Angela Brown
Daniels LLP Solicitors I’M worried that my step-children will try to contest my will when I die. I paid for the house my husband and I lived in until his death, and in his will he left his estate to me and our son. His own children received a considerable sum of money when my husband sold his own house, and I want to make sure my child receives his rightful inheritance. IF your step-children have left home and are not dependant on you in any way they will have no grounds to contest your will. You can leave your money and property as you choose, although it may help to have a sworn statement kept with the will explaining why you wish the estate to be divided in this manner. A solicitor will be able to help you do this.
RIGHT OF ACCESS
AT the back of my cottage there’s a right of way to two other houses. I’ve just replaced the gate that’s been at the end of the drive for the last ten years, but one of my neighbours says there shouldn’t be a gate on a right of way, can you advise? INSTALLING the gate must not ‘interfere’ with the right of way that exists. The new gate replaces an existing gate and provided it does not obstruct the exercise of the right of way (you may need to provide keys to the neighbours if the gate locks) it is unlikely that this causes any interference, or grounds for your neighbour to object. However it’s difficult to give you a definitive answer on questions of rights of way without seeing all the relevant documents, so you should check your title deeds or ask your solicitor to do so. It could well be that you own the land and can do with it as you please as long as your neighbours can still reach their homes. MY husband and I have been living apart for three years. I’d like a divorce, but since there are no financial matters or children to consider I’d like to know the easiest and cheapest way of going about it. Is there such a thing as a DIY divorce? THERE’S nothing to stop you completing the relevant forms if you wish. You should however be careful to ensure that your husband will not be able to make a claim against your finances at a future date. You can obtain the paperwork you need either online or from the County Court office and download or pick up a leaflet setting out the procedures required. There’s a court fee of £410 to start divorce proceedings although you may be exempt from paying the court fee if you have a low income. You should consult a solicitor to ensure that a clean break is achieved to protect your financial position moving forward. FIVE years ago I had a front door and a fourpane patio door installed by a local double glazing firm. They came with a 10-year guarantee against faulty materials and workmanship. Now I am having trouble with the front door locks and one of the patio door panels is coming loose. I have contacted the company seven times by phone but they keep saying ‘next week’. YOU will have to write to them, or better still, get a solicitor to send the firm a letter showing you mean business. Suggest that unless they take action to make good the defects within 14 days you will get someone else in to do the work and sue them through the courts. With luck they’ll realise that fixing your doors will involve less trouble for them in the long run.
Call SAS Daniels LLP Solicitors on 0161 475 7676 or 01625 442 100.
Visit www.sasdaniels. co.uk
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