Am I going to prison?

When someone first comes into contact with the criminal justice system, there is a tendency for them to immediately think the worst without any consideration to the strength of the evidence against them, the stage of the proceedings, and most importantly the gravity of the alleged offence. Just because an individual may accept the truth of an allegation made against them, there are a wide range of factors which will still need to be considered by the courts in arriving at an appropriate sentence. A prison sentence represents the severest of sentences reserved for the gravest of cases. They are not passed lightly and there is increasing pressure on judges to use alternative means of punishment where at all appropriate given the well documented problems of overcrowding in our prisons.

An employee has issued a claim in the Employment Tribunal, what can we do?

We recommend that you contact us urgently if you receive an Employment Tribunal claim as there is a strict timeline of 28 days to enter a response. We can help you to prepare the ET3 response and put forward your best defence to the claim.

Are divorce lawyers' fees tax deductible?

A tax-deductible expense is a deduction that lowers a person's (or organisation's) tax liability. This means that the tax you would usually be charged on that service is removed. To qualify, the expense has to be 'ordinary, necessary and reasonable'. It is commonly asked whether divorce lawyers fees are tax-deductible. The simple answer: probably not.

Are my restrictive covenants are enforceable?

Restrictive covenants will only be enforceable if they protect a legitimate business interest and are viewed as reasonable. There can be disagreement between an employer and employee about this.

Can I be disciplined or dismissed as a result of raising a grievance at work?

You should not be disciplined or dismissed for raising a grievance at work, especially if your grievance relates to discrimination. If this happens because you have complained about discrimination this amounts to victimisation. The law also protects you from being victimised if you have 'blown the whistle' about certain categories of wrongdoing in the workplace. These laws are designed to encourage an open culture at work where employees do not fear speaking out about criminal offences and breaches of health and safety at work, for example.

Moving abroad with your child

If you are separated from your children’s mother or father, you may want to take them abroad but have concerns about the rules surrounding this.

It is important to know that if you want to take your children abroad, you must get permission from anyone else with parental responsibility, unless you have a child arrangements order which says that the child is to live with you (known as a ‘lives with’ order).

Parental responsibility refers to the legal rights, duties and obligations a parent has to a child. Mothers automatically have parental responsibility from birth. For fathers, they may get parental responsibility if they were named on the birth certificate, married to the mother at the time of birth, or have a court order conferring it. Parental responsibility can also be obtained through adoption or becoming a legal guardian, so for example, a grandparent may also have parental responsibility.

If you do have a ‘lives with’ order, you can take your child abroad for up to 28 days without having to get their other parent’s consent. However, it is important to note that you should not breach any terms of a court order in doing so – for example, by taking the child away when they are supposed to see their other parent, without consent.

However, if there is no court order in place, and both you and your children’s other parent have parental responsibility, neither of you may take the children abroad without each other’s consent. Failing to get consent can amount to parent-child abduction, which is a criminal offence.

If you would like to take your children abroad but your ex unfairly denies you permission, you can get permission from the court instead. As children law specialists, we are experienced in handling these matters. Our team of lawyers can help you resolve any disagreements quickly and smoothly, to uphold your rights and protect your relationship with your children.

Contact us today to discuss your situation and explore the options available to you. Our experienced family lawyers are here to guide you through this challenging process.

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Moving abroad with your child

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