Legal Chat UK

Ever wondered how the law ensures protection for the mentally impaired and those with acquired brain injuries? This fascinating discussion with Ellie Norman and John McKenzie from Warners Law's Court of Protection team will provide you with a clear and in-depth understanding of it all. From the powers and responsibilities of the court, to the intriguing role of a deputy, you'll discover a side of law that safeguards the rights and interests of the vulnerable in our society. Get ready for a deep dive into the world of legal practitioners as we discuss some challenging and unusual cases. One involves a client with a sprawling property portfolio and a house full of animals, while the other recounts the story of a client who was served divorce papers by his husband. Through these experiences, we explore the necessity of obtaining court permissions, and the intricacies between powers of attorney and deputyships. Whether you're a law student or just curious about the legal world, you're in for an enlightening exploration.

Uncovering the issues within the family court system, we venture into an illuminating discussion with our Family Law Partner, Keith Unger from Warners Solicitors. We dissect the various challenges currently distressing the system, be it frequent adjournments, administrative shortcomings or the recent digital shift for filing documents. Keith unravels these obstacles with real-life anecdotes, demonstrating how they impact, delay and complicate court proceedings, often leaving his clients emotionally and financially drained.But we're not just here to dwell on the issues - we're also exploring viable alternatives. With Keith, we journey through the labyrinth of alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation and arbitration. These non-court solutions, though not without their challenges, might just hold the key to expedite the resolution process, saving both time and money. Prepare to gain a deeper understanding of the family court system intricacies and arm yourself with valuable advice should you ever find yourself navigating its complex corridors.

What if the most valuable asset in your divorce was something you barely gave a thought to? Unravel this as Charles Tennant, a specialist in family law from Warners Solicitors, takes us through the intricate, and often misunderstood, world of pensions and divorce. Charles expertly demystifies the complexities around how pensions are divided during a divorce, revealing the ins and outs of options like pension sharing, pension offsetting, and the seldom-used pension attachment. He sheds light on why understanding the real value of your pension is pivotal, and how different pension types can alter the financial outcome of a divorce. Immerse yourself in the controversial issue of dividing pensions accrued before marriage, and learn how recent case laws could potentially affect you. Charles also offers his insights on whether state pensions are usually subject to division, and the complexities surrounding final salary pensions. He stresses the importance of seeking professional advice when dealing with large pensions during a divorce. If you're venturing into the world of divorce and pensions, this episode is a treasure trove of information that could impact your financial future. This is not just about understanding the division of assets, it's about learning how to safeguard your financial stability. Tune in now, and arm yourself with knowledge that could significantly influence your tomorrow.

In this episode of Legal Chat, Charles Tenant talks about no-fault divorce, one year on from the law change. The divorce process has dramatically changed in the last 20 years, traditional paperwork filled with legal jargon is no longer needed and its now as simple as filling out an online form on GOV.UK. Charles discusses some of the benefits and negatives of the no-fault divorce system as well as providing advice for anyone currently going through, or considering the divorce process.

In this episode of Legal Chat, Louise Brenlund talks about Employment Law and shares an insight into her role as Head of Employment Law as well as providing details on some of her most interesting cases.

In this episode Kate Barker, an associate in the Private Client team at Warners Solicitors discusses LPA's and some of the common questions asked about this. 

Fiona Taylor, a partner in the Probate and Estates team at Warners Solicitors explores what probate is and looks at common problems that can arise when administering an estate. 

Charles Tennant, a partner in the Family Law team at Warners Solicitors explores what a prenuptial agreement is and why couples should consider making a prenuptial agreement. 

Mathew Aves a partner in the Family Law team at Warners Solicitors discusses the new updates to the 'No Fault Divorce'. 

In this episode, Matthew Aves talks about the upcoming changes to divorce law including the new 'no-fault' divorce.Matthew answers some of the most commonly asked questions such as: What are the upcoming changes and what is 'no-fault' divorce.How is it different to the current process and why does divorce law need to reform?Will there be any changes to the amount of time it takes to get divorced?If one party doesn’t want to get divorced, will they be able to contest it?What about dealing with finances what is the current process, and will this be affected by the changes?Are there any drawbacks with no-fault divorce?When will these changes happen?Matthew is a partner in the family department at Warners Solicitors.

In this episode, Will Norton talks about Lasting Powers of Attorney, also known as LPAs. Will answers some of the most commonly asked questions such as: What is a Lasting Powers of Attorney? What is the difference between a Lasting Power of Attorney and an Enduring Power of Attorney? Who can be my Attorney’s and does it have to be a professional? What happens if I do not have a Lasting Powers of Attorney and I lose capacity?Will is a solicitor in the private client department at Warners Solicitors.

In this episode, Rebecca Massam talks about Alternative Dispute Resolution in Family Law Matters.Rebecca answers some of the most commonly asked questions such as: What is Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR? What are the different Alternative Dispute Resolutions available in family law?What is mediation?What happens at mediation? What is collaborative law and how does it work in practice? How long will the collaborative process take?How do I know if these alternative dispute resolution methods are right for me?Rebecca is a partner in the family department at Warners Solicitors.

In this episode, Matthew Aves talks about the arrangements for children when getting divorced.Matthew answers some of the most commonly asked questions such as: What happens if we cannot agree with whom the children should live?What are my rights to see the children?Where will a child live if we separate or divorce if only one of us is the child's parent?What are the rules for adopted children and foster children if we separate or divorce?Do we have to get a court order saying what will happen to the children when we divorce?How can we work out a fair arrangement for our child when we divorce or separate?Matthew is a partner in the family department at Warners Solicitors.

In this episode, Keith Unger talks about the process that is involved when getting divorced.Keith answers some of the most commonly asked questions such as: What is involved in getting divorced and how long does it take?What can I do if my ex won’t agree to a divorce?What does it mean if a divorce is uncontested?What are the grounds for divorce?Does the reason for the divorce affect how the financial settlement is worked out?Can money one of us expects to inherit be taken into account when we divorce?Will a prenuptial agreement protect my assets if we divorce?Keith is a partner in the family department at Warners Solicitors.

In this episode, David Cooper talks about Lasting Powers of Attorney, also known as LPAs. David answers some of the most commonly asked questions such as: What is a Lasting Powers of Attorney? What is the difference between a Lasting Power of Attorney and an Enduring Power of Attorney? Who can be my Attorney’s and does it have to be a professional? What happens if I do not have a Lasting Powers of Attorney and I lose capacity?David is a solicitor in the private client department at Warners Solicitors.

In this episode, Martin Terrell discusses the Court of Protection. Martin is a well-known and acknowledged expert in Court of Protection matters. He is recognised as a leading individual in this field by both legal directories, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Martin has lectured and written extensively on Court of Protection and elderly client matters. In this episode, Martin gives his insight into what it's really like working with the Court of Protection. He also discusses the highs and lows of working with individuals who have lost mental capacity and how he deals with difficult relatives.

In this episode, Gail Hall looks at how we can all prepare for older age. It can be a costly business getting old if you are in declining health. No government for the last decade has had the appetite for getting to grips with the mounting cost of social care, so the cost of paying for your care could be down to you. Gail discusses the options that are available to you, including the little-known 'attendance allowance' benefit.There are lots of steps that you can take now to make things easier for you and your family. This is especially true if you are not married and you live with your partner. In some cases, your house may be sold to pay for your care fees, and your partner could end up homeless.

In this episode, Simon Garner discusses Inheritance Tax and Declarations of Trust.Simon explains what Inheritance Tax is and who’s responsibility it is to pay it. He also describes how most estates don’t fall within the Inheritance Tax threshold because they can make use of certain exemptions and reliefs. Simon discusses the three main areas where clients reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax that may be due on their estates, including Wills, donating to charities and giving gifts.In this podcast, Simon also discusses Declaration of Trusts. He describes the circumstances where they can be used and why clients might want to make one.