Q: My mother had an affair with my father when she worked for him. When I was born, my father provided for my mother and me, even paying for my private education, on the understanding that my mother agreed not to say anything to his family. I am now two years into six years’ training to become a vet. Two months ago, my father had a sudden heart attack and died aged 56. We have since found out that he had not made any provision for us in his Will, which could mean me having to give up my training. Could I and/or my mother challenge his Will?

On the day that it was announced a record number of people killed themselves in prisons in England and Wales in 2016, a leading mental health lawyer declared “the mentally ill should be in hospital, not in prison”.

Q: I am in my 70s and have two adult children. My son is happily married, but my daughter has recently separated from her husband and is just beginning divorce proceedings. I want to leave my estate equally to my son and daughter, but am worried about my daughter’s divorce. Will her husband receive half her share and is there anything I can do to avoid it?

Q: My girlfriend and I are planning to buy a house together. To raise a substantial deposit I am going to sell the starter home I bought ten years ago. As my girlfriend will contribute equally to the mortgage and household bills, will she have an equal right to the property if we ever split up?

Q: When my Mum wanted to divorce my Dad twenty years ago he wouldn’t accept the marriage was over and agree to anything, so Mum had to take out a two year legal separation first. During those two years we all lived in the same house, although Mum and Dad lived separately. After that Mum cited unreasonable behaviour. Sadly I am now in a similar situation with my husband but a friend has told me these days you cannot divorce on grounds of unreasonable behaviour if you carry on living in the same house. Is this right?

Q:  We are a retired couple in our 70s who own our house. We are worried about paying care fees should one of us have to move into a care home. Is it possible to give half the house to our children? We heard there is a 7 year rule in place so that after that time it can’t be challenged by the Local Authority. Please could you explain?

An Oswestry solicitor has been the talk of work colleagues and clients alike this week, after making his debut with Cardiff RFC in their Challenge Cup game against Bridgend Ravens at the Arms Park on Wednesday evening.

As it prepares for the annual January influx of divorce enquiries, a North Wales law firm claims that couples these days are unclear about the required legal grounds for starting a divorce petition.

Q: My childless Uncle has set up a Discretionary Trust to benefit his nephews and nieces and has appointed me and my sister as Trustees.  The Trust consists of an investment portfolio and two buy to let properties administered by a property management company.  As Trustees, what are our duties?