Civil, family and criminal law are the three main areas of law in England & Wales. Generally, Civil law involves a dispute which results in one party bringing a claim against another party for recompense, whether financial or otherwise. Many of us have had instances where a contract or agreement has gone wrong, perhaps someone has not paid you according to the agreed contract, or a solicitor's costs are higher than agreed, or maybe another professional has been negligent and/or breached a contract, or perhaps a building project has gone wrong. You might also have suffered a personal injury by someone else’s negligence, or have caused someone else's injury. Whether you are bringing a claim or defending against a claim, we’re here to advise you and guide you through this complex area of law, commonly referred to as civil litigation, which is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).
We are here to help you. To make a free, no obligation enquiry please call us on 01935 823883 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will soon be in touch with you.
Nick took over my case from a previous solicitor where a 3rd Party refused to settle. At no time did I feel he was just an administrator, but a solicitor proven for his ability to resolve and win a case. I gladly would use him again.
R Shah
This area of our website gives information on the other areas that fall under the civil litigation heading, such as contract disputes, non-payment of debts, general business disputes, landlord and tenant issues and personal injury claims. It is also where we give more detailed information on the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) which dictate how the legal process works in civil litigation. It also explains about the small claims and the multi-track process and how you go about making or defending a claim. If you have any questions whatsoever about any area of civil litigation, please give us a call.
Most solicitors charge their clients as agreed in their contracts, but occasionally people can be faced with massive legal bills they have not agreed to. Legal costs are one of the biggest areas for complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, so it's vital you understand, when you are signing on the dotted line of your solicitor’s retainer contract, exactly what you are agreeing to. Our aim is to explain each area of the process from agreeing the contract, understanding the costs and who is responsible for paying them, right through to challenging the costs if you think you’ve been charged too much. This is one of our areas of expertise and we have helped many clients to challenge their solicitors bill and have it significantly reduced.
This area of our website gives advice to homeowners who are making alterations to their home, or who are splitting up and need to determine the interest they have in a property using the Trusts of Land Act (ToLATA). We also have advice for builders who are having contractual problems with projects or with being paid. If you are a landlord and tenant, we have lots of information on your rights and the legal action you can take. At Routh Clarke we are here to help you resolve your property disputes, whether it's one listed above or perhaps even a dispute with a neighbour which may need some mediation or legal intervention, why not give us a call for some initial free advice and we will help you work out your next steps.
This area of law is becoming an increasingly larger area of litigation for varying reasons. As our population is aging and more people are writing Wills later in life, mental capacity is being questioned more regularly. Also second marriages and the increase of co-habitation are meaning some people believe they have been unfairly treated or left out of a Will or that they have not been adequately provided for. Contested probate is generally when it is claimed that a Will is not valid and Inheritance Act Claims are when a person seeks to gain increased financial provision from an estate. At Routh Clarke we can act for the administrators of the estate or for the claiming party. Our aim is to try to make the process as straightforward as possible at an already difficult time.
We are specialist personal injury solicitors who have helped many people gain compensation for injuries suffered in all types of accidents. We have a proven track record, providing expert legal assistance to maximise compensation, in the event you are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident which is not entirely your fault. Personal injury claims are not simple and we aim to guide you through the complex Personal Injury Claims Process. We will help you to see through the jargon, to gain the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
Professional negligence is a complex and specialist area of civil litigation and takes place when a “professional” fails to perform his duties as dictated by their profession’s governing body. For example in the legal field, solicitors have professional guidelines which are set by a regulated body, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) and if they do not perform their duties, as defined in these guidelines and rules, they could be seen as being negligent if their work leads to their clients suffering in some way. Other professions which have guidelines are accountants, financial advisors, insurance brokers, surveyors and architects, estate agents and other types of agents, such as recruitment consultants. If you think you are the victim of professional negligence, give us a call to discuss how we can help you.