My fiancée and I booked a wedding venue after getting engaged, but then I found out he was having an affair with my brother and I called the wedding off. The venue is now refusing to return the large deposit I paid and my fiancée is refusing to give me with his half of the cost of the cancelled hire. Firstly, how can the venue charge me for the cancellation and secondly why hasn’t my ex-fiancée suffered any loss given that it is his fault the wedding has been called off?

Q: I have recently separated from my long term partner, and as you can imagine, there are a lot of issues that now need to be resolved. Although it may seem silly, one of the most difficult issues we have discussed to date is who gets to keep Hulk, our French bulldog. I know that in the majority of separation cases it is money that people argue over but, for me, keeping Hulk is all I care about. My former partner is not however prepared to give Hulk up and she says under no circumstances will she agree to me keeping him.

Q: As a key member of a gym I was approached by one of the resident personal trainers about booking some sessions. I booked and paid for five sessions but before I could have the first session the trainer left the gym. He has not refunded me any money and refuses to do so. I think he now works out of a different gym. What can I do?

Q: It is taking several days for my letters to get to my daughter in prison. I am dealing with her affairs in her absence and as it is taking so long for my correspondence to reach her, she is worrying that there may be something important she needs to know in the meantime. I am wondering therefore whether it is possible to email a prisoner?

Q:  My husband and I bought our house together two years ago and have just got married. I’ve contacted my bank, HMRC and so on to let them know my married name but a friend said I also need to change the name on the house deeds. Is this necessary and do I need to do it through a solicitor?

Q: We own our house, but are having real problems with tenants next door who have several dogs and a new puppy.  The dogs have barked constantly for the last two months and despite numerous requests their owners have done nothing. We have complained several times to the landlord who has agreed with our concerns and issued warnings but to no avail.   We have complained to the council who have told us they are sending out a warning letter, but I wondered if there was anything more we could do, from a legal point of view, to put further pressure on them?

Q: Social Services have started court proceeding in respect of my grandchildren and they have been placed in foster care. I desperately want them to come and live with me but I have been negatively assessed by Social Services because they don’t think I am able to care for them. I don’t agree with the assessment and I think a lot of positive factors have been ignored. What can I do?

Q:  My friend has been subjected to abuse from her husband for years. The abuse is verbal and controlling rather than physical, so she is able to hide it. She won’t leave him because she is a stay at home mum with no money of her own and she believes that unless she actually divorces him and gets a share of their assets and maintenance she won’t be able to survive. In the meantime she can’t afford to go through the process of divorce. Surely there is something she can do?