Family Law
Our Family Department offer a practical, sympathetic and professional approach to all family law matters.
We understand that issues in relation to families are often sensitive and we aim to avoid conflict wherever possible. All members of the department are members of Resolution (formerly the Family Law Association) and we are committed to assisting clients in the most professional and cost effective way possible. Lawyers within the department are members of the Law Society Children Panel, and Family Panel. Two members of the department are Resolution Accredited Specialists in the area of Child Law and family finances. We also have an Accredited Specialist in the areas of child care and adoption.
We are able to advise you in relation to :-
- Divorce/separation.
- Cohabitation agreements and disputes.
- Civil Partnerships.
- Pre-marital agreements.
- Domestic violence.
- Finance, property and pensions.
- Children’s matters including residence and contact.
- Care proceedings, fostering and adoption.
- Child abduction.
Public Funding (formerly Legal Aid) may be available.
Business Law
Rudlings Wakelam provides specialist advice to businesses in the following areas:
- The acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold commercial property
- Negotiating and drafting terms of commercial leases (including offices, flats, shops, and licensed premises)
- The formation of Limited Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships
- Shareholders Agreements and partnership agreements
- Commercial Agreements including distribution, manufacturing and agency agreements
- Acquisition and disposal of private companies and businesses
- Estate Developments both commercial and residential
- Licensing Applications
We have considerable experience in assisting a wide range of corporate, private and charity clients in connection with their commercial property work.
Our commercial team is focused on meeting your needs and delivering outstanding service. We adapt our approach and documentation to suit your business and, most importantly, to achieve your commercial aims.
Employment Law
Rudlings Wakelam provides clear and sound advice to businesses and individuals on all aspects of employment law including:
- Drafting employment contracts, company procedures and/or company handbooks
- Advising on termination of employment, including on compromise agreement
- Negotiating employment terms and conditions for individuals
- Advising on employment rights , including:
- Redundancy
- Unfair Dismissal
- Discrimination Law
- Transfer of Undertakings
Public Funding (formerly Legal Aid) may be available.
Mental Health Law
Under the Mental Health Act 1983, the authorities have the powers to prescribe treatment for individuals judged to be mentally disordered. They can also be detained in hospital against their will.
However, you can seek legal advice and assistance in relation to such orders. You should ensure you select a solicitor who is a member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Panel who will be familiar with this type of specialist work.
At Rudlings Wakelam we have Martin Evans who is a member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Panel. He regularly represents appellants seeking to have their compulsory detention in hospital reviewed by an independent tribunal.
Legal Aid is automatically available for appellants of such work.
Civil Litigation
Personal Injury and other disputes
Rudlings Wakelam provides personal and professional advice to a range of clients including those involved in personal injury claims and employers.
Our services include:
Disputes relating to:
- Contracts
- Construction
- Business
- Lands
- Debts
- Neighbours
Personal Injury claims such as:
- Accident at work
- Playground accidents
- Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Slipping/Tripping
- Road Accidents
- Industrial Diseases
- Clinical Negligence
- Occupational Stress
- Sports Injuries
- Criminal Injuries
Geof Young also provides advice to employers in relation to occupational health and safety issues.
Probate Disputes
A dispute over the devolution of a deceased's estate or its administration can be extremely distressing. We can advise you in clear and concise terms on the correct provisions of the applicable law and the appropriate remedies and courses of action available. Matters upon which we regularly provide advice include;
disagreements between personal representatives and beneficiaries
claims of disappointed beneficiaries, relatives and dependents
removal of trustees and personal representatives
Conveyancing
Rudlings Wakelam offers highly experienced residential conveyancers who aim to provide a thoroughly professional, friendly and personal service. We have experience of all types of UK Property. We use the best of the latest technologies when they are appropriate. Among our aims is to use every effort to make the process of buying and selling your property as stress-free as possible.
Other Matters
This is not an exhaustive list; but as well as buying and selling a property, we can help you with:-
- Co-habitation and Co-ownership
- Buying your Freehold
- Extending your Lease
- Renting a property
- Auctions
- Commonhold
- Stringent timescales and "Contract Races"
- Land Registration and HM Land Registry
- Boundaries and Boundary Disputes
- First registration
- Lost Deeds
Most of our new clients are introduced after private recommendations.
Agricultural Conveyancing
Rudlings Wakelam provides advice to clients in the following areas:
- The ownership, management and maximisation of their estate and land assets.
- Buying and selling of rural and residential properties
- The granting of leases and farm business tenancies
- Agricultural disputes
- Easements for the benefit of agricultural properties
- First registration of Title to Agricultural Land
- Rights of way and access to land
We are finding an increased interest on the part of landowners who are looking to enter into arrangements to secure the future of their land through the sale or promotion of strategic land, often linked to a share of future uplifts in the value of land.
Probate and Tax Planning
Will Drafting
A carefully prepared will is essential to ensure tax efficient passing on of family wealth. We have a century of experience of drafting Wills and are able to advise on traditional as well as modern approaches to succession matters. Modern families often involve complex relationships and we are able to see potential pitfalls and advise accordingly.
All members of the Private Client department are knowledgeable in personal taxation and we are able to incorporate tax planning into will drafting with the inclusion of trusts where appropriate.
We offer an executorship service which comprises all aspects of estate administration.
We often liaise with lawyers in foreign jurisdictions to ensure worldwide property is taken into consideration in the planning stages. We also advise on issues of residence and domicile.
Estate Planning
Rudlings Wakelam will be pleased to assist you in planning for your future and the future financial security of your family with particular emphasis on long term tax mitigation and asset protection.
You can be assured of exceptional personal attention as we ensure we learn as much as possible about the personal circumstances and goals of our clients so that our advice matches their needs.
We have considerable experience in the creation and administration of private trusts (be they created inter vivos, incorporated in clients' Wills or created through variations of a deceased's estate) including;
- discretionary trusts
- accumulation and maintenance trusts
- voluntary settlements
- protective trusts and
- trusts for disabled persons.
We offer advice on Enduring Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work. Appointing an attorney to act on one's behalf in the event of serious mental incapacity is a very simple and convenient device but a step not to be taken lightly. We will advise both the attorney and the donor fully on the implications.
Estate Administration
In administering estates, we act in a sensitive and professional manner. We advise Executors, administrators and beneficiaries on all aspects of estate administration and often act in this capacity ourselves. We obtain Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration depending on whether or not the deceased left a will. We deal with estates where assets are held in foreign jurisdictions and foreign estates with UK sited assets.
We can help with all tax aspects including the variation of wills and the other post death tax planning strategies. We prepare accounts, Inheritance Tax Returns and Estate Income Tax Returns or other accountancy and filing requirements in-house.
We find that fee structures recognised by the Court of Appeal, the Law Society and many other firms of solicitors generally produce unreasonable fees particularly in higher value estates. We will usually be happy to agree a significantly reduced fee structure. Further details can be provided upon request.
Tax Planning
We specialise in all aspects of tax planning for individuals, charities and trusts. Rudlings Wakelam has extensive experience in planning for Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax.
We use English and overseas trusts. We offer a comprehensive personal tax service for both UK and international clients.
We also deal with issues of domicile and residency and tax investigations.
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