Divorce in England & Wales: What Does the Law Say?
Divorce is the formal process by which a marriage is officially brought to an end by the court. The party to the marriage who files for divorce is known as the petitioner, while the respondent is the individual petitioned against and therefore responding to those proceedings. By filing a petition to terminate the marriage, the […]
How Does the Claims Portal Work?
The Claims Portal is an online tool for securely processing low value personal injury claims in road traffic accidents, or employers’ and public liability claims. Strict Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) apply to running such claims, requiring parties to follow specific procedural steps and imposing tight deadlines within a framework of low fixed costs. Within this […]
How to Make an Application to Vary a Child Arrangement Order
While a child arrangement order is most commonly sought by one or both parents following a separation, there may be circumstances where the non-biological parent of a child, another relative or the child’s legal guardian may seek to change an existing order. This may be because one or both parents or legal guardians have passed […]
Grounds for Civil Partnership Dissolution
To apply for a civil partnership dissolution, you must provide the court with relevant legal grounds for the partnership to be brought to an end. Grounds for civil partnership dissolution In England and Wales, as with divorce, there is no system of no-fault dissolution. You cannot simply state that you have fallen out of love […]
What Does Domicile Mean?
‘Domicile’ and ‘residency’ are terms often used interchangeably, but for legal and taxation purposes in the UK, they are separate and distinct. Domicile is a legal concept that describes the country in which you officially have, or you believe to have, your real or permanent home. This is not, however, the same as ‘residence’. Residence […]
Assent of Property to Transfer Ownership
An assent of property is the transfer of legal ownership of property or land by the personal representative(s) of the estate of someone who has died to the beneficiary or beneficiaries. Unlike transfers under the conveyancing process, there is no sale or purchase price under an assent. This is because an assent only applies where […]
Buying a Leasehold Property (and the Legal Considerations!)
Purchasing a leasehold property can involve a number of risks. Here are some key legal considerations if you are considering buying a leasehold property. What is a leasehold? If you buy a leasehold, you will not own the property or the land on which its stands. As a leaseholder, owning the leasehold to […]
What does RIDDOR stand for?
A common health and safety question asked by employers is “What does RIDDOR stand for?” RIDDOR refers to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, which place a legal duty on employers and other individuals responsible for work premises to report and keep records of certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and […]
Notice Periods (Your Questions Answered!)
Your notice period refers to the time between the date you formally advise your employer that you resign and the date your contract of employment will officially end. [toc] Before resigning from employment, you will need to ensure you are complying with the legal requirements on you to resign with the relevant notice period. How do […]
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 […]