Articles

Bower Baileys’ guide to Inheritance Act Claims

7th December 2021

If you have been excluded from a will or have not been left as much as you were expecting, it may be possible to make a claim using the Inheritance Act 1975. It is surprisingly common for individuals to make a Will that fails to make adequate financial provision for their surviving spouse / partner,… Read more »

Visas for Christmas

18th October 2021

The government has varied the Immigration Rules in relation to the Christmas period for HGV food drivers and poultry workers. Employers within these sectors will now be able to request overseas workers from four named recruitment agencies, who will charge fees for their services. Those agencies will be able to sponsor suitably qualified individuals. The… Read more »

Worker or Independent Contractor?

19th August 2021

There are two types of self-employment in the UK. One is where a person operates the business and is their own boss (an independent contractor) and the other is where a person has greater freedom than an employee, but is not truly independent of the employer (a worker). The distinction doesn’t affect tax treatment (both… Read more »

Sports Injuries and Clinical Negligence

19th August 2021

A clinical negligence claim (also known as a medical negligence claim) occurs when a patient makes a claim against their medical practitioner or hospital (or both) for compensation due to an act or acts of negligence incurred during their medical care. Clinical negligence in relation to sports injuries can occur when there is substandard treatment following an injury acquired from playing sports. Common Sports… Read more »

Not been left reasonable financial provision under a Will?

21st July 2021

It is surprisingly common for individuals to make a Will that fails to make adequate financial provision for their surviving spouse/partner, or family members or dependants. When this occurs a person often has no alternative but to make a claim against an estate to ensure that they receive the provision they deserve. These cases are… Read more »

UK right to work checks for EEA workers from July 2021

1st July 2021

From 1 July 2021 it will no longer be possible for European Economic Area (EEA) citizens (other than Irish nationals),  to rely on their EEA passports or their national identity cards as proof of their right to work within the UK. The vast majority of EEA citizens will now prove their right to work by… Read more »

Clinical negligence claims – compensation awards

21st June 2021

A clinical negligence claim (sometimes known as a medical negligence claim) is when a patient makes a claim against their medical practitioner or hospital for compensation due to an act of negligence occurring during their medical care. To bring a successful clinical negligence claim an individual must prove that the healthcare provider breached their duty of care and that, as a consequence of… Read more »

Domestic Abuse Update – Watch This Space!

10th June 2021

The Domestic Abuse Act (2021) was passed at the end of May 2021. Its provisions are likely to come into effect later this year or next year. For the first time, the Act provides a definition of domestic abuse which does not only focus upon the traditional view of physical abuse, but also covers controlling… Read more »

No fault divorce – Takes effect on 6th April 2022

10th June 2021

A long time coming – the no fault divorce that was previously due to take effect in autumn 2021 but will now take effect from 6th April 2022. Currently, in order to start divorce proceedings, one spouse has to prove that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.  Unless the parties have been separated for a… Read more »

Clinical Negligence Claims – deadlines (the “Limitation Period”)

11th May 2021

A clinical negligence claim (sometimes known as a medical negligence claim) occurs when a patient makes a claim against their medical practitioner or hospital (or both) for compensation due to an act or acts of negligence incurred during their medical care. There are however specific deadlines within which a claim for clinical negligence must be made. A claim must be brought within these deadlines,… Read more »