Q: I have just discovered that my parents made their Wills in 1994 before the law changed to reduce inheritance tax and they never updated them. My dad died a month ago and mum is in a home because she has dementia. Is there any way that my father’s Will can be changed so that mum can benefit from the current tax free rules?

Q: I work in a factory and I have been complaining to my boss that one of the machines has been leaking fluid onto the factory floor. Nothing has been done to repair it. At work this morning, I walked past the machine and slipped over in the fluid. When I fell I hurt my back and my left wrist. I am considering making a claim for compensation. I have never made a claim before so what should I be doing now?.

Q: Some mates and I set up a cycling club last year. On a group ride a few weeks ago one of two chaps riding downhill side by side hit a pothole. He came off his bike and crashed into the other chap who also came off. Oncoming traffic meant the two riders behind were unable to avoid the chaos and they also came off. Bikes were damaged, one guy had a dislocated shoulder and another chap suffered concussion. So I have two questions. Firstly, can the council be sued for the pothole? Secondly, should we, as riders, have insurance in case someone sued us for causing an accident?

Q: My job ended due to a disputed redundancy a few months ago and I received a settlement payment after signing a Settlement Agreement.  The trouble is that it was all done a bit of a rush and I don’t really understand what the Settlement Agreement said.  Apart from anything else, this is causing me a problem because I do need to know where I can and cannot work in the future.  I signed the Agreement off with a solicitor at the time, but I can’t remember what they told me about it and they didn’t ever send me anything about it in writing. What can I do?

Q: My girlfriend’s mother cut her off after we got together because she said I wasn’t good enough for her. Her mom said if she left me she would put her back in her Will but my girlfriend said I was more important than money. Now my girlfriend’s mom has died and it seems so unfair that everything has been left to charity when my girlfriend, who was an only child, did nothing wrong except fall in love with me.

Q: On the last day at a rented holiday apartment I scanned the carpark pass to leave. The barrier lifted but came down before I had got fully though, hitting my car. It rose again and I got out to survey the damage, but while I was looking it came down again on my shoulder. No-one was around and as the barrier was on the edge of the main road I had to drive off to avoid it happening again.

Q: I have been reading a lot recently about forestry being a good investment.  Do you have any to pay Stamp Duty on woodland?  And what legal aspects should I be aware of?

Q: I am thinking of setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney and would like to appoint my two children as my Attorneys. As one of them travels a lot with his job I wonder if they would have to make decisions and sign paperwork jointly or whether one of them could act on behalf of the other?