What Legal Services can a Solicitor Provide?

A trained solicitor’s firm will often offer all of the above services and more, and a lawyer can help you navigate through the confusing legal jargon, and be there to fight on your behalf if the situation becomes complicated or needs to go to court. From personal injury claims to custody disputes, appointing power of attorney, and many other services, see below for a guide to the types of legal services a solicitor can provide. 

Moving home can be the start of a very exciting new chapter, but it also ranks among one of the most stressful life events a person can go through. One such difficulty is untangling the red tape of conveyancing, but a solicitor can help advise and guide you through this complicated process.

Conveyancing simply refers to the transfer of the legal title of a property from one person to another; but as anyone who’s gone through the process knows, it can be drawn out and complicated. Solicitors can assist with any conveyancing situation, including buying a property, selling a property, or re-mortgage. They will help with every stage of the transfer process, ensuring you’re meeting all the necessary legal obligations, and working to protect your rights during the transfer process. 

It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to making a will, but a wills and probate solicitor can guide you through the process, and give you peace of mind that your affairs will be dealt with as requested after you’re gone. Making a will lessens the burden on loved ones, and gives precise instructions on how to divide up your estate and assets. 

Making a will goes hand in hand with probate; which is the legal process accepting the will as a valid document and representation of the deceased's last wishes. If you have a loved one who has passed, a solicitor can apply for probate on your behalf, giving you one less thing to worry about while you emotionally and practically deal with the loss. 

Family law covers several different aspects, including divorce, separation, custody disputes and financial matters such as alimony. We will discuss each of these in more detail below. 

Divorce is naturally a stressful and emotional time, but hiring a divorce lawyer means you’ll have a professional on your side to help with the division of assets, any custody terms, and how much alimony or child support should be paid. They can help to negotiate the best deal if your ex spouse is being difficult, complete paperwork, and represent you if the case goes to court. 

It’s not essential to hire a lawyer if you were never legally married, but many people find it can still be very helpful when going through a separation. A lawyer can help negotiate the same terms as above (dividing assets, custody agreements etc), as this can become more complicated if there’s no legal framework to follow (such as dividing a married couple’s assets in half). 

If parents are unable to come to an agreement about how custody is split following a divorce or separation, it may be time to hire a solicitor to help. They will present evidence on their client’s behalf to argue why they should gain, or retain, custody of any children if the other parent is trying to contest the arrangement. They can also help you come to an initial agreement regarding who the children live with for the majority of the time, or whether custody will be split 50/50. 

This is a professional method used to solve disputes surrounding divorce, child custody, child support or division of property. Mediation involves each member of the couple and their respective lawyers, who then meet with a mediator to discuss options and attempt to reach a solution both parties are happy with. 

Also known as spousal support, these are payments made by one spouse to another following terms set out in court. People may choose to hire a family lawyer if they believe the payments are unfair and should be reduced, or if you’re in receivement of payments and believe they should be higher. A lawyer can argue the case on your behalf, and help work out the terms of other payments such as child support. 

Appointing a power of attorney is a way to give yourself peace of mind, and take the pressure off knowing that someone you trust is making decisions on your behalf. Power of attorney is often granted when somebody is elderly, infirm, or disabled, and if they’re worried about being able to make sound decisions regarding financial or legal matters in the near future. 

A solicitor can guide you through the process and explain how power of attorney works, when you can invoke it, and help you draw up the necessary legal documents to ensure everything is above board. 

Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and if you’ve found yourself seriously injured due to an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may want to think about making a personal injury claim. Whether you’ve had an accident at work, a car accident, a victim of medical negligence, or any other type of accident or injury, a personal injury lawyer can help you make a claim and seek compensation. 

First, they will investigate your claim and analyse the chances of you winning a case. Next, they will gather evidence, formulate legal theories, draft pleads and motions, and interview witnesses to build your case. If the case goes to trial, your solicitor will argue on your behalf and do their best to win you the maximum amount of compensation. 

Like family law, employment law covers many different areas for both employers and employees, including unfair dismissal, maternity rights, breach of contract, disciplinary issues, and settlement agreements. Employment lawyers can guide clients through the legal aspects of any of the above, and offer advice to help you make an informed decision. 

Lawyers will prepare a claim on your behalf, explore the type of settlement to be made, prepare and attend a preliminary hearing and exchange documents with any other parties involved in the case. They’ll also speak to any potential witnesses to gather evidence, agree the list of issues and case list, and attend a final hearing. Each stage is focused on ensuring all contracts and procedures have been followed legally and fairly, and if not, how to get the best deal or amount of compensation for their client. 

If you’re looking for local lawyers in Staffordshire to fight on your behalf, get in touch with Mark Redler Solicitors. Our family run firm has over 40 years of experience serving the local community, offering a wide range of legal services including conveyancing, child law, divorce and separation, personal injury claims, wills and probate, and much more. For friendly and practical legal advice and support, give us a call today to arrange an appointment, or find out more about any of our services on our website.