After your will (you have made your will - haven’t you?!!) the next most valuable document you could have is a Lasting Power of Attorney. 

With a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, you have the peace of mind of knowing that, if for any reason, you become unable to manage your affairs, someone else, appointed by you and whom you trust, can manage your affairs for you, in accordance with your wishes.

 Because a Lasting Power of Attorney is such an important document, you should have it explained and prepared by a Solicitor.

 Call us now on 0115 955 3444, ask for an appointment with one of our friendly experts, and get the peace of mind of a Lasting Power of Attorney.

GRANDPARENTS

Are you a grandparent? 

Do you know your rights in respect of your grandchild?

 Have you lost touch with your grandchild or not seen your grandchild?

 Are you caring for a grandchild and need legal recognition?

 Grandparents have always had a very important role in bringing up and being part of their grandchildren’s lives.  However, if your relationship with your own child breaks down, contact with your grandchildren can become difficult or lost completely.  If this has happened to you, we can advise you on how to try and re-establish your bond with your grandchildren.

 If you are caring for a grandchild  you may need legal recognition of this fact (by way of an Order under the Children Act, for example.)

 Your rights as a grandparent are important, and you should know and understand what they are.

 If you would like advice on your rights as a grandparent, call us on 0115 955 3444 to make an appointment with an advisor from our friendly Family Department team.  Alternatively use our ‘Contact’ page to send us your details and we will be pleased to contact you.

Are you a step-parent?

A step-parent does not automatically acquire parental responsibility for a child, when marrying that child’s parents.

‘Parental responsibility’ is all the rights, duties and responsibilities that a parent has in respect of their child.  The mother of a child always has parental responsibility.  The father of a child, if married to the mother at the time of, or after, the birth of the child, also has parental responsibility. 

Once a step-parent has parental responsibility she/he has equal legal rights, duties and responsibilities for that child, together with other persons already having parental responsibility.

Do you know if you have any rights in respect of your spouse’s children from a previous relationship?

If you would like further advice on parental responsibility and your rights as a step-parent call us on 0115 955 3444 to make an appointment with an advisor from our friendly Family Department team.  Alternatively use our ‘Contact’ page to send us your details and we will be pleased to contact you.

THE BENEFITS OF USING A LOCAL HIGH STREET SOLICITOR FOR YOUR CONVEYANCING

When deciding upon the Solicitor or Conveyancer to deal with your property transaction there are many factors to take into account. The costs involved, and the speed of the transaction are obviously important.  Equally as important for avoiding delays, is the location of the solicitor’s office.

Some Estate Agents use their own panel of  Solicitors or Conveyancers. These are often out of town, and using them may result in delays and additional expense to the client.

Using Sheltons as your local solicitor avoids these potential problems.

Our clients can call in to ask for updated information on their transaction, or to return documents without the cost (and risks) of posting them.  On most occasions they will be able to see the person dealing with their matter, or speak to an experienced assistant with knowledge of their matter.

When seeking a quotation for conveyancing services, be sure to check that it includes all standard costs.  Some firms give a low initial quotation, then charge extra for additional but necessary services such as witnessing your signature to documents, redeeming a mortgage, completing a SDLT return and dealing with a mortgage lender.  Such ‘extras’ quickly inflate the cost of the transaction well beyond that of the quotation, and in most cases these extras are not optional!

Sheltons quotations include all standard costs.

At  Sheltons our service is personal to you. The Conveyancer you see on your first visit will be the person who will deal with your transaction from start to finish.

If you would like to discuss the sale or purchase of a property, or request a free no obligation quotation, send us your details using the ‘Contact us’ page of our website, or call us on 0115 955 3444 and ask for Liz Watchorn (Bulwell Office) or Christina Palin (Hucknall Office)

Following the closure of our Aspley Office, we are pleased to announce that we have been able to arrange interview facilities for those of our clients in the Aspley area who are unable to attend at our other offices (Bulwell and Hucknall)  Our new Interview Room is located at 373 Aspley Lane. 

The room is a short distance from our old Office, and is on the other side of Robinswood Road, adjacent to ‘Flower Craft’.  It is NOT permanently staffed, and clients wishing to be seen there, should first telephone and make an appointment.

We would encourage all our Aspley clients, new or existing, to make use of this facility.

Solicitors for the Elderly is an independent, national organisation.  Its members are Solicitors, Barristers and Legal Executives who are committed to providing the highest quality legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

Not just any lawyer can be come an SFE member. To qualify, lawyers must have spent a substantial amount of their time working for elderly clients.  They must also fulfil other criteria, set by SFE before they are accepted into membership.

SFE members have experience of, and specialize in a wide range of legal issues particularly affecting older people.  They have the knowledge that allows them to discount the myths associated with ageing and elderly people.  Their speciallist knowledge enables them empathise with and to take account of the difficulties and disabilities, both physical and mental which can accompany the ageing process.  As such, they are more aware of the social and health problems which can arise as people age.

So, if you are an older person, or are responsible for the care of an elderly person, and are in need of legal advice, be sure to use an SFE accredited solicitor for that advice. Be sure also to check that the lawyer you have chosen, specialises in the area that concerns you.

Why not call Sheltons now? - 0115 955 3444 for Peace of mind and the right advice.

Two sources of free independent legal advice which it may be useful for you to be aware of and which are supplementary to the services which we can provide, are ACAS  and CLS.

You can obtain free advice in relation to employment rights from the Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) 

Free advice line : 08457 474747 or visit their website at www.acas.org.uk

Community Legal Service (CLS) can provide free advice in relation to a range of legal problems including Debt, Housing and homelessness, Education, Welfare benefits, Police and crime.

Free advice line: 08453 454345 or vist their website at www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk