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.

My ex is accusing me of abducting our children

If your ex has accused you of abducting your children to another country from England and Wales, there is a possibility that you could be prosecuted under the Child Abduction Act 1985. This is because it is a criminal offence to take any child who is under the age of 16 out of this jurisdiction without the consent of all people with parental responsibility or the permission of the court. This is a serious allegation and, if not dealt with promptly, you could experience severe penal repercussions.

Your ex may also bring civil proceedings against you for child abduction under the Hague Convention 1980, or under the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court in the alternative. There are a number of limited defences to international parental child abduction. However, if you have taken your children overseas for an extended period, or you have decided to move abroad with them permanently without your ex’s consent, you must take immediate steps to obtain consent from your ex or permission from the court for leave to remove your children from the jurisdiction. If you do not do so, you may be faced with a child abduction application, and if successful you will be required to immediately return the children to England and Wales.

Vardags’ family lawyers and in-house criminal defence experts are perfectly placed to advise you on any potential child abduction charge.

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Vardags Limited is a limited company trading as Vardags, Company No 7199468, registered in England and Wales, having its registered office at 10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG. Vardags is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA Number 535955). Its VAT number is 99 001 7230.

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A list of the directors of Vardags Limited and a list of the names of those using the title of ’Director’ and ’Partner’ together with their official status is available for inspection at Vardags’ registered office.

My ex is accusing me of abducting our children

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