Although all we may be able to think about are the sleepless nights but priceless memories, one particular issue has been brought to the attention of MG Legal’s team, of solicitors who deal with medical negligence, that has left one mother amidst a legal claim for damages for what, she says, were failings of the NHS. 

 

All women, who find themselves between 10-14 weeks pregnant, are asked if they would like to be screened for Down’s, Edward’s and Patau's Syndromes. Down Syndrome is a form of learning disability which can place impairments on bodily functions such as hearing, vision and heart and digestion issues. The screening involves taking a sample of fluid from the back of the baby’s neck, known as the nuchal fluid. This sample is then tested for abnormality, in that, the thickness of the fluid will provide an indication as to the level of risk of abnormality. The fluid is measured in conjunction with maternal age to calculate the risk of the baby having Downs Syndrome. 

With so many housing developments being built, especially in your local solicitor’s home county, Lancashire, we can all sympathise with the feeling of dread when you receive a planning application letter from your local council. But, when you receive a similar letter about your neighbour’s property, do many of us really pay that much attention? 

 

Well, for neighbours of Sophie Hicks, a renowned architect, they definitely paid attention, and said no! 

Whilst it may not be inherently illegal, you would have to prove that you had no intention of driving your car, which can be difficult to prove. Under section 4 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, you could face a penalty of ten points on your driving licence (a minimum, so beware as you could be looking at more), and up to a 12 month driving ban, as well as prison time. 

 

If you’re not over the limit, but you’re just tired, then rule 91 of the Highway Code recommends a 15 minute break for every two hours of driving, so just make sure you pull up somewhere safe, and where you are not causing any inconvenience to anyone else. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t pull over on the hard shoulder; this is for emergencies only, and parking up on the hard shoulder has been known to cause road traffic accidents. 

Currently, the only reason for divorce are that of “irretrievable breakdown”, on the basis of one of the five grounds, which can be found here. The eagle -eyed among you will note that we highlighted back in January that change was coming, with Sir James Munby making his feelings in respect of the “blame game,” couples must play abundantly clear. 

As part of your purchase transaction, your conveyancing solicitors will submit searches on your behalf. Essentially, the searches are used to ensure the integrity of the property you are purchasing, and that there are no issues which may come to haunt you in the future. See our blog on ‘The Importance of Conveyancing Searches’ for more information on what these entail by following the link here. 

So, you’ve managed to get on the property ladder after years and years of skimping and saving. You moved into your new house and it’s perfect… or so you think. Maybe the things you thought you could live with just become unliveable. Don’t worry. We’ve all been there! 

 

And you’re not alone. MG Legal, Solicitors in Lancaster and Preston, are here to tell you the common reasons for people moving house – and … 

MG Legal, Garstang Solicitors, are delving deep in to their personal archives and contouring the memory of their parents telling them that they must do a certain something and the reasoning behind the order was always “because I said so”. Seemingly Dover District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council were hoping to get away with the same reasoning. 

 

Two recent cases Dover DC v Campaign to Protect Rural England (2017) and Oakley v South Cambridgeshire District Council (2017) both involved cases where planning permission was granted despite public opposition and against advice of Planning Officials. 

With air pollution on the rise, and as one of our main public health threats, government ministers have made attempts to alleviate this issue. Air pollution has been linked to many health issues, which can stretch as far as dementia.  

 

Your solicitors in Preston have, therefore, begun to question what may be done to reduce this risk. 

Now, quite often things can become heated over Christmas. Quite a few people consume alcohol, and, well let’s face it, it’s a long time to spend with family consecutively – regardless of how much you love them, right? 

When your loved one passes away, quite often you will need to obtain a Grant of Probate, commonly just known as Probate. 

 

This process normally involves making an application to the Probate Registry Office, including details of the deceased’s financial position and their Will. If their Will is not available (or in some cases, if they did not have one), you would need to apply for Letters of Administration.