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I have a housing dispute

Steps to follow Landlords and tenants have various rights and obligations: as a tenant, for example, you have the right to have your accommodation kept in a reasonable state of repair,... more

Choices if you cannot afford a lawyer

Lawyers don’t come cheap, and sometimes the people who need them most can’t afford to pay. If you are unable to pay a lawyer, then there are several options available to... more

I need advice with a mental health issue

Steps to follow  If you feel you have a mental health problem, your first stop should be your GP. They can provide advice or refer you for specialist services. Professionals who... more

Rights of carers

If you are a carer who looks after a relative, friend or neighbour who needs support because of their sickness, age or disability, you have a number of rights at work and you may be... more

Overview of retirement

Retirement Age You can retire at any age you want – as long as you can afford it – but the default retirement age in the UK is 65. When you reach this age your employer can... more

I have a benefits issue

Steps to follow Do you think the Benefits Office or another body (eg, CSA, HMRC, local council) has made a mistake in calculating your benefits which has resulted in you not receiving the... more

I am being investigated for fraud

Steps to follow Have you failed to report a change in your personal circumstances to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or council or deliberately provided incorrect information... more

I need help with an elderly relative

Steps to follow If you have an elderly relative who increasingly needs looking after and you’re responsible for sorting out their care, you must first decide where they are going to... more

What documents do I need when meeting a lawyer?

You want to ensure that your first meeting with your solicitor is as useful as possible. To ensure your solicitor thoroughly understands your problem and can provide you with proper legal... more

Fostering a child

What is fostering? Fostering places a child into the care of a family when it cannot live with its own parents. This may be because its parents have problems, cannot cope and need a... more

Welcoming a child

There are laws specifically designed to protect prospective or new parents and there are a range of benefits and allowances that you are entitled to as well. Pregnant employees If... more

I want to rent or let a property

Steps to follow Renting The easiest way of finding a private residence to rent is through a letting agency. The agency may also manage the property on the landlord’s... more

Missing mortgage payments

In times of recession, a great number of homeowners fall into arrears with their mortgage. If you are in this situation, you are best to seek help as fast as possible. If you... more

Business restructuring

Business restructuring can mean a host of different things, including downsizing the workforce, mergers, acquisitions, debt for equity swaps, and corporate simplification. Businesses... more

Age discrimination (personal)

On 1 October 2006, age discrimination in the workplace was banned. This means employees are legally protected from discrimination on the basis of their age, just as they are from sex or... more

Overview of adoption

Adoption is a legal device designed to provide permanent new homes and families to some of the thousands of children in the UK who are orphaned or who have birth parents either unwilling or... more

Claiming asylum

Who may claim asylum? To be recognised as a refugee and thus claim asylum in the UK, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because there is a real danger that... more

Problem tenants

Renting out property is not as easy as it might look to the outsider. The landlord has many responsibilities towards the tenant, and must take care of a multitude of repairs, insurance and... more

I want to buy or sell a property

Steps to follow Seller issues the contract package which consists of a draft contract, Official Copies of the legal title, copies of any deed/documents which affect the title, a Sellers... more

Repossession of a home you own

Pre-action protocol There are certain steps your lender must take before it takes action to repossess your home, which are set out in a ‘pre-action protocol’. This applies... more

Overview of child support

Having children is, as they say, a lifelong commitment. Regardless of whether or not the parents stay together (or ever were in a relationship at all) they have a responsibility to support... more

Do I need a lawyer? (personal)

There are many ways to resolve legal problems, the overwhelming majority of which do not involve going to court and some of which do not require the attention of a solicitor. Having... more

A relative has died

Steps to follow If a relative has died and you’re in charge of sorting out their affairs there are a number of people and organisations you need to inform starting with the family... more

Criminal justice process

Many people and organisations make up the criminal justice process, from police officers to criminal barristers to prisons. The following is a brief guide to what happens and who is... more

Eviction from a home you are renting

All homes rented from a private landlord after 28 February 1997 will automatically be an assured shorthold tenancy unless your landlord has given you notice in writing that it is an assured... more

Overview of marriage

Who can get married? Any two people can get married in the UK provided they are: Aged 16 or over Of different sex Not too closely related Unmarried and not in... more

Problems with your landlord - private landlord

The days of slum landlords have—in theory at least—ended. As a tenant, you have a right to live in a safe home free from an intrusive or unscrupulous landlord. What you are... more

Overview of personal tax

The government collects taxes from individuals through HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) under a variety of different headings including: Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Inheritance Tax... more

I am having problems with my local council

Steps to follow Call the council and tell them you want to make a complaint. They will be able to tell you which department you need to complain to and who in that department you should... more

I need to borrow money

Steps to follow How much do you need to borrow? How soon can you pay it back? How quickly do you need it? What assets do you have? These questions need to be answered before you can... more

I want to adopt

Steps to follow If you are over 21 (over 18 if part of a couple and one of you is the birth parent) and healthy enough to provide a long-term stable environment for a child you may be... more

Special needs education

Steps to follow If your child has learning difficulties or disabilities which affects their behaviour and makes it harder for them to learn or communicate than most children of the same... more

Can I cut the pay of my staff?

In harsh economic times, most companies start to examine how they can cut costs and save cash, with eyes almost inevitably turning to the company’s employee wage bill which will... more

My child has been excluded/expelled

Steps to follow If your child has learning difficulties or disabilities which affects their behaviour and makes it harder for them to learn or communicate than most children of the same... more

Termination of employment contracts

If you or your employer wants to terminate your employment, your employment contract will usually set out how much notice one must give the other before you leave. This may be more generous... more

I want a mortgage

Steps to follow Make sure your credit rating is in good shape – some companies do free credit checks. You can improve your credit rating by: registering on the electoral roll at... more

Terminating franchise agreements

A franchise is a mutually beneficial business agreement, where the franchisor (for example, a large business such as McDonald’s) allows a franchisee to use its business idea. This... more

Is bankruptcy right for you?

Bankruptcy is an option – sometimes an unavoidable one – available to individuals who are unable to pay their debts and are thus insolvent. You can declare yourself bankrupt or,... more

I have committed a traffic offence

Steps to follow Police have the legal right to stop any motorist at any time. They don’t have to give you a reason and it’s a criminal offence if you fail to stop. When... more

Age discrimination (business)

Many employers have, in the past, opted for youth over experience. This may be partly because they know they can pay young people less, and partly because of misconceptions and myths about... more

Franchises

You want the challenge of running a business but want to minimise the risks. Above all, you want to know your business idea is viable before you start. A good solution may be to take on a... more

Choosing a wills and probate lawyer

According to lawyers in the know, an increasing number of disputes over wills are ending up in the courts. These disputes are often bitterly contested and can have a devastating effect on... more

Overview of sex discrimination in employment

Under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (SDA 1975), it is illegal for your employer, or a prospective employer, to discriminate against you because of your gender, your marital status or... more

Preparing for a divorce

Divorce can be a painful and protracted experience. Preparing for it, and exploring all the available options, however, can go a long way towards reducing the stress. Marriage guidance... more

Sexual harassment

Employees have a right not to be sexually harassed in the workplace, and employers have a duty not to let this happen. It causes stress and humiliation, and benefits no-one. Ultimately,... more

Dealing with domestic abuse

Nobody should have to live with domestic abuse. The abuse can be physical, sexual, financial, psychological, or emotional. It is mainly carried out by men towards women, but also happens in... more

Overview of bankruptcy

What is bankruptcy? If you are an individual and you are insolvent, i.e. you have debts which you are totally unable to repay, then you may have to consider bankruptcy as an... more

Requirements to provide pensions to employees

There are two main types of pension in the UK: money-purchase and final salary schemes.   Money-purchase schemes include occupational money purchase, personal pensions, stakeholder... more

Is liquidation right for you?

If you are company is struggling to trade and pay its debts when they become due, and you discover that your assets are worth less than your debts, then your company is insolvent. If this... more

I am having a baby, I need flexible working hours, I am owed money

Steps to follow If you are pregnant, you are allowed time off work for antenatal care. This can include relaxation classes and parent-craft classes. You may have to show your employer... more

Do I need a lawyer? (business)

Legal problems arise in business all the time and the temptation might be to run to a lawyer every time to get them to sort the problem out for you. There is no doubt that in some... more

I have a problem with my pension

Steps to follow If you have a problem with your state pension, first contact your pension centre and explain what you think is wrong. They will aim to investigate your complaint within... more

I have a pension issue

Steps to follow What kind of pension do you have? Is it an occupational pension, a personal pension, a state pension or a stakeholder pension? The type of help you can receive depends on... more

I have debts

Steps to follow Is your bank account continually in the red? Are you falling further and further behind with you bill or mortgage payments? Are you being turned down for credit with high... more

Overview of identity theft

You are a victim of identity theft if someone pretends to be you in order to steal money or gain some other sort of benefit. Offences It is an offence to possess, control and intend... more

Overview of commercial agreements

Joining commercial ventures with other businesses may be an attractive proposition, especially, for example, if you or the other party want to sell your products in unfamiliar... more

Estates planning

Estate planning is the process of disposing of an estate in a way which is designed to eradicate uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximize the value of the estate. If... more

Overview of employment rights (business)

As an employer in a UK company you have a number of duties and obligations to the people working for you under employment legislation. The duties you have depend largely on what category... more

Buying or selling a business

There are a number of steps that need to be worked through when you are buying or selling a business. These include: valuing the business tax advice sales... more

Overview of pay (pay rises, pay cuts, notice pay, etc.)

  Your employer should tell you when you start work how much you will be paid, how it will be paid to you and when. This must be put in writing within two months of you starting... more