes just helpful tips for everyday life. Over the years we have had the pleasure of listening to some fantastic speakers, such as Virginia Munro and Chris Barnado of ‘The Wand Company’ and Anni Ridsill-Smith of Airate.
Bilyana appreciates we all need some “downtime” and in May 2007 WIB went to France for the day to celebrate the group’s 10 year anniversary. It was a very enjoyable and relaxing day. Bilyana hopes to be able to offer another fantastic treat for members to enjoy this year as WIB celebrates 15 years of success as a group.
There is a keen interest expressed in this group and as a result the number of members continues to increase. Bilyana already has plans for more motivational speakers and entrepreneurs from the area, making the meetings even more beneficial to local business women.
If you are interested in coming to one of the WIB events and would like to become a member, please email Lara Ibbostson-Smith on lara@nockolds.co.uk to receive information about upcoming events.
Bilyana Zilic-Munic (profile) 
Tuesday 20th March 2012
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