Divorce is not an easy journey for many couples when there are important decisions to be agreed over financial assets and potentially children. So achieving the right outcomes are essential. With the support of a good Divorce Solicitor, potential pitfalls can be overcome and the stress involved in ending your marriage or civil partnership be minimised. Pointers to consider for when choosing your Divorce Solicitor Instructing a Solicitor to act on your behalf is a major decision. So where do you start in choosing your Solicitor? Check out below our checklist for directing you in making the right choice: Experience…
Gill Laing
Gill Laing
Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law.
Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing Agency for the Professional Services Sector.
Having a dress code at work does not apply to every workplace however in some industries you have to dress a certain way. Whether it is due to health and safety regulations or to maintain a corporate image, as an employer you have the right to enforce a dress code at work as long as it applies to all your employees equally, is not discriminatory in any way and is in accordance with the law. If your company has a dress code at work it needs to be accommodating to all employees and importantly make sure that it does not…
When an employee commits an act that is so bad it warrants immediate dismissal, this is often referred to as ‘gross misconduct’ in the workplace. In some cases, an employer may be in their right to dismiss the employee without any notice and without having to offer them any extra pay. A lot of different types of behaviour can count as gross misconduct in the workplace. Here are some of the most common forms of behaviour to look out for in your employees. Behaviour that severely damages the reputation/productivity of your business Many employees will make mistakes that cost money…
A gagging order is an injunction issued by the court to restrict or prohibit the public disclosure of private or confidential information on a particular matter. It is a legal means of protecting the privacy of an individual and as such is legally referred to as a ‘privacy injunction’. Gagging orders are commonly sought by celebrities or high profile public figures so as to censor the media from publicising information about their private lives. That said, these types of order are not the exclusive domain of the rich and famous. Who can apply for a gagging order? Gagging…
As a consumer, when we buy any product, be that a washing machine, building materials, or a child’s toy, it is with the expectation that the item will be safe. So, what happens when we, our families or our property suffers damage from a faulty product? Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and retailers are responsible for ensuring that the products they manufacture, distribute, supply or sell are safe and fit for purpose. The area of British law that covers this is called ‘product liability’. What is the Consumer Protection Act 1987? The Consumer Protection Act 1987…
Constructive dismissal is a common type of claim brought before employment tribunals. Constructive dismissal occurs where an employee resigns as a result of their employer having breached their employment contract, which causes the employee to reasonably believe that continuation of employment is impossible. What is constructive dismissal? Grounds for a constructive dismissal claim Not every breach of contract will entitle an employee to resign and claim constructive dismissal. The breach must have been substantial, and a direct cause of the resignation. The breach of contract can also result from either a single event, a series of events, or a failure to act. There…
Trademark registration offers legal protection for you and your business against your brand, company name, product and/services. So it’s important to register your trademark properly to avoid any negative impact on your business and its reputation. If another business copies your brand such as your products’ packaging or visual identity for instance, then it will hit hard on your core brand. Your brand is a core business asset, essential for building recognition within target markets and for nurturing to maintaining trust and emotional loyalty with our customers. What steps can you take to legally prevent someone from using your brand…
Like most large projects it’s worth having a ‘moving house checklist’ to remind you of everything you need to action when vacating your current property and to keep you on track for moving into your new home. You may have your checklist ready with the excitement of your offer being accepted or you may be a little more cautious and wait until you exchange contracts. So rather than provide a formal project plan with key timings and associated actions, we will guide you along with a moveable, helpful checklist to help you organise for your big move: a) Declutter…
When you purchase a property, your Conveyancing Solicitor will recommend various local searches which they will request with the Local Authority or other third parties. This provides peace of mind with the buyer that there are no current or future issues which could pop up with the property, so it’s a marketable sound investment. It also allows the buyer to assess potential risks which may prevail before committing to the sale. Some cash buyers may decide not to carry out any searches so your Legal Representative may recommend taking out indemnity insurance. Many of these searches, also known as ‘property…
There is no definitive time frame to how long it takes to move house, as unexpected complications could arise during the conveyancing cycle and it’s also dependant on the number of vendors and buyers in the chain. At the point of an offer being accepted on the property you are buying / selling and obtaining the keys to move into your new home, it can take anywhere between 2 – 4 months. Though in rare circumstances where there is purely a vendor and buyer in the chain or a cash-buyer, moving house could run smoothly and take 4-6 weeks. When…
Asking yourself the question, should I move house can lead to much contemplation. Everyone has different reasons for making this decision and it depends on the stage you are at in your life and any associated family, work or personal–related reasons which could be driving your change. You may be ready to downsize as your children move forward with their lives, you may require warden-assisted accommodation due to health problems or your priorities have changed as you need to be living in a new school catchment area. This post provides a checklist to help you through this complicated and important,…
There can be many contributing factors which can impact how long your divorce will take; if there are children involved, if your spouse is contesting the divorce and what is at stake financially. Some Solicitors will suggest a divorce can take anywhere from 16-24 weeks where there are no complications, which could extend up to a year for acrimonious couples. Nowadays, couples are also accessing ‘Do It Yourself Quickie Divorces’ with promises of fast turnaround times, though there are still mandatory timeframes when the court can issue paperwork – so they don’t be misled. Obtain advice from your Solicitor who…
If you are buying a property, a local authority search is carried out during the conveyancing process and for prospective buyers it will be known as a search within the ‘search pack’. The local authority search provides additional protection to the buyer of the property to ensure there are no unexpected surprises, in terms of restrictions or factors affecting the property or land it resides on when you move in, as well as potential factors which could impact your property in the future. The local authority search is split into two parts; LLC1 and CON29 (and optional Con290 Enquiries) which…
Before you can make a British citizenship application, you must first check that you qualify and meet the strict eligibility criteria. Your status will also determine the process by which you are to apply for citizenship. If you qualify by naturalisation, the British citizenship application process will be different than if you are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or someone holding UK settled status. Check whether you can apply to be a British citizen For a British citizenship application to be successful, you must meet the following requirements. a) Your age: You must be aged…
Having the foresight to prepare your will and probate (if relevant) will protect your family and yourself from any heartache in the future. It will ensure you have peace of mind now that your affairs will be dealt according to your wishes and in your best interests by those who you trust. Once you have read in detail our posts on How to Write a will and Understand what’s involved in probate, we thought that this would give you a summary on the key points to remember about wills and probate. Key Takeways about probate Probate may be required if…
Lacking the ability to make decisions and losing your independence are difficult enough to contemplate either for yourself, close family or friends. What if someone else will be managing your affairs when you die which is not in your best interests? Learn how a Power of Attorney can protect your family and yourself before it’s too late. If a Power of Attorney is not in place, then the consequences can be both costly and stressful if decisions about your affairs are decided by the Court. The Court may not grant your spouse, family or friends with a satisfactory outcome that…
Remortgaging is the process of switching your current mortgage to a new mortgage deal. This could be with your existing lender or a different lender. You don’t have to move home as the new mortgage is secured against the property you already own. A remortgage, like any mortgage, is a long-term commitment so you should make sure it’s the right move for you before you decide to go-ahead. Why you might choose to remortgage a) The current deal on your existing mortgage is coming to an end Many of the mortgage deals available on the market only…
For most skilled economic migrants, the Tier 2 Visa is the primary route into the UK. The Tier 2 Visa gives an employee from outside the EEA and Switzerland the right to reside and work in the UK for up to 5 years. Employees working on a Tier 2 Visa also have a number of other benefits such as the ability to bring family with them. Successful applications for a Tier 2 Visa relies on the skill set of the applicant, having a job offer and sponsorship from a qualifying employer from the UK’s list of approved sponsors, being offered…
Moving house can be either overwhelming or a smooth experience as each property, individual circumstances and the legalities of the conveyancing process can be very different. There are some factors which can be out of your control and others which you can prepare for, with both the support of a Conveyancer Solicitor and reading our tips for moving house: This gives you an overview of how to prepare yourself: Tip 1. Make sure it’s the right decision to move Deciding if you should move house is a complicated, costly decision and you will need time to think through…
Buying a house can take anywhere from 4 weeks up to 4 months depending on any unexpected discrepancies which may arise during the conveyancing process, as well as issues which may crop up from additional buyers and sellers, if there is a lengthy chain. Though for cash buyers and where there is a short chain, then the process can be very quick. For everyone completing on a house sale, the final stage in buying a house is the window between exchanging contracts and the final stage known as ‘house completion’. Please read our extensive guide on conveyancing here >> …