The Family department at a leading Oswestry law firm has gained another solicitor following the qualification of one of its trainees.

Five lawyers from one of the region’s top law firms have been hard in training for the Oswestry 10k run scheduled to take place on Sunday 17^th October.

Q:        New neighbours moved in next door before the covid pandemic began. During lockdown they built a monstrous ‘pavilion’ in their garden and turned an open lean-to into a two-storey garage without planning permission. I reported them to the council because they were a law unto themselves, and their constructions were out of keeping with the neighbourhood. Since then, they have continuously harassed me. I had screws left across my drive entrance that punctured my tyres, they lied about me to neighbours, stalked me, and made abusive threats. The police say it is a civil matter because I have not been physically assaulted and have no witnesses. What can I do?

Q:        When walking my dog across the road after dark, I tripped over a heavy iron drain cover on the kerbside that had been flipped open, leaving a gaping hole. I broke my hip in the fall and the dog got free, ran across the road, and was hit by a car. He broke a hind leg in three places and spent several hours at the vets. As well as the inconvenience, pain and anxiety, I have incurred considerable expense, and loss of earnings as I am a self-employed driver. Annoyingly I saw the drain like this once before and manhandled it back into place and called the council, but they just said it was probably due to a big tractor going over it. Could I claim compensation?

A new solicitor has been appointed to Oswestry’s leading property law team during the busiest year in its firm’s 51-year history.

Q:    I am a widow with one son and daughter, who are equal beneficiaries of my Will. However, at the start of the Covid pandemic lockdown my son began gambling, and my daughter and I believe he is now an addict. He refuses to discuss it or accept that he has a problem. I am worried that if he does not get help, he will just squander away his inheritance when I die. Is there any way I can protect what I leave him?

Q:    My husband has been having an affair with his secretary for years, but I have just put up with it as I believed he would never leave me because of the children. However, the secretary’s husband has now filed for divorce, and I am worried my husband might go after all. If that happens, I will divorce him. If I do divorce him, should I go for a clean break financial settlement or maintenance?

Q:    I work as a (female) line supervisor and have discovered that a male colleague who does the same job as me is on a higher pay rate. He is roughly the same age as me and has been with the firm only a year longer than me. I have spoken to my department manager, but he said he couldn’t discuss another worker’s pay with me. Could I go to a tribunal and make a claim for equal pay?

Q:    My widowed mum has been diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s. I am her only family and live too far away to help care for her, but thankfully she has a large network of friends locally who are a great support. She has lived in the village all her life but there are no elderly care facilities and Mum is worried the local authority will force her to go into care home too far away for her friends to visit. Could they really do that?

Q:    When my husband and I got divorced I remained a director and shareholder of the family business, though I have never played an active role in the day to day running. Whilst the covid situation badly affected the business it managed to stay afloat. However, my now ex-husband has informed me that the business needs restructuring for the long-term, and as he feels he is too old to do it he has decided to sell out to his stepson. He says as a minority shareholder I have no say in the matter. I asked for proof that the business has been properly valued but he has ignored me. I fear some underhand negotiations that could be doing me out of my fair share of the sale proceeds. Can I do anything?