GHP Insights

News, Q&As and Press Releases From Our Team

Q&A - If social services apply for a care order for my grandchildren can I apply for them to live with me?

Q:    My daughter and her partner have been furloughed from work since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. She texts me all the time saying how abusive her partner is being in front of the children, but because of the lockdown I have not been able to do anything to help her. She has worried all along about the neighbours hearing their rows because social services have been involved in the past. Now one of the neighbours has phoned social services. Could they apply for a care order? And if so, would I be allowed to have the children to live with me?

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If job goes post COVID, will redundancy and notice pay be on full salary or 80% furlough pay?

Q:  I have been on furlough since COVID lockdown started but am worried that my job may cease to exist when the job retention scheme ends. If I am made redundant, will my redundancy pay be based on my previous salary or on the 80% furlough pay? Secondly, will the notice pay be 100% or 80%?

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Domestic abuse reforms never more necessary than now during COVID-19 lockdown says family lawyer!

The head of Family and Children Law at one of the region’s largest law firms said today that he was delighted to hear the Government’s announcement of an overhaul of systems in the family courts which aims to give greater protection to domestic abuse survivors and their children.

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Q&A - COVID-19 lockdown together has ended our relationship am I entitled to more than half the house?

Q:  We have lived together for five years but being locked down together 24/7 since the coronavirus pandemic started has finished our relationship. As my partner was still at university when we bought our house, I paid most of the deposit and all the mortgage payments for the first two years. We have agreed to put the house up for sale now that the property market has kickstarted, but my partner seems to think he is entitled to half of everything, even though I have paid more than he has. Surely this isn’t right?

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COVID lockdown has not hindered new appointments at top Wrexham law firm

Whilst the Coronavirus pandemic may have caused disruption to the way in which businesses operate, it has certainly not hindered the appointment of new staff at a leading Wrexham law firm.

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Oswestry child law specialists predict spike in care proceedings enquiries as COVID-19 lockdown eases for schools.

As schools in the Oswestry area prepare to cope with the return of pupils after the three-month break enforced by COVID-19, solicitors in the town are getting ready for an anticipated ‘spike’ in enquiries relating to care proceedings.

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Q&A - Are the Local Authority using COVID-19 as an excuse to keep my son in care?

Q:  I recently agreed to my son going into care because I couldn’t cope. It was only meant to be short term until I got well again. Now I think social services are using the COVID-19 crisis as an excuse to delay him being allowed to come back home to live with me. I haven’t been able to visit him because of the lockdown rules. I can only speak to him on the phone, and when I do it’s clear that he is traumatised by not being able to see me and he thinks this is how it’s going to be for ever. This is going to make me ill again. What can I do?

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Q&A - Work accident left me with life changing injuries now I am being pushed out of my job!

Q:  While I was working on a building site last year some wooden floorboards were delivered. One of the lads was moving the boards with a forklift and my boss asked me to climb up onto the back of the lorry so I could help steady them. I am an experienced labourer and I wasn’t happy about this from a health & safety aspect, but if you want to keep your job you don’t argue with the boss! Unfortunately, the boards toppled off the forklift on top of me and pushed me off the lorry. I sustained a spinal fracture and have been off work for 8 months. My consultant said I should not return to any heavy physical work and now my boss is trying to get rid of me. What are my rights?

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Balancing legal requirements with protection during COVID lockdown is key for child safety, says local lawyer

A child law and mental health expert at one of the region’s top law firms has hit back over claims that child protection could be compromised for the long term, due to courts being closed during the COVID-19 lockdown and a suggestion that more cases could be heard remotely after the pandemic ends.

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Q&A - What help is available for victims of domestic abuse during COVID19 lockdown?

Q:    I believe my neighbour is abusing his wife and children and getting away with it because of the COVID lockdown. I hear him shouting and swearing at them and I haven’t seen them outside in weeks, although he regularly goes out and comes back with bags of beer cans. I phoned the police, but they say they need more than hearsay to investigate. There are twins in the age group that could have gone back to school this week, but they haven’t gone and in the current situation the school is unlikely to ask why. If I get an opportunity to speak to her or slip her a note, what can I advise her to do?

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