All, A tricky area, and one that I have several pieces of conflicting advice... I have a Residence Order in my favour for my daughter, granted 3 years ago. Her mother passed away last year. I have Parental Responsibility,and we were never married. There are two restrictions in the Residence Order, one around surname, and one around taking out of the country for more than a month.

We're actually on good terms with our neighbours, but boundary disputes raise their ugly heads from time to time, no matter what the good intentions of both parties. One neighbour with land running along one side of the driveway to our property has failed to maintain his fence. This is now falling over onto our drive and impedes access. I've mentioned it to him in person and got a verbal...

My mother in law died recently. There is no sign of a will in her papers. Is there any quick way of finding out if one exists. Iain

I heard Blair's speech about his new civilian police force on the news this morning. He stated that there was a raft of new laws to back up this war against organised crime. One of which was that the right to silence will be abolished altogether. After applying for a court Order (and I wonder whether it will be a magistrate's rubber-stamp), a suspect will be *compelled* to answer...

Hi all, Can anyone tell me if when the new restrictions are in force for smoking in pubs and clubs come into force, with places like Butlins holiday venues, events such as music shows will they have to be non smoking? I have just been to a 1960's music event at Bognor, and for me it was far too smoky in the theatres. If it is now the minority that smoke, why should they be allowed to make it...

Daniel wrote: Since then I have maintained the field at my own expense - no question of rent has ever been raised and all has been done with the blessing of our various vicars. If that's true - then your occupation has never been adverse. Francis

Hi - I am an executor and trustee of the will of my recently deceased stepmother. She is survived by my father. They held their home as 'tennants in common'. The will states that the beneficial interest (50%) of the property is to pass to the trustees, (my stepbrother is named as a second executor and trustee), to hold on trust for my father for life. The will makes it quite clear that this trust...

Sharon wrote: Hypothetical question: If I were to order flowers for a friends birthday from a florist in the States, and they didnt get them (they are also in the USA). Would the transaction be treated the same as if it had taken place in the UK? ie, would I have any redress through my CC company? I've been stiffed for flowers that never arrived in the past (a few years ago) and...

I bought a mobile phone headset, and part of the casing broke, I believe while I was putting it on my ear (I noticed it scratching my ear and little bits of broken plastic on the floor). I took it into the retailer for a replacement, which they refused to providem saying that the damage could only have occurred through my negligence or abuse of the equipment. They suggest that it could have been...

I signed up to the Mailing Preference Service years ago, and the junk that arrived addressed to Joe Soap 57 Acacia Avenue etc etc began to dwindle. Now, I am getting increasing amounts of junk addressed to

I have today received a report from my solicitor about a flat I am buying, asking me whether I would like him to request a contingent buildings insurance policy from the seller (the flat is one of two flats in a converted building, and under the terms of each lease, each lessee is required to insure their part of the building - we have seen copies of the current insurance policies for both...

A family member entered into a Trust Deed last year. The person's pension came through recently and they decided to take it as a lump sum. They wrote to the company that arranged the Trust Deed and asked if they would have to give up any of their pension. Bank statements were supplied. Four months passed and then the bank statements were returned without any covering letter so the family...

This is a question for the legal eagles he 1. Individual Z is under attack by a malicious poster called Y on a forum or newsgroup. 2. The poster called Y is posting information that may compromise a court case Z is involved in. 3. Z knows the name and address of Y but Y is posting under a different name.

People recently, in another forum, have been claiming that without the studs and posts and globes a zebra crossing isn't one, and the black and white stripes on the road aren't enough. I know that this was one of AP Herbert's misleading cases, but wondered if it still applied or if black and white stripes on a road were enough to make it an official pedestrian crossing. Just to confuse things,...

Hi, one of my distant relatives passed away a short while ago and there is now upset in the family about the will. We don't know were the will is of her partner is who died in 1982 is. Q is the will available on line? Q if it is not in the public domain how do we go about finding what solicitors hold it? Thanks

As part of divorce settlement, I must pay maintenance for the benefit of my three children to my ex-wife until September 2007. They are now 19, 21 and 23 years of age. She had a very good deal out of the divorce and I'm paying through the nose for existing loans and took on payments for visa bills reaching into 5 figures. None of our children worked when the divorce settlement was made, but...

Hi, My mum and uncle own a shop building which they have recently converted into a single shop and flats above. As soon as it was complete I moved into the shop portion running a new business on the terms that I would initially pay a small rent, increasing by a set amount each month until it got to a certain figure. What complicates things is that it was also put in the hands of an agent as my...

whilst at work (on a building site) i was quite seriousley injured which has left me permanantley dissabled and unable to walk properly. at the time i had no intention of making a compensation claim , but when the seriosness became apparent i decided i had to. since this time i have been on state benefits and have not worked since. if my case is sucsessfull will all the benefits i have...

I wish to take a company to court. I hired them to carry out a service. They never turned up and I had waste 6 hours of my own time sort out the problems this caused and hiring another company. Thankfully I never paid them as we were suppose to pay when they turned up. Can I still take them to the small claims court as at the moment they don't own me anything? Can I compensation for wasted...

Can someone confirm whether a public sector organisation has to publish details of tenders received under either the EU directive or freedom of information act, to an interested third party? Many thanks