How Will You Have A Brush With The Law?

Okay, well I don’t want to alarm you here – but everybody interacts with the law at some point in their lives. I’m not saying that you will be arrested for public intoxication or some other common offence, but you will most likely have an interaction in a variety of other non-criminal ways.

We’re governed by laws – and we need to have them for obvious reasons. But there are some occasions that occur in life that mean you have to get some kind of legal service. It could be something simple, like registering a company, or something a little bit more complicated, like a divorce.

In any case, it happens to all of us. So what are the most common ways that we all come into contact with the law?

Wills

If you want to make sure that your wishes are legally carried out when you die, you’re going to need to have a will. As a result, many people will come into contact with the law when looking to plan how their estate will be bequeathed. Shockingly, lots of people don’t consider this.

According to an article by Foresters Friendly Society approximately 61% of people do not have a will. That’s a shocking statistic, but also 46% of those aged 55-64 in the UK have not made a will.

But what’s the big deal? What are the benefits of getting a will and having a legal expert do it?;

·         Providing For Your Family – You need to have a plan of action in place of what to do with your assets after you die. If you don’t then you’re not providing for your family. As a result, you need to make sure that you have a plan in place. Otherwise, you may not have your wishes carried out as you’d like.

·         Legal Authority – Self-written wills aren’t legally binding. By getting a will professionally drawn up it has the authority to serve as proof of your will, as it is legally accredited. If you don’t have a will done by an accredited solicitor, your will could be challenged in the event of your death.

·         Tax Efficiency – One of the best things about making a will is that you can arrange for the most tax efficient way of distribution. There are many tax laws which a solicitor will know how to navigate, and this can help prevent overpayment on things like Inheritance Tax – which ultimately means your family will receive more.

It’s a complicated business, but you and your family are better placed for the inevitable with a will – as a result it’s a common way that people come into contact with the law.  Although according to Foresters Friendly Society’s survey more people should be doing this!

Business

There’s no greater place for the law than in business. It draws a line in the sand between what is allowed and what is not, but there are many aspects of business which mean you may need to get in contact with legal services.

If you’re undertaking something like a global acquisition then the type of solicitors you’ll need will likely be based near centres of commerce where big corporations operate. As a result solicitors in London would be suitable for this type of legal work, whereas if you’re simply working on employment contract terms and conditions then solicitors in Surrey and less urban areas would be sufficient.

The benefits of legal representation for certain aspects of business include;

·         Property – Renting and leasing property as a company can be very complicated, as is company ownership of property. Legal representation is often required for this type of business activity in order to assure compliance with things like tax.

·         Disputes – Sometimes in business there are disputes, such as an employee dispute with a contract, and these are best dealt with by legal experts as things like contracts are legal documents and should therefore be dealt with as such.

·         Insolvency – It is possible that a company will need to be made insolvent at some point, in this event legal services are most commonly used to assure compliance with bankruptcy arrangements of voluntary insolvency.

Interestingly, business is a common motivation for getting in touch a lawyer. The consequences of not using the proper legal procedures and getting correct advice are just too high, with many employment related disputes often involving awards to an aggrieved party and not the employer.

It’s just good business to have a lawyer in business, as it can help you save on costs.

Legal Matters

Keeping things legal really matters a great deal. Whether this is in your personal life with a will or in business with a property buy, it’s always going to be a very important aspect of such activities. If you need a legal process handled, you need to come into contact with the law. It’s just a fact.

Thanks for reading. Please do comment. Check out the rest of the work on The Spoon Drawer. I’d recommend “The Weirdest, And Most Wonderful, Star Wars Gadgets Ever!”.

Follow me on Twitter for all the latest - @EdwardPhelan1