How Does a Discretionary Trust Work?
A discretionary trust is one of many different types of trust that are available. The suitability of each type of trust should be determined by a number of factors driven primarily by your personal objectives and plans. With its high degree of flexibility and wide practical application, the discretionary trust has become one of the […]
Buying a Shared Ownership Property: FAQs
If you would like to own your own home but are unable to afford the mortgage, shared ownership properties could allow you to buy a share of a property from the landlord and rent the remaining share at a reduced rate. As a government-funded programme, it is designed to help people get on the property […]
Filing for Divorce (Guide to the Divorce Process)
In England or Wales you can file for divorce if you have been married for at least one year and your relationship has irretrievably broken down. The following is a general guide to the process of filing for divorce, and the key legal considerations when completing the initial petition through to applying for a decree […]
How to Take Someone to the Small Claims Court
If you are owed money or are looking for compensation, you may be able to take the person or company responsible to the small claims court. You may have purchased a faulty product or paid for substandard work by a builder, or perhaps your landlord has refused to carry out repairs or you have suffered […]
How Long is Paternity Leave?
If you are an expectant father, or the partner of an expectant mother, and want to take time off work following the child’s birth, you will need to know your employment rights. This guide examines the legal position for fathers or partners to be, including how much time off work you are entitled to, and […]
How to Complete a Directions Questionnaire
12 minute read Last updated: 16th August 2019 A directions questionnaire is designed to provide relevant information for the courts to give the necessary instructions to parties to a claim. This article covers: Small Claims Multi-track and Fast track claims Common pitfalls when completing the Directions Questionnaire How legal advice can help you complete the […]
Indemnity Insurance to Move House (Do You Really Need it?)
If your house move is at risk of delay or falling through due to a specific legal issue with the property, you might be advised to look at purchasing indemnity insurance. Indemnity insurance provides protection to the buyer and mortgage lender against certain risks, which will allow the transaction to proceed. Claim rates for indemnity […]
Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
If you have been injured or harmed as a result of another person’s negligence, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation. There are many different types of personal injury claims: Road traffic accident claims Clinical negligence claims Holiday sickness & holiday accident claims Accident at work claims Industrial disease claims […]
Clinical Negligence – Do You Have a Claim?
Every year millions of people undergo medical procedures. This involves individuals putting a large amount of trust into the hands of the professionals caring for them. Some however do not receive the standard of care they should expect to receive, for example: Where there has been an incorrect diagnosis or a failure to make a […]
Suing the NHS (How to Claim for Negligence)
If something went wrong during your NHS treatment, and you have suffered injury or harm as a result, you may have a claim for compensation. Medical negligence – sometimes known as clinical negligence – occurs when a health professional breaches their duty of care to a patient, leading to damage or injury. Medical negligence can […]
Medical Negligence Claim (Can You Get Compensation?)
Medical negligence is a breach of a legal duty of care by healthcare professionals. If medical negligence has caused you to suffer harm or injury, you may be able to sue the care provider, whether that’s the NHS or a private healthcare company. To make a claim, you’ll need to prove that the healthcare professional […]
Adverse Possession (and How to Claim it!)
Adverse possession allows an individual (‘squatter’) to acquire valid freehold title to a specific piece of land when they have been in continuous occupation and had exclusive possession of the land over a specified number of years. Adverse possession is often referred to as ‘squatters’ rights’. In the context of adverse possession, the term ‘squatter’ […]
Self-Employed Maternity Pay (A Guide!)
If you’re pregnant and you work for yourself, you may be entitled to self-employed maternity pay, known as ‘Maternity Allowance’. [toc] Maternity Allowance is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to pregnant women who do not otherwise qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay because for example they are self-employed. Do I qualify […]
Can I Take Unpaid Parental Leave?
Unpaid parental leave allows eligible employees to take a limited amount of time off work each year on an unpaid basis for child-related reasons such as to spend more time with their children or family. During this period of unpaid parental leave, the employee’s rights are protected, for example, to annual leave and the right […]
Exchange of contracts (What’s Involved?)
When buying or selling a property, the stage of the conveyancing process that makes the agreement legally binding is known as ‘exchange of contracts’. Up until the point that contracts are exchanged, neither the vendor nor buyer are legally required to see the transaction through as they are not deemed to have formally accepted the […]
How Long Does Conveyancing Take?
The residential conveyancing process can take anywhere from 6 weeks up to 6 months from start to finish. It can be difficult for a solicitor to advise exactly how long conveyancing will take since every transaction is different to the next. While they may provide indication based on their experience and your circumstances, this will […]
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Employees Responsibilities
Ensuring your employees understand their duties in respect of health and safety and that they are supported in meeting these duties is critical to creating and maintaining a safe and compliant working environment. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places legal responsibilities on employees to exercise reasonable care concerning the health and safety […]
What Makes Contract Terms Legally Binding?
When drafting or entering into a commercial contract it is important to understand how legally binding contract terms affect all parties to the agreement. Well-drafted contract terms should provide certainty and clarity in respect of the contractual obligations and of the remedies available in the event of a breach of contract. Importantly, however, a contract […]
Patenting in the UK (FAQs)
To protect your invention from being used, made or sold by someone else, a patent can provide legal protection for your intellectual property for a limited period of time. The process of obtaining a patent is in itself protracted and can take up to five years from filing. After this initial period, annual renewal and […]
Employer Withholding Pay? (What to Do!)
An employer withholding pay, whether in part or in full, is also known as a deduction of wages. A deduction is when you are paid less than the total amount that you are due. There are limited circumstances in which an employer can lawfully deduct or withhold your wages, but where these do not apply, […]