Welcome

Solicitors Scott Duff & Co provide legal services throughout Cumbria from their offices in Penrith, Carlisle and Keswick.

The business was founded by Andrew Duff in 1977. We are now firmly established as a respected seven partner firm supported by over 20 staff.

Our team aims to provide the highest quality of advice and service by combining specialist qualifications, experience and local knowledge with a straight forward approach.

Although we have invested in 21st century IT systems to enable us to run our business effectively and to keep up with the latest developments in legal practice we remain committed to providing a service tailored to the individual needs of our Clients, their families and their businesses.

We offer, by prior arrangement, out of hours appointments, home visits and free initial interviews.

Latest News

New Keswick Office
Our new Keswick premises are now open at
32 St John's Street, Keswick.

Partnership
Katie Wright joined the Partnership on 1st May 2007 almost exactly 30 years after Andrew Duff started the business in Penrith.

Family Department

The Family Department has been strengthened by the employment of experienced solicitor Philippa Harding.  Following completion of her training contract with the firm Rebecca Tonkin qualified as a solicitor on 16th July and has become a permanent member of the department.

Conveyancing Department

It is now a legal requirement to have a HIP before you put any house on the market.

We are able to order HIP's online for you on request or if your Estate Agent is preparing your HIP we are happy to liase with them to provide the necessary legal information.

Wills and Elderly Client Department
The announcement in the budget, March 2008 that any unused nil rate band on the death of one spouse can be transferred to the suviving spouse has been welcomed.

A surviving spouse potentially can now have an estate worth £624,000 before paying inheritence tax.  Anyone who has prepared a Will incorporating inheritence tax planning may now wish to review the Will.

Lasting Powers Of Attorney

Since 1st October 2007 you have been able to prepare a document, which allows you to choose a person to make decisions on your behalf, relating to your personal healthcare and welfare, including decisions to give or refuse to consent to treatment on your behalf.  These decisions can only be taken on your behalf if you lack the capacity to make the decision for yourself.  This document is called a Lasting Power of Attorney (Personal Welfare).

You can also prepare a separate document which enables you to appoint someone you trust, to look after your financial affairs.  You can choose whether to give that person the right to look after your financial affairs immediately, or you can state that it should only be used if at some time in the future you are unable to look after your financial affairs yourself.  This is called a Lasting Power of Attorney (Property and Affairs).

Our Wills and Elderly Client Department would be pleased to discuss any of these with you.