0151 639 8273
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David Cameron is considering making domestic violence a specific criminal offence and has acknowledged the justice system needs to be more sympathetic towards victims. This comes at the same time as the Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper criticised police for letting perpetrators of domestic violence off too lightly by using Community Resolution which was never intended to be used in domestic violence situations.
It is pleasing that the Government seems to finally be realising the impact of domestic violence and the need for it to be dealt with firmly by the police. Whilst the police should be contacted if you are suffering as a result of an ex partner, it is important to consider other options that may be available to you. At Burd Ward our family team are specialists in this area and are able to offer you confidential advice and support to help you deal with violence and harassment and protect yourself and your family. Our family practitioners will be able to explain your legal options to you and represent you in Court if you require the protection of a Court Order. If you have suffered recent physical violence it may be possible to go to Court the same day as your appointment to obtain an injunction to protect you from future violence. We will be able to advise you accordingly depending on the circumstances of your situation. We are able to offer legal aid to cover advice and representation in domestic violence proceedings also.
It is important that you do not suffer in silence if you are experiencing harassment or threats from an ex partner.
Burd Ward offers a 24 hour domestic violence hotline where you can receive confidential and sensitive advice on 07531 689 780 or for further information please contact Burd Ward Solicitors on 0151 639 8273 and ask for Laura Prysor-Jones or email on lpj@burdward.co.uk
The Shoe-Be-Do Campaign is designed to encourage families from across Wirral to think before they discard their unwanted school shoes or other useful items once their children have either grown out or no longer need them.
Read the full article at Wirral Globe.
For more information about this year’s campaign visit the Shoe-Be-Doo Campaign page.
People are involved in accidents at work every day, from office workers to factory workers. It is important that any accident, no matter how minor, is recorded in your employer’s accident book as the smallest of injuries can in some cases result in more serious consequences.
Your employer is under a duty to ensure that you are in a safe working environment, which can range from keeping the workplace clean and tidy to employing capable members of staff to be your colleagues.
If you are injured as a result of a breach in this duty then you may be entitled to claim compensation and should seek legal advice.
If you are involved in an accident at work then besides ensuring that the matter is recorded in the accident book, you should speak to your first aider, report the matter to your supervisor, record details of any witnesses and seek medical attention.
If you are concerned about making a claim against your employer you should be aware that you actually have 3 years from the date of the accident in which to issue court proceedings. Quite often serious injuries result in long absence from work, possibly meaning that your employment will come to an end, and it is important to remember that you may still be able to pursue a claim once your employment has finished, providing it is within the 3 year period.
Burd Ward are pleased to announce that Laura Prysor-Jones has been accepted on the Law Society Children Panel reflecting her knowledge and experience in dealing with all matters relating to children law. She joins John Burd, senior director and head of the family department who is also a Panel member and has over 30 years’ experience in dealing with family matters.
It is extremely important when faced with social services involvement with your family that you have advice from a specialist. It is one of the most stressful times people can face and at Burd Ward we ensure that you receive expert advice to guide you through this difficult time. We recognise how stressful this time can be for families and so deal with matters in a supportive and understanding manner to help you achieve the best outcome.
We recommend that you seek advice as soon as possible when told by social services that they have concerns about the safety of your child/children. People often wait until Court proceedings have been issued and there are tight timescales imposed by the Courts which means parents have little time to demonstrate that they can safely care for their children. At Burd Ward we offer advice every step of the way to ensure clients are in the strongest position possible when attending Court.
Social Services sometimes hold a Pre-Proceedings Meeting to discuss their concerns with you about your children and we are able to accompany, support and advocate for you at such meetings. We also have vast experience of representing client’s in Court during proceedings brought by the Local Authority. Legal Aid is available for pre-proceedings meetings and representation in Court when Social Services apply for a care or supervision order. In other cases there is still legal aid available depending on the circumstances and our expert team can advise as to whether legal aid is available in your situation.
Don’t struggle on alone, get advice from the specialists today.
For more information call 0151 639 8273 and ask for Laura Prysor-Jones or John Burd.
Did you or someone you know work for BT as call-centre staff, or any other call-centre in the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s?
Do you turn the television up because you cannot hear it properly? Do you struggle to follow conversations when in a group or out socially because you cannot hear what is being said? Do you suffer from hearing loss in both ears, one-sided hearing loss, tinnitus or other hearing problems. If so, this may be as a result of working on the telephone exchange for BT.
Another form of injury to the ear can be Acoustic Shock which is characterised by sudden, loud and unexpected noise coming from the headset. This can be through an audio technology malfunction or even a disgruntled caller shouting down the phone at staff. The loudness and length of the audio shock can cause permanent damage to the hearing and/or tinnitus.
Acoustic shock can have the following symptoms:
Hearing loss and/or tinnitus or Acoustic Shock can be as a result of being provided with equipment that completely covered the ear, leaving no chance of the sound dissipating. The sounds often encountered were alarms ringing and coins dropping into telephones, which are thought to have caused the damage to operators wearing old-fashioned head-sets.
Most people may not be aware they have a problem. It is not total deafness, it is more subtle. You may notice problems only when in groups or maybe your family have pointed out that you have the television on quite loud. You may even experience problems hearing when you are on the telephone.
If you or someone you know has suffered any of the above problems and you worked in a call-centre between 1970 and 1990 and you would like advice on whether or not you may have a claim then please contact Michael Ward at Burd Ward Solicitors on 0151 639 8273
The breakdown of a relationship can often be painful. Many of us find it difficult to discuss emotive issues such as arrangements for our children or financial concerns
Family Mediation is a positive way to resolve issues arising from relationship breakdown by utilising the skills of a trained third party to help guide you through.
Headed by Victoria Syvret who is a fully trained member of the National Family Mediation service, Burd Ward’s Family Law team have the experience and empathy to ensure you receive the very best advice.
As a fully qualified Mediator and Family Law Solicitor, Victoria uses her knowledge of the law and skills as a mediator to assist people who are dealing with a breakdown of a relationship. This can help couples reach the most practical decisions possible for themselves and their families.
Can you explain a bit more about the process Victoria?
Family Mediation is an effective and less expensive way of finding agreement than solely using solicitors and the courts. Making a strong, lasting agreement in a family dispute is particularly important as the decisions made now will affect you, your family and your children for many years to come. If you apply to court to resolve your issues you may be expected to have already attempted mediation. The court might decide to refer you back to a mediator if it feels that mediation could help to provide a solution.
What can couples talk about?
Family Mediation is a positive way to resolve issues arising from relationship breakdown. The kind of issues you might need to discuss includes:
The mediator will never take sides and will lead the discussion to help you look forward and find a positive solution.
Mediation can help any couple or former couple, whether married or unmarried, male and female or same sex, with or without children.
How does it work?
In the first instance we will book you a pre-mediation Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (or MIAM) to help you decide if mediation is right for you. You can attend this together or separately but you both need to have attended an appointment before proceeding to mediation.
So if you need help, or just want to investigate if Mediation is the right route for you, book a FREE pre-Mediation assessment with Victoria today and start making the right steps today to ensure a brighter tomorrow for your family.
Legal Aid is available in certain cases, so make sure you ask when making your appointment.
Burd Ward – Good Honest Law for Wirral 0151 639 8273
Wallasey based Solicitors Burd Ward have had a busy start to the year. As well as seeing a 10% increase in the number of house sales, the expert team have been helping home buyers from across Merseyside via a series of live events and workshops.
The team, who boast many years of combined experience in this field were on hand at last weekend’s Home Buyers event at the Echo Arena, offering useful tips and advice to clients looking to buy, sell or let their properties.
Conveyancing specialist and Trainee Solicitor David Dobbins explained
Buying or selling your home can be a very stressful time, so we really try and demystify the whole process for clients. From initial instruction to final completion, we keep clients informed at every level and try and speed up the process where possible. Events like the Home Show are a great opportunity to get out into the market, meet clients and offer some good, honest advice that can really help.
As the market recovers Wirral is seeing particularly rapid growth in house sales and its important that clients get sound legal advice and work with a team they know they can rely on. All of our clients enjoy the benefit of working with one dedicated point of contact all of whom are experts in Property Law, so they know they are in safe hands.
If you are looking to buy, sell or let your property or just need some advice on any type of property matter, contact David and the team today on 0151 639 8273 or go to www.burdward.co.uk.
Making a Will or setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney can be a worrying task. Planning for the future and taking care of our loved ones is something we all should do but so often gets left by the wayside.
Failure to plan your affairs in the form of a Will can have a devastating effect on your family and loved ones and everyone should make provision for the future – particularly if you own property.
We have been helping people plan their future affairs for over ten years here on Wirral and have a dedicated team of experts on hand to guide you through the process.
Recently awarded the coveted Quality Mark for Wills and Inheritance, our team have unparalleled experience in this area as well as a sensible pricing structure, whatever your circumstances.
Director and Wills expert Victoria Syvret commented
We recognise the importance of planning for the future and would encourage everyone to think about setting up a Will. We have an extremely friendly, flexible approach here at Burd Ward and are happy to meet clients out of hours or even in their home if this makes the process easier.
Don’t leave until tomorrow what you can do today. Book an appointment with the team today.
PEACE OF MIND FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WITH GOOD HONEST LAW
Journalist Jade Wright joined pupils at Liscard Primary School to celebrate National Storytelling Week last Friday as they were treated to a collection of new books thanks to a local Law firm.
Wallasey based solicitors Burd Ward presented the school with over thirty new books as part of their community initiative to promote literacy. Jade then treated a group of lucky pupils to an impromptu storytelling session from a range of classic tales and top children’s titles.
Burd Ward Director Michael Ward commented
We really value the work of our local schools and have been actively looking for ways in which we can help enrich children’s learning experiences. Liscard Primary is the nearest school to our Head Office and they have an outstanding commitment to literacy, so we thought this was a really worthwhile project to support.
Liscard Primary School Literacy Coordinator Leanne Quarry- Ellis went on to say
The children had a fantastic morning with Jade and the Burd Ward team. We are overwhelmed with the new collection of books and I am sure they will give pupils hours of enjoyment for years to come..
PR Contact: Paula Brown • paula@viewwirral.com • 07506452381
Burd Ward Solicitor’s housing law specialist Paula Suckley reassures families who are in danger of losing their homes…
If you have received letters from your mortgage company or landlord threatening to take you to court or even received papers from the court then you MUST seek legal advice.
The under occupation charge, otherwise known as the bedroom tax, has seen possession cases rocket in recent months.
Many people are frightened that appointing a solicitor to act on their behalf could be hugely costly if they are not eligible for public funding.
Help is at hand
Don’t worry unnecessarily we understand that financial problems can happen to the best of us; that is why the FREE Duty Solicitor service at Birkenhead County Court is such a key lifeline for many households. This service is available to all, regardless of income or individual circumstances.
If you have received papers from the court and are worried about attending then please rest assured that this scheme has been helping local people keep hold of their homes for many years. So make sure you turn up and get the vital help that you need.
We would highly recommend that you attend court where we, as Duty Solicitors will be able to offer you the FREE, expert legal advice and representation which will increase the chance of you keeping the roof above your head your home.
Here at Burd Ward Solicitors we have recently been awarded the contract for the Duty Solicitors Scheme and will be in attendance in court to assist you every step of the way. We are also happy to offer you some initial friendly, reliable advice prior to your hearing. Contact paulasuckley@burdward.co.uk today