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Home | About Us | Our People | Private Clients | Business Clients | Contact Us
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Designed by Seahorse Services Home | About Us | Our People | Private Clients | Business Clients | Contact Us |
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Clients come in all shapes and sizes and with all sorts of different problems.
As lawyers and as practical business people we try to assist in all sort of
ways and are aware that the problems with which people come to see us don't
always pop into neat pigeon holes. The motto of the Law Society of Scotland
means, roughly, "We are people, involved in all aspects of people's lives."
We think that's a pretty good statement of our philosophy.
This page deals with some areas in which we regularly help people, but it's not exhaustive and if you have a problem that's not mentioned here, don't hesitate to contact us.
Buying or selling a house is one of the biggest financial decisions that most people have to make. And on the stress scale it only comes behind the loss of a partner in terms of trauma. We can help a lot, because we have been here so often before. And remember that as individuals we have all gone through the process ourselves. Generally, we can be most help if you come to us at an early stage, so that we can guide you through the process, including arranging mortgages and fixing up a survey if you are buying, or organizing a pre-sale valuation and estate agency arrangements in the case of a sale.
The missives are what we in Scotland call the contract for the purchase or sale of a property. Over recent years they have become increasingly complicated, as people want to ensure that not only are they getting the right property at the right time, but also that any moveable items they want are included in the sale and are in good working order, along with central heating systems and any mechanical or electrical devices. Getting the missives precisely adjusted means that you can be sure that things are going to work out just the way you want and we take great pains to tailor them to meet your precise wishes.
Alastair Davidson is in charge of domestic conveyancing, and he is assisted by other solicitors and by a paralegal team consisting of Jennifer Stephen and Ursula Brookmire. We have evolved a sophisticated computer system to streamline delivery of a very professional service to you and one of the benefits of that is that we can offer you a highly competitive package. Ask us for a quote. top of page
Whether you're renting out your house or taking a house on rent, it's important that things are done properly. A landlord wants to be sure that possession of the house can be recovered when needed, and a tenant wants to know that she or he has security of tenure and can't be turned out on the street at a moment's notice. What are called Short Assured Tenancies have made it possible to achieve what most people want, but it's absolutely essential that all the technical requirements are complied with, or all will end in tears. top of page
We all seem to be reluctant to make Wills. We seem to find them a reminder of our own mortality and look for excuses to avoid thinking about the subject.
That's a short sighted policy. It's not a painful process and we can put in place a straightforward Will very quickly and very inexpensively.
If someone dies without making a Will, their estate may not go to the people that they would want and the process of winding up will probably be longer and more expensive that it would have been if a proper record of your wishes had been prepared. Indeed, the smaller your estate is, the more important it can be to make a Will and avoid a disproportionately high part of your estate being eaten up in administrative costs.
Remember that when someone leaves an estate that is above the Inheritance Tax threshold, everything above that threshold is taxed at 40%, except where the estate is going to a surviving spouse. Given that houses (and sometimes pension lump sums) can nowadays be worth a great deal, many people who had never thought of themselves as being particularly rich can have estates that go above the Nil Rate Band.
This is one of the areas where it's particularly worthwhile to get in touch with us at an early date. We can recommend ways of arranging your affairs to minimize Inheritance Tax, or often to avoid it all together.
Contact Walter Reid to discuss Wills and Inheritance Tax planning. top of page
When someone dies, whether or not a Will has been left, it usually necessary to have a solicitor involved to have the appointment of an executor confirmed and wind up the estate.
This is a difficult and stressful time for those who are left, and we appreciate that fact. We make a point of trying to provide sympathetic and professional assistance and to guide people through the necessary procedures with the minimum of intrusion and distress. top of page
Matrimonial problems are among the most difficult people have to face. When you are contemplating divorce or separation, or difficulties over custody or access, or trying to adjust financial claims or property rights, you are dealing with an emotional area where there are sometimes no obvious clear cut solutions.
We'll do our best to help you by offering the personal support that an informed professional adviser can supply.
We can't promise to make problems disappear, but our experience may allow us to put them into a perspective that makes them seem less overwhelming. top of page
If you require to raise a court action or to defend one, contact us for help. Our litigation department can assist with all sorts of court actions both in civil matters and also criminal ones.
In either case, you may qualify for Legal Aid, and we'll be glad to check that out for you. Even if you don't qualify, remember that we offer a free diagnostic interview and we'll be happy to discuss with you the most economical way of going to court.
The person to contact is Graham Fordyce. top of page
Legal Aid is there to help meet the costs of court action. Legal advice and assistance is intended to help with the cost of legal advice not involving a court hearing.
You'll have heard that the entitlement of these sources of help has been restricted, and that is the case. On the other hand, assistance is now available for some procedures which were formerly excluded, like attendance at employment tribunals. The rules are complicated, and the only way to find out for certain whether you will qualify is to come and see us and go over an application form with us. Remember it won't cost you anything. top of page
If you suffer as a result of someone else's fault, you are usually entitled to compensation: so whether you've tripped over a paving stone, been knocked over in a traffic accident or your health is suffering because of conditions at work, come and see us. There are time limits within which claims have to be made, so don't delay.
Even if you don't qualify for legal aid or legal advice and assistance, in some cases we are prepared to take on cases on a speculative basis, which means we only get paid if you win.
If, on the other hand, someone is making a claim against you, it's just as important that you should see us. You may not be liable to make any payment and should certainly not do so until you have seen us, but again, it's essential to act speedily. top of page