With January traditionally being seen as one of the busiest months for matrimonial lawyers, indeed the first Monday of the New Year is nicknamed ‘Divorce Day’, with legal firms up and down the country reporting record numbers of enquiries, it is, perhaps, important that we look at the reasons for this as a note of caution.

The UK’s roads are busy and every time we take to the road in our vehicle, the journey calls for our undivided focus and attention. However, there are times, when, for whatever reason, our attention may waver, or we make a poor decision when behind the wheel. These instances, often split second-moments, could result in a charge of careless driving which can have far-reaching consequences.

Contemplating getting a divorce is an emotional time and beginning the legal process to end a marriage is often a difficult decision to make.  

However, if you have reached a point where divorce seems like the only way forward, you will no doubt want expert legal advice from our Divorce Solicitors. Divorce can be complicated, but with clear legal advice you can ensure your family’s best interests, and your financial future, are protected.

When we require medical attention, we put our trust in the medical experts whose job it is to care for us.

And in most cases, this trust is well placed.

According to the 2016 Care Quality Commission inpatient satisfaction survey1, 86% of those surveyed rated their overall NHS inpatient experience as a seven or more out of ten.

As the survey shows there are millions of people each year who are pleased with the care and treatment they receive.

Making a will is an essential part of protecting your assets for those you leave behind. And if you have dependants, your will could be used to set out what your wishes are for them in the event of your death, including naming those you wish to care for them.

Worries over money and debt can soon take their toll, leaving people feeling stressed and anxious. Whatever the reasons behind your debt, it is important to deal with the issues you are facing. Ignoring requests for payment or other communications from your creditors will, in the longer term, only make matters worse.

Debt can quickly creep up on people. Maybe it is because of a period of unemployment, unexpected costs, the breakdown of a relationship or even a lack of understanding of how best to manage your money.

Whatever the reason, if you find yourself facing debt you can no longer manage, do not bury your head in the sand and hope that it will go away.

The debt recovery process

While not every creditor will follow the exact same debt recovery process and timeframe, in general terms you can expect the following when you miss payment(s):

If you are faced with a workplace dispute it can be unsettling. Fear of losing your livelihood and the emotional strain a dispute can cause all add up to make the process stressful.

Employers also have much at stake, including a loss of reputation, the costs of defending the case and the time the case takes up. Time that could be spent on growing the business.

What constitutes a workplace dispute?

Workplace disputes between employers and employees can vary, though typically include matters such as:

Dealing with the legal aspects of the death of a loved one can be emotionally taxing. Add to this the complexities that come with being the person(s) left to sort through the deceased person’s assets, and it makes for a stressful time.

Often unsure of where to start, read on to learn about probate, the process and when you need to seek legal advice.

Celebrating 30 years in business in 2017, Smith Partnership, one of the largest firms of solicitors in the East Midlands, is often surprised by the recurring issues faced by people when going through a stressful divorce process.

Ruth Jones, Partner from the Family Law team at Smith Partnership spoke about the issues she had recently read about happening in Australia, which are commonplace in the UK as well: