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pickering and butters solicitors in stafford

Disputes & Court Action

There is always the potential for difficult times in your life and when a dispute arises we are here to help. We can guide you through what can be a very daunting process, with as little fuss as possible.

We can also advise upon the protection and preservation of your own rights, if someone else is disputing them.

The costs of dealing with a dispute can also be an important factor and we will make sure that all of the options are given to you, so that you can decide how best to proceed. For example, you may have the benefit of Legal Expenses Insurance or, in suitable cases, we may be able to offer a conditional fee (‘no win, no fee’) agreement.

We aim to help you as your partner and to provide the commitment that the name suggests.

Some of the things we can help with are:

Disputes with your tenants or landlord

We can assist you in recovering possession of your premises and recovering rent arrears from an unreliable tenant.

If you are a tenant we can help you where you resist unlawful actions by your landlord.

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Contract and building disputes

You may have problems with faulty goods or with defective or poor workmanship. In either case contact us and we will advise you of your rights and the remedies available to you.

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Inheritance disputes including disputed Wills, Inheritance Act and Contentious Probate claims

These cover a wide range of issues and such disputes often arise when you are at your lowest, as such you will need prompt expert and sympathetic advice.

We can advise:

  • where you feel that inadequate provision has been made for you
  • on challenging a Will. For example, where there is concern as to the mental capacity of the person making the will or where there is concern as to undue influence at the time the will was made. Either of these can invalidate a will.
  • on disputed Administration of Estates claims (i.e. where you feel that an Estate has not been properly dealt with).
  • on the interpretation of wills and other trust documents. Problems can arise if the appropriate formalities have not been followed in the creation of the document and may result in it being invalid.
  • on disputes between executors or trustees.
  • on claims against professional advisers, particularly with regard to the preparation of wills and dealing with estates and trusts.

Note: time limits are very important and, in some instances, can be as short as 6 months. It is imperative that you seek advice as quickly as possible.

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Disputes with professional advisors

Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that all human beings are fallible and from time to time mistakes occur. We can deal with a wide range of claims resulting from professional negligence, for example, solicitors, accountants, surveyors, where they have made mistakes or missed a deadline which causes you financial loss.

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Debt collection

Sadly, individuals and businesses do not always pay in full or make payments on time and promises of payment are often difficult to enforce. We will offer you sound advice concerning every debtor and whether the debt is worth pursuing. We will take the appropriate action on your behalf and do everything that is required to help secure payment.

We approach each debt recovery claim on its individual merits, carefully examining the facts to find the quickest and most cost effective route to the payment.

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Insolvency / financial problems

If you have financial problems or are being threatened with personal bankruptcy then it may be that we can help you negotiate a way out of the problem. Alternatively, we can advise on the merits of bankruptcy and the rights of the bankrupt. We can also advise the bankrupt’s family on issues relating to the family home and joint assets.

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Property related disputes

There are many types of dispute which can arise out of the ownership of land and / or property. We can advise on, amongst others things, the following:

  • claims to adverse possession, whether over your land or the land of another
  • access to neighbouring land claims and / or Party Walls Act claims
  • nuisance, trespass and neighbour disputes
  • boundary and right of way disputes
  • claims in respect of property damage
  • claims in respect of breach of covenant
  • planning and environmental disputes.

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For more information, please contact us at litigation@pb4law.com or on 01785 603060.