Family Law Survey: The Challenges of Divorce at Christmas
A family law survey by national law firm Simpson Millar has revealed the complexities facing divorced and separated parents at Christmas time. The research showed that: 42% of newly separated parents cannot remain on speaking terms to make arrangements Dads feel greater need to compete for kids’ affections than mums after divorce or separation 30% […]
Dying Without a Will
Dying without a will is common. In the UK, approximately two thirds of all people who die don’t leave a will. This means they die intestate, and according to an article in the Guardian, new laws for these situations were introduced on October 1. The changes will not effect those who leave assets of less […]
Common Causes of Workplace Accidents
The common causes of workplace accidents revealed by the HSE’s data are slips, trips and falls, and manual handling injuries; all accidents that are potentially avoidable. According to the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE’s) most recent figures, more than 3 million working days were lost to workplace accident and injury in 2012/13, and cost the […]
Bear Scotland v Fulton: A Landmark Judgment
Until now employers have argued that compulsory, but not guaranteed overtime i.e. where the employer did not have to offer the overtime but, if offered, the worker had to work it, was not to be taken into account when calculating holiday pay. A landmark judgment in the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT), Bear Scotland v Fulton (joined […]
Children and Families Act 2014: Potentially Disastrous
Local Authorities face a huge challenge to meet the new demands of the Children and Families Act 2014, which came into force on the 1st September. According to leading education, health and social care lawyer Elaine Maxwell, inadequate funding and a lack of guidance on the new rules, many of which have yet to even […]
Do Tattoos Cause Hepatitis?
Do tattoos cause hepatitis? The risks of tourists acquiring hepatitis as a result of getting tattoos, piercings or pedicures while abroad has recently been emphasised by an Australian health organisation Helen Tyrrell, the CEO of Hepatitis Australia, warned in an interview with The Courier Mail that “any activity in which the skin is pierced can […]
NHS Staff Ratio Guidelines Fail to Set a Dangerlevel
New guidelines on NHS staffing levels have been criticised for failing to indicate a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio for high-quality care. The guidance, issued in July by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is designed to flag-up dangerously low staff numbers in relation to patient need.
A Postman Dog Bite – Comes with the Job?
A postman running for his life down a garden path, being chased by an angry dog may be an amusing cartoon scenario, but UK postal workers probably wouldn’t find it funny.
Foster & Partners Acquired by Simpson Millar Solicitors
Simpson Millar Solicitors has acquired Foster & Partners (“Fosters”), one of Bristol’s leading family law practices. Combining with Simpson Millar Solicitors existing Bristol operation from 1st July, Simpson Millar Solicitors are seeking to establish itself as the pre-eminent provider of family law services in Bristol and the South West. F Fosters has 9 family lawyers […]
Migration Statistics Reveal Rise in Investor and Entrepreneur Visas
Figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics reveal an increase in the number of UK investor and entrepreneur visas granted during the first quarter of 2014.
When Is A Marriage Not Legally Binding?
Pop songstress Foxes is reported as being uncertain of her marital status following a drunken ceremony at Glastonbury, in an interview with Metro magazine. She recalls hazy memories of a marriage ceremony in the after-party at Shangri-La, but has no idea where her festival “hubby” could be, revealing that they lost touch. She is reported […]
Are DIY Wills a Good Idea?
Thinking about writing a will can be depressing, because no one wants to contemplate the day when they will pass away and leave behind their friends, family and children. However, it is very important to craft a will so that it will be easier for your loved ones to deal with your affairs when that […]
How Far Can the Duty of Good Faith Go?
Could an employer be legally bound by a broad statement that they would make no further changes to their pension scheme, even though this was not written into a contract? Yes, where this leads to a reasonable expectation on the part of the employees. Background IBM wanted to change the terms of its ‘final salary’ […]
Treatment and Compensation for PTSD
More and more ex-service veterans are putting forward PTSD claims. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can disrupt lives significantly, but Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing can be highly-effective treatments. Sometimes a range of treatments can be used including medication to achieve the right results. The charity PTSD Resolution are offering what has proved to be […]
PreNups to Become Fully Binding?
Couples are have been told by the Law Commission that pre-nuptial agreements (prenups) should be legally binding in UK divorce settlements – as long as the needs of any children and the couple themselves have been considered. The Commission says that new guidelines should be drawn up to offer couples a more coherent idea on how […]
The Law Commission’s Proposals Herald a Golden Age for Prenuptial Agreements and DIY Divorce. Or Do They?
The last few days have seen a surge in interest in the possibility of pre-nuptial agreements becoming binding and the effect that that might have on the use of divorce lawyers versus DIY divorce solutions. The Law Commission’s Proposals First came the Law Commission’s recommendation on 27 February that ‘qualifying nuptial agreements’ (covering pre and […]
Family Lawyers and Clients Face New Challenges
Radical reforms to family law services in 2014 mean fresh challenges for family lawyers and numerous difficulties for parents and couples. Family lawyers have already had to cope with huge changes in 2013, including the withdrawal of public funding (legal aid) for most family law cases and the closure of several local courts. Although, family […]
Legal Aid Cuts Breach Human Rights – Are They Right?
To say that this year’s legal aid cuts and changes to eligibility were contentious is something of an understatement – in June, hundreds of solicitors protested outside the Ministry of Justice condemning cuts and reforms to the system. The aim, the MoJ have said from the outset, is to make multi-million pound savings on a […]
Compensation Culture – A Solicitor’s Viewpoint
The first thing to consider is what do people really mean when they talk about a compensation culture? Are they referring to a compensation culture amongst accident victims of exaggerating or making up their injuries in order to claim compensation, or are they thinking about the claims industry and the No Win/ No Fee compensation […]
What Does No Win No Fee Mean?
What does no win no fee mean? is a question that is asked a lot. We frequently hear banded about in the UK. It’s formal name is CFA – which means Conditional Fee Agreement. The no win no fee era was set in motion at the end of the means tested, personal injury legal aid, […]