Civil Partnership Rights
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship between two people, either same sex or mixed sex. In legal terms, civil partners enjoy the same legal rights and protections as married couples. This extends to areas such as tax benefits, pensions, inheritance and on relationship breakdown. The primary difference with marriage is there is no […]
Deed of Trust for Joint Property Owners
Shared ownership of property is becoming more and more common, whether between unmarried couples, friends, siblings, or children with their parents. If you’re buying a property with someone else, a deed of trust is an effective way of proving legal ownership of all parties who have a share of the property. What is a […]
Minimum Wage Increase from 1st April
The UK’s minimum wage has increased today, 1 April 2023. The minimum wage levels are as follows: NMW rate NMW rate National Living Wage (23+) £10.42 21-22 Year Old Rate £10.18 18-20 Year Old Rate £7.49 16-17 Year Old Rate £5.28 Apprentice Rate £5.28 Accommodation Offset £9.10 […]
Can You Claim for Vibration White Finger?
If you’re suffering from Vibration White Finger due to your employer’s negligence, you may be able to bring a claim for personal injury at work. What is Vibration White Finger? Vibration white finger (VWF), sometimes known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), is a permanent and painful condition affecting the nerves, joints and muscles of the […]
Ombudsman Rules ‘No Kids’ Rental Policy Discriminatory
The Property Ombudsman has ruled that a letting agency’s policy of not renting to families with children is in breach of its code of conduct by discriminating against women. Lexi Levens, an NHS nurse, brought the landmark legal challenge with homeless charity Shelter, after her family was forced to register as homeless. Having been served a […]
New UK Minimum Wage for International Seafarers
New legislation is now in force from today imposing a minimum wage for international seafarers working in the UK. Under the Seafarers’ Wages Act, shipping lines operating at UK ports must now pay seafarers at least the UK’s prevailaing minimum wage, regardless of the nationality of the crew or operator. As of 1 July 2022, […]
Distribution Agreement: How Do They Work?
Distribution agreements are used between distributors and manufacturers to provide certainty and clarity within the commercial relationship. In this guide, we explain what an effective distribution agreement should include and consider the key areas of risk to be mitigated when drafting and relying on a distribution agreement. What is a distribution agreement? A distribution agreement is […]
Buying Commercial Property (Key Considerations!)
If you’re considering buying commercial property, there are many financial, practical and legal aspects to work through before committing to the transaction. In this guide, we examine some of the advantages and disadvantages of buying business premises, as well as the practicalities and legalities involved with purchasing commercial premises. What is classed as commercial […]
What is COSHH?
COSHH is a high-risk area of health and safety compliance for employers dealing with hazardous substances. The penalties for non-compliance with COSHH include prosecution and unlimited fines. In certain serious cases, for instance, where an individual died as a result of a breach of COSHH, the responsible persons may face imprisonment. In this guide, we […]
Rest Breaks at Work Rules
Rest breaks at work are important to support employee wellbeing, optimise workforce performance and, in many work environments, ensure safety. As such, employers have to give their workers appropriate breaks and opportunities for rest while at work. As an employer, if you fail to meet the minimum legal requirements, or to offer a suitable compensatory […]
How Long Does Conveyancing Take with No Chain?
Understanding how long conveyancing will take can help with the overall buying process, such as giving notice on a tenancy or planning renovation work and booking removal services or furniture. If you’ve found the property you want to buy, or have accepted an offer to sell, the likelihood is you will want to get moving […]
Statutory Paternity Pay Rules
If you’re planning to take time off work following the birth of your child or following adoption, you may be entitled to claim statutory paternity pay (SPP). What is statutory paternity pay? Statutory paternity pay is the money certain workers are entitled to after the birth of their child or adoption of a child to […]
Paternity Leave Form Guide
Qualifying employees have a statutory entitlement to take either one or two weeks’ off work as paternity leave. During this period, you may also be eligible for Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP). Employees are required to make their claim for paternity leave using the relevant paternity leave form. In this guide for expectant fathers, we explain […]
Defamation, Libel & Slander in the UK
Defamation law is about giving legal redress to an individual or organisation that has suffered substantial reputational harm as a direct result of something untrue said or written by someone else. It’s a complex area of law, turning specifically on the facts of the case. Anyone who believes they have been defamed may be able to […]
Conditional Order/Decree Nisi in Divorce
Obtaining a conditional order is a crucial stage of the divorce process in England and Wales. You will need a conditional order before you can apply for a final order to legally end your marriage. In this guide, we explain what a conditional order is in divorce proceedings and the process you will need to follow to […]
Final Order/Decree Absolute in Divorce
A final order is the last stage of the divorce process in England and Wales. In this guide, we explain what a final order is and the steps you will need to follow to obtain one to legally bring your marriage to an end. This guidance equally applies to anyone looking to dissolve their civil partnership. […]
Consumer Contracts Regulations: What Are Your Rights?
The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 (CCR) apply to contracts made both on and away from business premises, as well as “at a distance”. There are also rules for businesses providing digital content. Known formally as the Consumer Contracts Regulations (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges), the regulations came into force in June 2014, replacing the Distance […]
Divorce Process Step By Step
No-fault divorce rules were introduced in the UK in 2022 to help make the divorce process more straightforward. Under this system, divorcing couples no longer have to cite grounds for divorce or attribute blame to be able to end their marriage. But the divorce process can still be both emotionally and financially demanding, particularly if the relationship […]
LLP vs Ltd: Differences Explained
LLPs and Limited companies are common types of business structures in the UK. Both are used to limit liability while offering flexibility, but there are also notable differences between the two. In this guide, we set out the key considerations of the LLP vs Ltd company structures to help determine which you should adopt for […]
Child Custody Rights & Making Child Arrangements
In this guide for parents, we explain the law on child custody and how to deal with child arrangements and residency issues. We also answer frequently asked questions to help you understand your child custody rights. What is child custody? Child custody, or residency, is dealt with by the family courts under child arrangements orders. […]