A father has been granted a court order to return his eight-year-old daughter to England so that an assessment regarding her long term residence can be completed. The father was from Scotland and the mother from Italy. The daughter had spent her life living in England until 2010 when the couple divorced. The father agreed to let his former partner take their daughter to live in Italy, on the basis …Read More
Changes to mortgage laws will further protect borrowers
Banks must now adhere to a new set of rules when considering someone for a mortgage as the government tries to prevent borrowers over-stretching themselves as some have done in the past. Under the new legislation, most borrowers will be given advice from a financial expert before they take out a mortgage. This will give consumers a better understanding of how much they can afford to borrow, taking into account …Read More
Boy to live with father because mother ignored contact orders
A court has ordered that a six-year-old boy should live with his father because the mother had constantly ignored contact orders over several years. The two parents separated before the boy was born and the mother became the primary carer following the birth. The father tried to establish contact with his son but the mother objected. The subsequent court proceedings lasted three years. The mother ignored several contact orders that …Read More
£123,000 compensation for asbestos cancer victims
People who contract mesothelioma after working with asbestos could now receive £123,000 as part of a new compensation scheme introduced by the government. Ministers had initially set the figure at £115,000 per case, but have been able to increase it following savings in the cost of administering the scheme. Mesothelioma is a deadly strain of cancer that attacks the linings of the major organs in the body. It is common …Read More
Government schemes help 100,000 to buy a home
Government schemes have enabled more than 100,000 people to buy a home over the last four years. The main schemes available are Right to Buy and Help to Buy. The Right to Buy scheme gives people who have lived in a council property for at least five years the right to buy at a discount. With the Help to Buy schemes, the government provides loans or guarantees to make it …Read More
Redundancy offer to over-60s breached Age Regulations
A redundancy package offering different terms to employees based on their age has been ruled unlawful. The issue arose after two civil servants were offered a lower redundancy package than their younger colleagues. The employees were both over 60 and entitled to draw a full pension. On this basis, their employers offered them a redundancy package of just 6 months’ salary, whereas their younger counterparts were offered 21 months’. The …Read More
Woman’s Will upheld in spite of her dementia
Woman’s Will upheld in spite of her dementia The High Court has upheld a 91-year-old woman’s Will even though she was suffering from dementia at the time it was made. The law requires that when making a Will, a person must have testamentary capacity – that is, they must fully understand what they are doing and the consequences of their decisions. However, in giving his ruling in this case, the …Read More
Now you can save thousands when building your own home
Now you can save thousands when building your own home People building their own homes could save thousands of pounds following the government’s decision to exempt self-built accommodation from the Community Infrastructure Levy. Developers have to pay the levy to local councils to help with the cost of the infrastructure needed to support new buildings.
Woman injured at work awarded more than £1m compensation
Woman injured at work awarded more than £1m compensation A 42-year-old female carer has been awarded £1.5m compensation after being injured in two separate workplace accidents. The first injury occurred when the carer was helping a patient get out of bed. The patient’s legs buckled and as she fell she dragged the carer with her.
Wife fails to improve divorce settlement despite husband’s perjury
Wife fails to improve divorce settlement despite husband’s perjury A woman has failed to get an improved divorce settlement even though her husband had misled the court about the extent of his wealth. The case involved a couple who separated after 17 years of marriage. The assets were divided with the wife getting around 65% in cash and properties, giving her a total of £10m.