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Month: December 2023

Recognising Success at Lawson West

Posted on by Mike

Approximately 5 years ago Lawson West created the Associate Status Scheme within the firm – a concept that we believe was important to Lawson West to recognise colleagues – at any level – who embrace our culture and are role models within the firm.

This is an ongoing successful project and we are proud to work with and very grateful to those people who have earned Associate Status.

Our overall aim is to recognise the hard work, commitment and achievements of our colleagues and we feel this is something to be celebrated!

Managing Director, Vicky Jones, comments:

“I joined Lawson West over 26 years ago as a Trainee Solicitor and I have been fortunate to have been able to progress my career with the Firm and I am now very proud to be our Managing Director.  It is important to me and my fellow Directors to be able to recognise talent and give our employees the opportunity to progress their careers by staying at Lawson West.  Our Associate Status Scheme is one of the ways to reward the successes of our employees.  We are different to many Law Firms by offering the Associate Colleague status which is available to employees who are not legally qualified but have demonstrated their commitment to the Firm and our core values.”

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See below our fantastic colleagues who have been awarded these prestigious titles…

Associates:

Sophie Forsyth

Madhvi Panchal

Rebecca Press

Catherine Wilson

Senior Associates:

Elizabeth Brown

Emma Cass

Alistair Dobson

Russell Dowling

Robert Flannagan

Michelle Francis

Beverley Heys

Kate Lea

Rachael Mitchell

Jude Owen

Sejal Patel

Phoebe Skarlatos

Fiona Wilson

Associate Colleagues:

Sarah Bates

Laura Brown

Sarah Fane-Forester

Ann Guttridge

Justine Hatcher

Sarah Hickey

Ashraf Karim

Olu Modupe

Hannah Warren

Ann Wright

OUR CORE VALUES

At Lawson West we continually strive to uphold our core values of:

  • Integrity, honesty, openness;

  • Being caring, helpful, supportive, respectful of others;

  • Challenging, empowering, brave;

  • Approachable, proactive, positive and consistent.

If you are interested in a career at Lawson West Solicitors click HERE to find out more.

Contact us 0116 212 1000

Separation – we are here to help

Posted on by Mike

Are you unhappy in your relationship?

Have you been issued with a divorce petition?

Have you received correspondence from a solicitor acting for your ex-partner?

Have you separated from your partner and are you trying to arrange the children’s time with each parent?

Have you separated from your partner and are you trying to resolve how to separate your finances?  

At Lawson West we understand that separation can be an extremely anxious time for you. You will undoubtedly have lots of questions and want to talk through your options now and for the future.

We have three fully qualified solicitors working exclusively in the family department and able to offer advice and guidance on all aspects of separation including:

  • Divorce/Judicial separation

 

  • Financial matters including:-

               Maintenance                                                   Lump sums of money/savings

               Property                                                            Companies and shares

               Pensions                                                           Trusts

  • Children matters including:

    -Who a child should live with
    -What time they should spend with the other parent
    -Parental Responsibility
    -Grandparent rights
    -Change of Name
    -Requests that the other parent undertakes a positive step in respect of the children, including which school they should attend/ what medical treatment they should receive.
    -Removal from Jurisdiction for holidays or permanently
    -Step-parent adoption

Lawson West Solicitors are able to offer a fixed fee interview with a solicitor to discuss any of these issues, or anything else which may arise from the breakdown of your relationship. Please call us on 0116 212 1000

Breakdown of a relationship over Christmas and New Year – what to do next

Posted on by Mike

I’m separating so what’s next?

Taking the decision to step away from a relationship, whether married or not, can be extremely difficult.

Apart from the emotional roller-coaster of sadness, regret and tension, once that initial step is made, it is important to think about the practical arrangements and how to protect your finances. Making arrangements for children of the family will also be extremely important. So how do you do this?

Key Steps of Separation

The most important first step is to take advice. Some initial advice in those first stages can help you focus on the initial arrangements that need to be made, for example your options on where you live, financial income/contributions and arrangements for the children.

Our advice can help direct you to services that may assist you in addressing these issues, whether that be financial advisers, mediation or advice regarding your will.

Without that initial advice you may feel unsure about your options, you may hear different experiences from different people. Every person’s experience of relationship breakdown will be different and their financial circumstances will not be the same. You should therefore seek your own advice as although guidance from friends and family will be supportive, it can in the long run lead you down the wrong path.

Take Control

At Lawson West we have expert family law solicitors available to help.

Contact Us 0116 212 1000

How to Contest a Will or Probate – it’s more common than you’d think

Posted on by Mike

Wills are the confirmed legal wishes of the deceased, but sometimes a claim can be raised against the deceased’s estate in special circumstances where validity, clarity or authority are challenged. In this article we look at the instances where you can contest a Will or probate and entitlement to do so.

Losing a loved one is extremely difficult and is often made more problematic if the deceased’s estate is not being dealt with in accordance with the deceased’s wishes. There is often the added burden placed on a husband, a wife, a child or even siblings to ensure that the estate is distributed when all they wish to do is mourn the loss of a loved one or family member.

The laws of England and Wales allow certain categories of people to bring a claim against the estate of a deceased. Such a claim is known as a probate claim, or a contentious probate claim and is where a claim is brought by an individual who believes they have not received the inheritance they are due, or a dispute with how the Executors have managed the estate.

What is Contentious Probate?

Contentious Probate refers to any type of disagreements over a deceased person’s Will and how their estate should be handled. The most common types of probate disputes are Will Disputes, which is about questioning the validity of a Will.

Contentious Probate includes a variety of disputes including;

  • A dispute over whether a Will or Codicil is valid, i.e, the deceased has been unduly influenced into making the Will and/or the deceased lacked capacity to make a Will.

  • A claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Act) 1975.

  • Disputes over the administration of the estate and how property has been distributed.

  • Wanting clarity about the Will.

  • Disputes over costs incurred by the person administering the estate, the trustees or the lawyers.

  • The authority of the executors and trustees.


Factors for Contentious Probate entitlement

Whilst as a beneficiary/potential beneficiary you are able to pursue a contentious probate claim, the court will consider a number of factors when deciding whether a beneficiary/potential beneficiary is entitled to a share or greater share in the estate. Some of these factors include:

  • Whether the inheritance given in the Will provides a reasonable provision;

  • The relationship between the deceased and the individual making a claim;

  • The needs and requirements of the other beneficiaries; and

  • The deceased’s wishes.


Protecting inheritance

Unfortunately, the thought of gaining a share of inheritance can bring out unattractive and greedy qualities in people and the courts can help by:

  • Protecting Executors from being bullied into overturning decision about the Estate that are actually legitimate;

  • Protecting and awarding beneficiaries who have an honest claim about an inheritance due to them;

  • Identifying Executors who are not performing their duties adequately or legitimately.

It is therefore important that further specialist advice is sought, whether you are an Executor, Beneficiary, or potential Beneficiary of a deceased’s estate.

For further advice, please Contact Us 0116 212 1000

We are here to help