If you are looking for a divorce lawyer and have made the tough decision that it is time to end your mortgage, it can be difficult to know where to start.

The initial consultation can be extremely nerve-wracking and doing some pre-meeting research and preparation is essential to making a positive start to your work together.

This blog will tell you exactly what to expect from your first meeting with a divorce lawyer and give you some top tips for how to make your conversation as productive as possible.

Be ready to get personal

In order to give the most effective counsel, your lawyer will need to know all the details relating to your case.

Given the nature of divorce cases, this will mean that you need to be willing to talk about potentially highly sensitive and emotional issues right from the start.

Some of the information that a divorce lawyer is likely to ask for in your first consultation includes your children’s current arrangements, where you live, the state of your finances as a couple and alone, how long you have been married, and what you are looking to get out of divorce proceedings.

They will also need to know what caused the marriage to break down as this information can be crucial to setting realistic goals for the outcome of the case.

Make a list of priorities

In order to represent you in the best possible way, it is important for your lawyer to understand what your priorities are during divorce proceedings.

Financial settlements, children’s living arrangements, and division of assets such as property are all often the focus of divorce cases, and knowing exactly what you want to get out of the separation will allow your lawyer to develop a gameplan focused on achieving your goals.

Be Honest

It is vital that you are honest with your divorce lawyer about the circumstances surrounding your divorce.

Without all the relevant information at hand, it is impossible for a lawyer to act most effectively in your best interests, and they could be blindsided later in proceedings.

Details such as new relationships, finances, and the events that led to the start of divorce proceedings are all factors that could be crucial in deciding the outcome and you need to be completely honest in regard to these particulars.

Although it may be tempting in the heat of the moment, there is no benefit to putting exaggerated blame at the door of your former partner, if the evidence does not support your statement, so stick purely to the facts at all times.

Be Realistic

A divorce is a negotiation process and managing your expectations is key to not being disappointed with the outcome.

If you come into the process expecting to be granted sole custody of the children, all the money in shared accounts, and the house, you are likely to be disappointed so setting realistic goals is vital.

Some of the key facts about the divorce process that you should understand prior to beginning legal proceedings to avoid unrealistic expectations include:

Divorces can take a long time

On average, in the UK, divorces can take up to 9 months to finalise. Even then this is only to formally end the marriage agreement in the eyes of the law, and any specifics concerning children or finances can take much longer to resolve.

Sole Custody is rarely the best option

Family law is focused on making decisions in the best interests of children caught in the middle of a divorce, and when possible, will always look to ensure that they have access to both parents’ post-separation.

Unless there is genuine evidence that your partner is an unfit parent and cannot be trusted to care for their children, it is very unlikely that you will be granted sole custody, and attempting to achieve this outcome is generally a bad idea.

Finances will almost always be split

If you go into a divorce thinking that you won’t have to share any finances or assets with your former partner, you will probably be disappointed.

If you have been married for more any significant period of time it is likely that money and other assets such as property will be considered legally joint and the default point for negotiations will be a 50/50 split.

It may be that in the right circumstances you are able to secure more than this but expecting to retain 100% of your house, pension, or savings is not a realistic approach.

Contact Oracle Law

Oracle Law Family Law is the leading supplier of top quality family law services at fantastic prices for customers across Scotland.

For more information, or to arrange a consultation, call us now on 0141 332 0915, or fill out our contact form.

Prime Secure has been handling Construction Security in the UK for 20 years, and in that time, we’ve worked in a huge range of different properties and settings. In this article, we’ll discuss why it’s so important to keep your Construction Site secure, and what measures you need to keep your property safe.

Why is Construction Site Security So Important?

Construction is one of the largest industries in the UK, and among the most important in the country. There’s always some kind of construction project going on, and Construction Sites host a huge amount of important equipment, fuel and other supplies of interest to criminals, thieves and vandals. Given that much of this equipment is left overnight in open, easy to access spaces, it is usually regarded by criminals as being easy to steal or vandalise.

Given the fact that nearly £800 million is lost annually by the British construction industry as a result of theft (also including the costs of damages, delays and increases in insurance premiums) – it appears this judgement isn’t unfair. Poor or limited security directly contributes to serious financial losses. Often the same site will be targeted multiple times, as once it’s recognised as vulnerable or easy to access it will draw a large amount of interest from criminals. Criminal activity results in,

• Problems for property and equipment
• Issues for working operations
• Danger to human health

Not only are there issues of financial losses, but in the worst cases there’s the potential for litigation and legal action if vandalism results in safety issues.

One of the problems of providing effective security is that a Construction Site is not the same as a building or other property. It is open, large and constantly changing. Each Construction Site will often require different needs.

Prime Secure has extensive experience working in various Construction Sites all across the UK and has a range of measures which can ensure your property is provided with effective, long lasting security that’ll keep it protected from criminals.

How to Secure your Construction Site (H2)

There’s a range of measures which can be taken to keep your property safe.

Deterrence

The best time to stop crime is before the crime takes place. A number of security measures are excellent at deterring criminals and vandals. These include,

• CCTV Towers
• Alarms
• Manned Guarding Services

These are superb options because they are visible deterrents. CCTV Towers for example, are some of the best deterrents on the market – many criminals will avoid any property with CCTV out of fear of being caught on camera (which increases the potential not only to be caught by police but prosecuted as well). By going with Prime Secure CCTV Towers, you can make use of a highly visible deterrent which will keep criminals at bay.

The same goes for Alarms and Manned Guarding Services. The presence of Prime Secure Alarm and Guarding Service will do a great deal to ward off criminals, who will recognise the increased potential to be caught. In many cases, a visible Manned Guarding Service on its own can do a huge amount to ensure criminals avoid a property. They will recognise the potential to be physically apprehended. Manned Guarding services are also excellent for ensuring members of the public do not accidentally wander into the property.

Long Term Security

In some cases, it will not be possible to prevent crimes or security breaches. In these cases, it will be necessary to have an efficient security apparatus present. The same measures remain effective,

• CCTV Towers
• Alarms and Keyholding Services
• Manned Guarding Services

Recordings are vital; not only can they help the police in tracking down the criminals and apprehending them, but they can help guarantee a prosecution. With Prime Secure CCTV towers, you’ll have access to high quality, crisp 4K footage with low-light technologies – helping to guarantee convictions and prosecutions.

Prime Secure CCTV Towers are especially helpful because they are mobile and easy to move around the site, regarding a minimal

In the case an alarm is tripped, Prime Secure Keyholding Service guarantees a quick, immediate response – and ensures you or one of your employees do not have to enter potentially difficult situations yourself. The same benefits come with Prime Secure Manned Guarding options; in the case that intruders enter the site, you can rely on trained professionals (fully licensed by the Security Industry Authority) to handle the situation – rather than see you or an employee forced to enter a potentially difficult scenario.

Why Prime Secure?

Why go with Prime Secure? Our team has well over 20 years’ experience providing security all over the UK, and have a wealth of in the field

Building inspection requires considerable work. There are various forms of inspections which can be conducted at various stages in a building’s lifecycle.

Engineers dangling from ropes hundreds of feet above New York City inspect high-rise facades as part of Local Law 11 inspection cycles required of buildings six stories or taller every five years.

Exterior

Building inspection frequently inspect the exterior first when inspecting homes for sale or lease. They look out for wood rot, insect damage and flaky paint; as well as windows and doors, grading, garages/carports and the surrounding area.

Damaged caulking around windows and doors allows moisture into buildings and causes structural issues; regular caulking will extend its lifespan and help ensure its long-term stability.

As is essential, ensuring the gutters and downspouts are functioning as intended is also key to keeping water away from your house’s foundation. Clogged gutters may cause overflow, while non-functional downspouts could pose foundational challenges.

Townhouse or condo ownership requires that the owner’s association take responsibility for exterior walls and roof, so it is still essential to get an inspection of this area to avoid costly repairs in the future.

Interior

As previously discussed, building inspections provide a complete quality assessment of any construction project from start to finish. They do this in many ways – for instance examining blueprints and plans before work commences; or making visits throughout the course of construction to monitor progress while verifying compliance with building standards.

They will then examine the interior of the structure, such as offices, bathrooms, and kitchens, in order to detect any necessary renovations and potential safety-related concerns. This portion of an inspection should provide valuable insights.

Inspectors should have an overall knowledge of construction processes; however, some may specialise in specific trades. An electrical inspector’s primary function would be examining wiring in buildings to ensure compliance with safety standards and code requirements; while plumbing inspectors will examine faucets, water fixtures, drains, waste systems, sewage ejectors and piping to confirm they meet required standards.

Structural

A building inspection involves assessing the stability of a building and its components, looking out for any signs of rot or termite damage as well as cracks in the foundation or movement in crawl spaces and basements, moisture related problems. A structural inspector will also perform moisture checks during his visit.

Structural engineers specialise in making sure structures can safely withstand their intended loads as per design. This is particularly crucial when it comes to homes or buildings which could be susceptible to natural disasters.

If a structural inspection identifies any issues with your home before selling it, any repairs should be completed prior to listing. This will reassure potential buyers and may even lead to higher sale price negotiations depending on severity. Depending on severity, negotiations might include credits or repairs at closing with both parties being involved – ultimately making this investment worth your while!

Safety

Building inspectors conduct comprehensive property inspections that cover every aspect of a property – this may include wiring and any associated electrical equipment, HVAC systems, foundation, roof, siding, garage doors and plumbing among many others.

Building inspectors also will check for major issues, like large cracks in walls. If left unrepaired, these cracks could collapse or cause structural problems in the building. They will inspect ceilings to see if they exhibit parachute-like effects and signs of leakage, while cabinets will be checked for mildew, mould growth and dampness odour.

Building inspection inspectors also check to see that the occupants are adhering to fire safety codes in their building, such as not piling rubbish under stairs or blocking exit hallways – both practices that pose fire risks for all occupants of the structure. They will check for smoking areas clearly marked out as well as non-combustible trash bins being provided for safe disposal of waste products.