Wrigley Claydon Solicitors

Category: News

  • Employment law advice following Chelsea FC physio dismissal

    Former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro’s lawyers have served notice on the club that she intends to seek a claim for constructive dismissal.

    It is understood that a claim form was served on Chelsea this week to commence a claim in the employment tribunal unless an out-of-court settlement can be agreed before a hearing takes place.

    An employment tribunal hearing would take place in public and could be potentially embarrassing for the club.

    The doctor was dropped from first-team duties on 8th August after she and a physio John Fearn were criticised by manager Jose Mourinho, who called them naive for going on to the pitch to treat an injured Eden Hazard – the player had to leave the field temporarily as a result meaning Chelsea were briefly down to nine men, after already having had a player sent off.

    Whether you are an employee or an employer, at Wrigley Claydon our Employment tribunal solicitor Oldham, can advise you on all aspects of employment law in a practical, friendly, down to earth manner. Please contact us on 0161 624 6811.
  • Wrigley Claydon welcomes Melvyn Bragg to Oldham

    Wrigley Claydon welcomes Melvyn Bragg to Oldham

    We are proud to announce we are the co-sponsors of an event at The Granger Theatre in Oldham in November.

    As part of the borough’s live@thelibrary programme, broadcaster, writer and parliamentarian Melvyn Bragg will be hosting an evening on Tuesday 10th November. Live from 7pm he will be talking about and reading extracts from his new book, Now Is the Time, a powerful novel about the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 – the biggest rebellion in English History.

    To book your tickets for this special event via the Oldham.gov.uk website.

     

  • New divorce settlement advice from your family law solicitors Oldham

    New divorce settlement advice from your family law solicitors Oldham

    In two recent family law decisions of the Supreme Court, the court has allowed appeals in cases where the husbands had deliberately been untruthful either by fraud or by non-disclosure about the full extent of their financial circumstances. The court has emphasised that the fundamental principle that a party in divorce financial proceedings must make a full and frank disclosure of their financial circumstances is a principle which will be upheld. Where a settlement has been entered into on the basis of a lack of such disclosure, or through fraud, then the court will be prepared to overturn the settlement and scrutinise it for further consideration.

    Nothing but the truth…?

    Anyone who seeks to achieve a settlement unfairly in their favour by a lack of full and frank disclosure, by misrepresenting the state of their finances or by fraud, runs a very high risk of having that settlement set aside even if agreed by the other party. The court has made it clear it will, in some circumstances, be willing to re-open court orders previously made. Putting all your cards on the table is what the court expects all parties to do. Anything less is likely to mean that your “clean break” order is likely not to be the end of the story!

    How can Wrigley Claydon help?

    If you have previously agreed a divorce settlement but have reason to believe your ex spouse has not disclosed their full financial circumstances, please get in touch with the Wrigley Claydon family law department. Similarly, if you are the party being pursued by your ex spouse or if you know you were not 100% honest about your financial situation during your original divorce settlement, our divorce lawyers can advise you on the best way forward.

    If you are currently separated and looking to advance to a divorce, please contact us so we can assist, advise and represent you accordingly during the divorce process.

    Contact Jill Walker or Corinne Bailey, Family Law solicitors Oldham on 0161 624 6811 or Antony Brannick in Todmorden on 01706 815 712. Alternatively, you can use the online contact form and one of the team will get back to you.
  • New advice from your consumer protection solicitors Oldham

    New advice from your consumer protection solicitors Oldham

    From 1 October 2015 new consumer protection measures have come into force under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

    Anyone who buys faulty goods will now be entitled to a full refund for up to 30 days after the purchase. Previously consumers were only entitled to refunds for a “reasonable time”.

    Under the Act there is also now protection for people who buy digital content online, such as films and music. They will be entitled to a full refund, or a replacement, if the goods are faulty.

    People buying services, such as car repairs, will also have stronger rights. Under the new Act, providers who do not carry out the work with reasonable care, as agreed with the consumer, will be required to put things right or they may have to give some money back.

    If disputes occur, you will now be able to take your complaints to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers, an example of which may be mediation. This is often a cheaper route than going through the courts. You can also refer your complaint to the Consumer Ombudsman, which is free to use.

    If you have bought faulty goods or received a poor service then Wrigley Claydon can help you obtain the result that you deserve. Please contact a consumer protection solicitor in our litigation team on 0161 624 6811 or use our contact form to outline your query and we will get back to you.
  • New law: Smoking in cars

    New law: Smoking in cars

    As of 1st October 2015, a new law around smoking in cars came into play. It is now illegal to smoke in a private vehicle with anyone under 18 present.

    The new legislation from the Department of Health aims to protect children from the effects of second-hand smoke.

    The rule applies to all private vehicles that are fully or partially covered by a roof. The only exceptions to the rule are in convertible vehicles where the roof is fully retracted or when the driver is 17 years old and travelling and smoking alone in their own vehicle.

    The rule does not solely apply to the driver: if any passenger is smoking in car with someone under 18 years of age present, both the perpetrator AND the driver could face prosecution. It is the driver’s responsibility to stop their passengers smoking with a minor in the vehicle.

    The penalties faced by those committing the new offence are a fixed penalty notice of £50, or at the discretion of the enforcement officer, a court referral.

    The rules apply to motor homes, camper vans and caravans when they are being used as a vehicle but don’t apply when they are being used as living accommodation. Work vehicles and public transport are already covered by smoke free legislation.

    Find out more at www.gov.uk or watch this official animated video for the basic facts:

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  • John Porter hands over ROCA reins – Oldham Chronicle

    The Oldham Chronicle featured a piece about the handover of chairmanship at the Respect Our Community Awards ROCA, on Thursday 17th September 2015.

    Our Partner John Porter stepped down from his role heading up the Awards and its parent organisation First Choice Home Oldham and handed over the reins to Jodie Barber. Here’s the piece in full:

     

    A youth services worker has been appointed as chairwoman of an Oldham grassroots community fund.

    Jodie Barber, a senior youth work manager at Oldham Council has been given the role with the Respect Our Community Awards (ROCA), run by First Choice Homes Oldham.

    She said, “One of the key strengths of the ROCA panel is that it is an inclusive and supportive group – we make it enjoyable. There’s an incredible amount of knowledge and experience at ROCA, with different communities and professions.”

    Mrs Barber was handed the baton by outgoing ROCA chairman John Porter, who is a partner at Wrigley Claydon Solicitors. Under the ROCA scheme, grants of up to £5000 are available for community projects.

    The panel meets five times a year to consider applications. The money is provided by First Choice Homes with donations and support from the public and private sector.

    Mr Porter said, “I’ve loved being involved with ROCA and working with other panel members who all give up their lunch breaks to share their knowledge. With ROCA it’s very important to involve new people.

    “ROCA awards may be relatively small amounts of money, but these make a huge difference in bringing communities together. I know ROCA will continue to flourish with Jodie at the helm.”

    During Mr Porter’s tenure, ROCA funded over 140 projects to the value of over £400,000.

    Mrs Barber, who has worked at the council in youth service for the past 17 years and has been on the ROCA panel for two years, added, “ROCA’s main consideration to funding is – does it benefit the people of Oldham? It makes a real difference to people’s lives and it gives us real satisfaction that we’re doing a bit of good in helping those applying for funding.”

  • Remember a Charity in your Will Week 2015

    Remember a Charity in your Will Week 2015

    We are showing our support for ‘Remember a Charity in your Will Week’ from Monday 7th to Sunday 13th September 2015.

    The week, organised by Remember A Charity, aims to increase awareness of the importance of charitable legacies, and encourage more people to think about including a good cause in their Will, after they have looked after family and friends. As a campaign supporter Wrigley Claydon is encouraging its clients to name a cause close to their hearts as a beneficiary of their Will.

    As part of the national Remember A Charity Week 2015 campaign, six pensioners have already pledged their support and signed their Wills at 10’000ft, while skydiving alongside a solicitor.

    Rachel Damianou, Partner and head of Trusts, Wills and Probate at Wrigley Claydon commented, “Only a small proportion of us set our affairs in order with a properly arranged Will. Costing surprisingly little, a Will gives you the peace of mind that your loved ones will be provided for. It also gives you the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. Legacies are the foundation of many good causes in the UK and you don’t need to leave a lot to charity to make a substantial difference.”

    74% of the UK population supports charities and when asked almost half of those people say they would be happy to leave a charitable gift in their will once family and friends are provided for. The problem is that very few actually do. If just four percent more of us did, it would generate an extra £1 billion for UK charities every year.

    Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity added, “Gifts in Wills are the foundation of many of Britain’s charities, creating more than £2 billion for the provision of critical services each year. We hope Remember a Charity Week 2015 will reach our biggest audience to date thanks to the support of Government bodies, charities and solicitors.”

    If you haven’t already prepared a Will, stating to whom and where you would like your assets to go after your death, please contact our friendly and professional team on 0161 624 6811.

    If you would like to discuss leaving something in your Will to a charitable cause, whether adding an amendment to an existing Will, or including this provision in a new Will, we can assist you.

  • Driving while pregnant

    Driving while pregnant

    If you are pregnant and drive a vehicle, you may want to take heed of the recent research conducted by a Canadian Institute. The recent study of more than 500,000 women over six years investigated the risk of accidents both before and during pregnancy.

    Their research concluded that regrettably, pregnancy led to an increase in the chances of the pregnant woman having a vehicle accident. According to the research, women are 42% more likely to be involved in an accident while pregnant, especially during the second trimester.

    Predominantly the cause was fatigue and nausea. Surges in hormones and lack of sleep can mean that pregnant women are less alert at the wheel, or distracted from the road by aches, pains or sickness. Interestingly, by the third trimester, the risk begins to decrease. Experts put this down to more visible changes with the body, and an increased awareness that they need to treat their body with care. Dr. Redelmeier, a population epidemiologist at the University of Toronto noted, “In that second trimester, women are feeling really good. It contributes to that false sense of security. They’re rushing around to get things done before the baby comes.”

    Unfortunately we have acted for a number of women who were pregnant at that time they were involved in a road traffic accident. The pain that the pregnant woman experienced was nothing compared to the psychological trauma they underwent until they had an emergency scan and were certain that their unborn child was unharmed by the accident. However, not all women are this lucky, as car crashes are the leading cause of foetal death linked to trauma in mothers. Car accidents while pregnant can cause intense physical, emotional and psychological damage – and can often be avoided.

    Of course, not all of these accidents were the fault of the pregnant woman, and the study doesn’t mean that pregnant women shouldn’t drive. As Dr. Redelmeier notes, even at their worst, women are statistically better drivers than men of the same age. It is the responsibility of everyone on the road to ensure accidents like this don’t happen.

    However if you are pregnant, it is important to be aware of the results of this study, and take extra measures to protect yourself and your unborn child when you ‘squeeze’ behind the wheel of your vehicle. If you begin to feel drowsy or nauseous while driving, pull over as soon as you can, and never force yourself to drive anywhere if you’re not feeling alert enough to do so. Continue to wear your seat belt, and drive extra cautiously to prevent collisions with other drivers.

    If you have been unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident while pregnant, car accident compensation Manchester solicitors Wrigley Claydon can help.  Call our personal injury team on 0161 624 6811 or use our ‘Make a Claim’ form.
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  • Conveyancing costs confusion

    Conveyancing costs confusion

    The process of buying and selling property can be notoriously stressful and at times confusing. With mortgage applications and offers to negotiate, estate agents to deal with and then solicitor and conveyancing costs to work out, there’s a lot to get your head around.

    How much should a conveyancer cost?

    Conveyancing prices differ hugely and can often lead to confusion and in many cases, nasty surprises. Conveyancing costs are dependant on a property’s value, so someone looking to purchase a house worth £300,000 can expect to pay more than for a property valued at £125,000. However, this doesn’t help the average property buyer/seller when looking for a conveyancing solicitor.

    With some firms offering staggeringly low costs such as £250.00, the public can be blindsided and easily lured by these apparently low and attractive prices. However, these kind of figures are just not achievable. Many will find there are lots of hidden extras with these low prices, with some law firms even charging for each letter written, email sent or phone call made, photocopying and postage. That initial low price will quickly mount up!

    A more sensible average conveyancing figure for a residential property worth £200,000 is around the £800.00 +VAT mark. This may seem much higher than the aforementioned £250.00 but here’s how it breaks down:

    What is conveyancing?

    Conveyancing describes the legal transfer of property, from seller to buyer and covers a whole plethora of tasks.

    Your solicitor will carry out various investigations and searches for you and your mortgage lender to establish if there are any issues with the property and can advise you of what actions to take. For example there may be planning constraints or permissions on the property which will need to be addressed before you purchase it. Searches could find the property is in a known flood risk area or built on an old mining site which could over time affect the structural stability of your new property.

    Your conveyancing solicitor will help you to resolve any property-related legal issues revealed by the searches or surveys.  Your solicitor will make all the necessary legal enquiries with the seller’s solicitor and investigate the title of the property.

    Law firms offering low conveyancing prices won’t have included the cost for searches in their quote, stamp duty costs, land registry fees or what is known as disbursement costs – the levy for handling your deposit money from you to the mortgage lender and the full value of the property from the lender to the seller.

    Conveyancing services from Wrigley Claydon

    At Wrigley Claydon, we are very upfront about our conveyancing costs and what is included and what isn’t. Our quotes are for the full conveyancing service +VAT. We do not charge extras and there are no hidden fees. What we quote is what you will pay, unless of course, any further legal action needs to be taken as a result of any searches. In this instance you will be informed of any additional costs before they are carried out.

    Our conveyancing prices are very competitive in Oldham and across Greater Manchester. We are significantly lower than many city centre firms by an average of £200-300 and can offer attractive conveyancing costs to those looking to buy or sell property in the more affluent areas of South Manchester. Conveyancing prices in South Manchester are higher than we charge. No matter where you are buying or selling a property, the process is the same, and we believe conveyancing prices should be too. We offer a more personal service to all our clients in that you will have direct contact with your legal representative throughout the transaction and will not be passed to different people at different stages of the conveyancing process.

    For a competitive and fully inclusive South Manchester conveyancing quote, or anywhere else for that matter, please contact our conveyancing solicitors on 0161 624 6811.
  • Landmark Court of Appeal ruling could lead to increased numbers contesting a Will

    Landmark Court of Appeal ruling could lead to increased numbers contesting a Will

    A Will dispute case has hit the media headlines this week as it is feared the landmark ruling may have ramifications on the future of Wills as we know them.

    A Will is a declaration of a person’s intentions to distribute his or her estate and assets after their passing. Legal professionals like Wrigley Claydon stress the need for a Will to ensure property and belongings go to the person(s) you wish them to after you die. A binding Will also serves to diminish any ambiguity and limit any fallout about who is entitled to what after someones death, until now.

    Of course, Wills can be contested and often are, but the case publicised this week appears to have done a complete U-turn on the last wishes and intentions of the deceased. Melita Jackson fell out with her daughter Heather Ilott, now 54, when she eloped with a boyfriend aged 17. The fallout was never resolved and on Jackson’s death in 2004 she left her entire estate, worth nearly £500,000, to animal charities. Ilott contested the Will and after a decade long battle the estranged daughter has been awarded £164,000.

    On the face of it, it appears Jackson’s right to testamentary freedom has been compromised and could open the floodgates for other estranged children to challenge the Last Will and Testament of their parents. There is also the implications for the charity sector to consider as more than £2bn a year is left to them in legacies. However, the particulars of this case are to be considered. On overturning or varying a Will, the Courts will have to examine the needs and resources of both parties, in this case Ilott and the charities. Mrs Ilott as a person in financial need; she has five children, lives in social housing, is on benefits and has no pension. The charities however, RSPCA, RSPB, and Blue Cross, are national charities receiving millions of pounds in donations each year. It is on this reasoning that the money was awarded. The inheritance will allow Ilott to buy her rented home, with a sum of £20,000 left over for future maintenance, a figure that will not affect Ilott’s benefit claims and one the courts felt was appropriate.

    It is also claimed that Ilott made numerous attempts over the years to reconcile the differences with her mother, which were never reciprocated.

    The case only goes to highlight the importance of having a Will professionally drawn up. By consulting a solicitor like Wrigley Claydon, we can draw up further necessary documents to explain a testators wishes eg. disinheriting a child and the reasons for doing so, to help support the validation of your choices and to reduce the risk of your Will being successfully contested.

    If you feel you have a potential claim for contesting a Will, we also deal with challenges to Wills by disappointed potential beneficiaries.

    For Will writing or Will contesting legal advice, please contact our Wills, Probate and Trusts department on 0161 624 6811 or use our online enquiry form and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.