Why not take in a lodger? Do you need a bit of extra money? Do you have a spare room in your house? If so, why not take in a lodger? Many people do this and it is a good way to supplement your income. Plus the governments rent a room scheme allows you to…
Why neighbour disputes should be avoided When you venture out into your garden this Springtime, please try to be on good terms with your neighbours. I read about a boundary dispute in Lincolnshire last year. Describing it as “another expensive boundary dispute”, Lord Justice Ward told the Appeal Court: “Each of the parties have spent…
According to a survey done by the Dogs Trust, 43% of the population currently own a pet. However landlords routinely say ‘no pets’. This is fine if you have tenants clamouring for your property, but allowing pets will make it much easier to let difficult properties. The important thing is choosing the right tenant and…
Having set up my firm just as the full force of the “credit crunch” started to be felt, I have repeatedly been consulted by clients who have found themselves out of work for the first time in their lives. In many cases, harsh though it may appear to the dismissed employee, I have to advise…
Negotiation and mediation in disputes No one ever wants to become involved in disputes but there are times when it becomes unavoidable. The obvious course is to try to resolve the dispute at the earliest opportunity through negotiation or formal mediation. It is essential to negotiate from a position of strength, but that begs the…
School rules and Education Law School Rule 1 Corporal punishment is illegal in every school. This means no caning, no hitting, no slapping and no throwing of books or other missiles. School Rule 2 Detention during lunchtime is fair, unless your child usually comes home for lunch. Detention after school needs 24 hours’ notice to…
Home Information Packs, “HIPS” were introduced to “speed up” conveyancing and reduce abortive costs. They must: (a) contain an Energy Performance Certificate to comply with EU regulations, (b) a copy of the title and (c) local and water searches. In practice sellers pay for searches on property they sell instead of the one they buy,…
Over 60%of the population die without making a Will. Do you know what will happen to your assets if you fail to do so? You will die intestate and your estate will be dealt with under the strict intestacy rules. If you die leaving a surviving spouse (or Civil Partner) and children then the spouse…
Marriage and divorce Some sobering statistics at a tipsy time of year: 19 % of divorces happen before 4 years of marriage and 27% before nine years. The median length of a marriage is seven years for women marrying between the ages of 25 and 34. The honeymoon period fades fast. Once it was cute…
Welcome to the Independent Law Network website and blog. The Independent Law Network consists of several independent lawyers practicing in the Norfolk area. We all practice in different areas of law and therefore our work is complementary rather than competitive. We have set up this joint web-site and blog, to showcase our work, and provide…
