How to Adopt a Baby
If you are considering adoption in the UK, this guide provides an overview of how to adopt a baby, including the eligibility requirements you will need to meet and the process to follow. What is adoption? Adoption is the legal process by which a child becomes a full and permanent member of their new adoptive […]
What is a Parental Responsibility Order?
Understanding what parental responsibility means and how to obtain a Parental Responsibility Order can be the first step in ensuring you have a say in important decisions about your child’s upbringing. What is parental responsibility? Parental responsibility is defined by section 3(1) of the Children Act 1989 as “all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and […]
How to Complain about Faulty Goods
If you have purchased an item that is not as described, of satisfactory quality or fit for the purpose, you have the right to complain to the retailer and you may have a claim under the Consumer Rights Act. When you purchase goods or services, you as the consumer agree to the terms of service and […]
Asbestos Claims: Compensation for Negligent Exposure
Asbestos claims can result in compensation for individuals who have been exposed to asbestos and as a result, have developed asbestos-related illness. In the 1990’s asbestos, which had been commonly used in construction and other industries, was banned for use in the UK as it was found to cause fatal illnesses. Since then, legislation such […]
Pensions and Divorce – How Will I Be Affected?
Under the Pensions Act 1995, it is a mandatory requirement that pensions are taken into consideration in a divorce. For many, their pension may be one of the highest value assets they own. As such, the degree to which a divorce will affect a pension will often be of great concern to divorcing couples, particularly […]
What are Parental Rights?
Disputes can arise when separated parents disagree on what is best for their child, which is why it’s important to understand your rights as a parent. Having parental rights over a child enables you to make decisions as a parent and legally enforce those decisions. This is even more important when parents are not on […]
Can My Employer Change My Contract?
‘Can my employer change my contract?’ remains a commonly asked question by UK employees. Unfortunately, the law governing contracts of employment is not always straightforward to interpret. [toc] Below we look more closely at contracts of employment from an employee’s perspective, and specifically at what you can do to redress any contractual changes made by […]
How Can a Father Get Custody of His Child?
Custody is now known as residence and refers to the arrangements as to where the child will live for some or all of their time. The courts encourage for residence to be settled with an informal agreement between the parents. If however an agreement cannot be reached or if an existing arrangement has been broken, […]
Can a Mother Stop a Father From Seeing Their Child?
10 minute read Last updated 16th August 2019 Can a Mother Stop a Father From Seeing Their Child? The welfare of the child is of the utmost importance in these situations. This article covers: When can contact be restricted? What can I do if my child’s mother stops me from seeing my child? What is […]
What is Paternity Leave?
Paternity leave is time qualifying employees can take off work to care for their newborn baby or following the adoption of a child. Paternity leave is not an entitlement, as such it will be important to understand if it as available to you. You may also be eligible for paternity pay whilst you are on […]
How Much is Child Maintenance?
The framework for assessing, collecting and enforcing child maintenance payments is set out in the Child Support Act 1991. Under the Act, both separated parents of a qualifying child are responsible for the financial cost of bringing up that child, provided the parent does not fall under one of the exemptions. Once it has been […]
What is Child Maintenance?
If you have separated from your partner, you may have concerns about who is now financially responsible for the every day living costs of your child (or children). This guide will help you to understand the question of ‘What is child maintenance?’ – and the options that are available to you to ensure that your […]
Who Gets Child Tax Credits in Shared Custody?
3 minute read Last updated: 11th August 2019 The question of who gets child tax credits in a shared custody arrangement can be complicated since only one person can claim child tax credit for any one child. Both parents may feel they would benefit from receiving child tax credit and on the basis of a […]
Claiming Criminal Injuries Compensation
Criminal injuries compensation is a form of compensation that can be claimed when a blameless person becomes the victim of a violent crime. This is a crime where violence is threatened or used upon that person and results in physical or mental harm. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is the government body that administrates […]
Returning Faulty Goods: A Buyers Guide to Unsatisfactory Purchases
Faulty goods are items which either do not fit their pre-sale description, are of unsatisfactory quality, or are unfit for purpose. Even the most careful consumer occasionally finds that an item they have purchased is not up to standard, and may rightly seek a remedy of some kind. Recent buyers are protected from faulty goods […]
What are My Statutory Rights as a Customer?
The main piece of legislation determining your statutory rights as a customer is the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The Act consolidates outdated laws in this area and supplements newer legislation such as the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, simplifying and updating your statutory rights. The Act was drafted to reflect modern shopping habits and addresses four […]
What are Tenants in Common?
If you are looking to buy property with your partner, a relative or friend, or perhaps you have jointly inherited a property, there are two different types of property ownership options: ‘tenants in common’ or ‘joint tenants’. The type of ownership you register with HM Land Registry will affect how you legally own the property […]
What is a Compulsory Purchase Order?
Discovering that the property you own or occupy may be compulsorily acquired can be very distressing, particularly if you are unaware of where you stand legally. Below we examine in more detail the question of ‘what is a compulsory purchase order?’, including your rights as an owner and what an authorised body is required to […]
Vacant Possession (An Explanatory Overview!)
Vacant possession is the contractual right to exclusive use of a property, both physically and legally, following the sale of a property or grant of a lease. The purchaser or tenant must be free to enjoy the property for the purpose intended, without hindrance from any physical presence or legal impediment. By way of example, […]
A Guide to Fracking and Manorial Rights
Fracking has become highly controversial for a number of reasons, with concerns around the environmental impact of this activity, access rights and ownership of the minerals. Fracking is a technique used to recover gas and oil from shale rock. Shale gas reserves have been identified across large parts of the UK, and are especially common […]