You don’t need to be in trouble with the law to need legal advice, it’s very normal to need to consult with a solicitor for various reasons.
Many life events and milestones come with legal “red tape”. From buying your first property to starting a family, understanding the legal implications that surround these events will help you stay prepared.
It’s important to know that the laws surrounding events such as those listed above are intended to protect our rights and interests. So although it can sound intimidating, they’re actually a good thing.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common life events in which you’ll need to hire a solicitor.
Marriage and Divorce
When “tying the knot”, a lot of things have to be considered. Marriage is a big decision and significant life event, and there are many legal rights and responsibilities that come with this commitment.
Couples may want to consider prenuptial agreements to protect their rights should the marriage lead to a divorce. Shared property rights, financial agreements and spousal support will also need to be considered.
On the opposing end of this, divorce introduces complexities such as dividing assets and arranging child custody.
A solicitor that specialises in family law will help couples navigate decisions related to both marriage, divorce, and any children’s rights. These can be emotional and challenging times, involving big life changes both positive and negative.
For individuals unable to afford legal fees, legal aid solicitors may be available, especially to those whose marriages have ended due to domestic violence.
Buying or Selling Property
Buying a home is both a huge life event and a huge financial investment. This is something that will happen in most people’s lives, sometimes alone or shared with a partner or spouse, or family. Even renting requires legally binding contracts to be signed.
Property transactions can be complex and require a lot of paperwork. Solicitors specialising in property transactions and conveyancing will be needed to make sure the buying and selling process goes smoothly and that everyone’s rights are protected if any issues should arise.
Though it’s not something that everyone does, many people start businesses and will then need to purchase property for that. If this is the case, then a commercial property solicitor will be used to negotiate things like leases.
Similarly, you may wish to alter your property, building an extension or something similar. If this is the case, you should also consult a solicitor or conveyancer, just to make sure you have planning permission and won’t infringe on any neighbour’s rights.
Planning Your Estate and Writing Your Will
As dark as it sounds, everyone needs a will. This becomes especially apparent the older we get, and is extremely important if you have young children. It can be a difficult task to face, but it’s an essential one, and should be talked about.
Solicitors can help you write up a will so that your wishes will be followed and the distribution of your assets will be managed properly.
Starting a Family
Starting a family is another common life event that a large majority of people do. As briefly mentioned during the marriage/divorce section, laws exist to protect both children’s and parent’s rights.
Whether you’re a separating couple, an unmarried couple, or a same-sex couple, everyone will need to consult with a legal expert regarding topics such as custody arrangements, adoption, surrogacy and more.
Employment Law
Whether employer or employee, employment law is needed to protect both parties.
When you join a company, you usually sign a contract. Within this contract will be stipulations such as a code of conduct which outlines your expected behaviour as an employee. It will also have other details of rules, hours, wages, etc. These contracts are often written up with the aid and advice of a legal expert.
Employment law covers issues such as discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination.
Personal Injury Claim
A personal injury could happen to any one of us. If you’re injured due to negligence or wrongdoings of others, you may be able to seek financial compensation. This compensation can cover medical expenses or wage loss due to being unable to work.
Consumer Rights
These kinds of laws protect people from unfair business practices, meaning that they have the right to receive products or services that meet an acceptable standard of quality and safety.
These laws can help to prevent false advertising, faulty products, and help with disputes against receiving a bad product or service. Compensation could be rewarded if you decide to pursue a consumer rights case.
Traffic Offences
Mild traffic offences such as getting caught going slightly over the speeding limit or other infringements are commonly done. But there are also much more serious offences in this category, such as drink driving or dangerous driving. It’s essential for every driver to know as much about road traffic law as possible and if required to contact drink driving solicitors in London.
Financial and Debts
Many people struggle with debt management, especially due to life changes such as losing a job. A legal or financial expert could help, offering advice and options to manage your debts. This could mean filing for bankruptcy or other strategies.
Immigration
If you’ve immigrated to the UK, you’ll have to go through many processes to secure your residency and your rights. Solicitors specialising in this field can help with things such as citizen applications, as well as deportation proceedings.
Final Thoughts
Whilst many may wish to deal with matters themselves, the sooner you invest in legal advice the better you’ll be able to deal with whatever life throws at you. Whether that’s moving house or getting married, consulting with a solicitor can make life that bit easier.
