Bartletts Solicitors

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How Are Hair Salons and Clients Reacting to the Reopening?

Following the reopening of hairdressers and barbers in Wales on Monday, March 15, customers in England are eagerly awaiting Monday, April 12, when hairdressing salons and barber shops are scheduled to reopen (along with all non-essential shops) in accordance with stage two of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

In Wales, hairdressers are currently only allowed to serve customers with pre-booked appointments, and are limited to providing haircuts only. Temperature checks are common before clients can enter the premises, and social distancing requirements mean that most salons will not be using every station in order to maintain the two-metre distance rule. Indeed, many smaller salons are likely to operate a one-in, one-out policy due to space restrictions.

During the series of lockdowns in England and Wales over the past year, those in need of a trim have been forced to decide between attempting to cut and style their own hair (sometimes with less than satisfactory results), or letting it grow and accepting the aesthetic consequences. With reports suggesting that hairdressers in Wales were ‘inundated’ with calls for appointments on and after April 12, and ‘heaving’ on that day, many people have clearly come to appreciate the fact that DIY hair care and maintenance is not as easy as it seems.

Another factor in the apparent ‘rush back to the salon’ is the community role that these locations play in many people’s lives. Particularly for those who live alone, a visit to the hairdresser is often a social occasion when having a chat with the hairdresser and catching up on the local gossip may be just as important as having their hair attended to. The state of a person’s hair can also affect their mental wellbeing and confidence, underlining the fact that lots of people have an emotional connection with their hairdresser and salon which they are currently keen to reestablish at the earliest opportunity.

While the government has emphasised that the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions will depend on ‘data not dates’, hair salons in England are on course to reopen on April 12. The anticipated surge in bookings will be challenging for hair salons in terms of sanitation measures and customer numbers, but also heartening news from a business perspective, and a welcome sign that life is slowly but surely returning to some semblance of normality.

Bartletts Solicitors offers an all female team of lawyers specialising in hair and beauty treatment injuries. Call us for a free consultation if your hair has been damaged by a  poorly trained, inexperienced or incompetent hairdresser:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/hairdresser-injury-compensation/

What Should You Know About Divorce and Child Arrangements?

To avoid going to court, a divorcing couple will need to agree arrangements for looking after their children, particularly where they will live, how much time they will spend with each parent and how they will be financially supported. Child maintenance payments will need to be settled, either via a private agreement between the divorcing couple or through the government’s Child Maintenance Service scheme.

Mediation can help a divorcing couple agree child arrangements, while a written Parenting Plan can help parents clarify how their children are going to be cared for after the separation, as well as require that the best interests of the children are always put first.

Once child arrangements are agreed, a solicitor can help make the agreement legally binding by drafting a consent order, which must be signed by both parties and approved by the court. To get a consent order approved, a C100 court form will need to be completed (a solicitor can help with this) and submitted along with the draft consent order. The court fee is £215, and the consent order will normally be approved by a judge without a court hearing if they think decisions have been made in the children’s best interest.

Find out more about child arrangements following a divorce and the overall divorce process from our expert divorce solicitors in Liverpool City Centre:

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/legal/divorce-solicitors-in-liverpool-city-centre/

What Led to the Extension of the Stamp Duty Holiday?

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced in his recent budget that the government is extending the temporary stamp duty holiday on the first £500,000 of all property sales in England and Northern Ireland by a further three months until the end of June 2021 (it was due to end on 31st March).

From 1st July until the end of September, the nil rate band will drop to £250,000 before returning to its standard rate of £125,000 from the start of October.

This move will come as welcome news for buyers and sellers rushing to complete on property transactions, many of whom faced the prospect of failing to complete before the March 31st deadline.

The tax cut has significantly increased activity in the UK property market recently, with large numbers of buyers seeking to take advantage of the reduced tax rate that can lead to savings of up to £15,000 on a property purchase.

Property transactions across the UK increased by almost 18% in January this year compared with the same month last year according to the latest figures from HMRC, proving that the market remains in robust good health, and indicative of the rush of buyers looking to complete their purchase before the original cut-off point.

The stamp duty holiday also applies to second home buyers, although the extra 3% of stamp duty charged under the previous rules will still need to be paid. The stamp duty holiday temporarily replaces the first-time buyer discount.

You can find out more about Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), the property purchase process and our transparent fixed fee residential conveyancing service below:

Conveyancing Solicitors in Liverpool City Centre

How Does the Mediation Process Work in Divorce Proceedings?

Mediation can help a divorcing couple reach a financial settlement and divide up assets in a neutral and impartial manner. Assets may include savings, investments, property and pensions (maintenance payments can also be agreed during mediation). The services of a mediator can be significantly cheaper and faster in terms of reaching an agreement than asking a judge to decide the matter in court.

The first step is to attend a mediation information assessment meeting (MIAM) costing around £30. The mediator will decide whether mediation is right for the divorcing couple, and if so, will attempt to help the couple reach an agreement during further mediation sessions (these will cost more and fees vary depending on location).

Successful mediation will produce a document showing what has been agreed, and while this agreement is not legally binding, a consent order approved by the court will make it so. A solicitor can help draft a consent order, which is a legal document confirming what was agreed during mediation. The court fee is £50, and a judge will approve the consent order and make it legally binding, usually without the need for a court hearing, if they believe it is fair.

Find out more about mediation and the divorce process from our expert

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/legal/divorce-solicitors-in-liverpool-city-centre/

Who Won the Latest Survey Prize?

Jennifer from Liverpool has won £50 as the latest 10th respondent, and the 50th respondent in total, to our detailed 20 question survey of potential Bartletts clients.

We look forward to our 100th respondent in due course!

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Divorce Solicitor?

Do you have to have a solicitor to get divorced? No. Do you need a solicitor? Absolutely Yes.

We believe that a solicitor’s advice and services offer huge benefits. Divorce is a process with many forms to fill out and many potential triggers for arguments. It is an emotionally-charged time, and an experienced solicitor can take much of the ‘heat’ out of the situation by avoiding or minimizing arguments which will lead to further estrangement between the divorcing couple.

One of the main goals of a successful divorce, especially when there are children involved, is to lay the foundations for a ‘professional’ relationship between the divorcing parties. The primary consideration in building such a relationship is obviously the good of the children.

Secondary to the welfare of children is, of course, a fair and equitable financial settlement. Each party’s needs must be met, and these negotiations should be carried out by solicitors for two main reasons. Firstly, each party will receive a settlement which is more likely to be seen as ‘fair’. If both parties feel that a settlement is fair they have a better chance of building a constructive relationship in the future. Secondly, if solicitors are negotiating and a judge perhaps ends up making the final decision, the argument is taken out of the hands of the divorcing couple altogether.

This offers a number of advantages. You do not need to worry because you have a solicitor with expertise and experience who will obtain the best result the system can offer. So you can disengage and de-stress to some extent. It also depersonalizes the whole experience. As a client of a reputable law firm, you may no longer be seen as the ‘enemy’. This is obviously particularly important when there are children involved.

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/legal/divorce-solicitors-in-liverpool-city-centre/

outline the main steps in a divorce, starting with mediation – the guided, cheapest and most sensible option. Failing that, we talk you through the ‘process’ and what is involved.

What Can Visitors Discover in the Life On Board Gallery?

Merseyside Maritime Museum’s stunning new Life on Board gallery explores the moving and fascinating stories of Liverpool’s seafarers and passengers over the generations, including during the period of the city’s greatest prosperity when Liverpool was a beacon of world trade and a magnet for investment.

The new permanent gallery features the stories of both merchant sailors and leisure line passengers, from the 1700s to the present day, and looks at the lives they led on board, from the dangers and joys of seafaring, to the culture and sense of community it provided.

One of the gallery’s highlights examines the story of the sinking of MV Derbyshire, the largest British-registered merchant ship ever to be lost at sea during typhoon Orchid in the South China Seas in 1980, and the 20 year search for the truth about the disaster.

(Merseyside Maritime Museum is currently closed due to the pandemic, but is normally open from 10am – 5pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Admission is free and advance booking is required for both visitors and members.)

What Is the Significance of “Out of the Foil”?

A hairdresser is often your confidante who you reveal your secrets, joys and problems to. Even offers you a glass of Prosecco. Then – ‘out of the foil’ – the salon ruins your hair. Awkward to say the least. You are torn as to what to do. Sue someone who may be a friend… really?

However, sometimes it’s necessary to get private corrective medical treatment which can be costly and time-consuming. At least the salon will be covered by its insurance, so it’s nothing personal. Speak to our female lawyers if your hair has been ruined by your hairdresser.

https://www.bartletts.co.uk/our-services/personal-injury/hairdresser-injury-compensation/

How Can I Stop Receiving Cold Calls?

You’ve just had an accident due to bad weather conditions. Immediately your phone is subjected to a bombardment that would put the opening of the Battle of the Somme to shame.

Cold calls are aggressive, unsolicited and often illegal. Your personal information can be sold for hundreds of pounds by anyone who knows the details of your traffic accident.

Don’t answer unknown calls, which are often from withheld numbers or may appear to be a local or national call that is actually routed from an overseas call centre. Talking to cold callers will only encourage more cold calls!

Find out more about how to deal with cold calling from our small team of road traffic accident experts:

Road Traffic Accident Cold Calls – Unethical and Often Illegal

What Can We Learn from An English Lady’s Wardrobe?

We are sad to say that the Walker Art Gallery is now closed once again (along with all of National Museums Liverpool’s venues).

As long-term supporters and sponsors of the Walker Art Gallery, we appreciate the blow this latest closure represents, particularly after all the efforts of the charity organization to provide a safe environment for visitors.

During these challenging times and now more than ever, National Museums Liverpool needs the support of those who share its vision of great museums for everyone, caring for some of the world’s most important collections, and providing an illuminating, fun and inspiring experience for millions of visitors every year.

One ray of sunshine during the latest confinement is the organization’s 3D virtual tour function, which enables you to explore collections at your own pace, including the Walker Art Gallery’s ‘An English lady’s wardrobe’ virtual tour of clothing and accessories, uncovering style and shopping trends in Liverpool during the interwar years.

© Bartletts Solicitors Limited 2024 – Offices in England and Wales