Is Your Partner Cheating?

Are you suspicious of your partner? Perhaps you’re in a long relationship that was once very happy, but something has changed. You’re nervous of approaching them in case you’re misreading the situation, but you’ve got a nagging doubt in the back of your mind. Are they? Aren’t they?

If you’re worried your partner has been unfaithful, here are a few indicators that your suspicions may be warranted.

Fried Brain
Your previously ‘oh so organised’ other half keeps going off on one, behaving unpredictably and clearly thinking too hard before every sentence they utter. This could indicate they’re trying to remember which lies they’ve told you and whether they’re about to contradict themselves. If they’re not trying to hide something there’s no risk in opening their mouth, but if they are, one false word could be devastating.

Grow Up
Most of us change and grow together when we’ve been in a relationship for a while. But this could means things start to become a little routine. Wild nights out become a distant memory, as you find your relationship becoming stagnant. There’s little that invigorates the soul like a new relationship. The spark of youth returns and suddenly, out of the blue, they want to go out and see the latest band. Who’s given them this new sense of excitement?

Since When Did You Listen to That Band?
Your partner has suddenly developed an enthusiasm for a band or style of music that’s completely out of character. You never expected them to like that! Sometimes, a change in taste could have an external factor behind it. Why is your dull, easy listening partner suddenly into death metal?

Mind Your Language
How about their language? New catchphrases and expressions can point to an affair. After all, we all get into a rut with our language. You can probably write down twenty of your partner’s favourite sayings, but all of a sudden they’re picking up new ones. Smell a rat?

A Break in the Routine
You’ve always wished your partner would be less predictable, but what on earth is happening? The lunchtime phone call that used to be at 12:13 is now all over the shop. ‘Oh, busy with work’, they say. Then they come home and take a shower, when they’d always picked up the newspaper and switched on the telly. You want to return to the time when this sort of behaviour would’ve had you checking your watch.

Guilt Overdrive
This is the clincher. Are they giving you surprise flowers for no good reason? Bringing home little gifts. Of course, this could be a romantic gesture, but equally it could be that they’re on a guilt trip and trying to make up to you for their little indiscretions elsewhere.

Do You Want Certainty about Your Partner’s Perceived Cheating?
There could be perfectly innocent explanations behind all of these situations, but it’s only natural you want certainty about your relationship. You have two options. Ask them outright, but accusations, if false, can be hugely destructive. Alternatively, hire a private investigator to check them out discreetly before confronting them. That’s where Insight Investigations can help you out. To find out more, contact us today.

Marcia Mediation are ready for Family Mediation Week 2017

Family Mediation Week on January 23rd-27th is a chance to find out more about family mediation - what it is, how it works, and why it is better for every member of the family than simply going to court to decide on issues like divorce and child custody.

Organised by the Family Mediators Association, the week-long awareness campaign aims to help families to decide if mediation is the right route for them, as well as to put separating couples in touch with a mediator who can help them to proceed.

Marcia Mediation are accredited with senior status mediators under the FMA's definition of the role, so you can be assured of an empathetic and effective service from any member of our team - part of our Five Es promise along with easy, efficient and economic service.

Marcia Lister

Company founder Marcia Lister has been an independent mediator since 2004 and is now a Resolution-qualified Professional Practice Consultant, guiding newly qualified mediators towards this senior status as both a mentor and a sounding board to provide the second opinions they need to make personal professional development.

Mediators play a growing role in all kinds of family law cases, and especially in divorces where it has proven difficult to make progress due to emotions running high or seemingly impassable disagreements between the separating couple.

The role of a mediator is to speak to each party separately, without putting pressure on them, and then to find a way forwards that represents as closely as possible what the parties want to achieve as the outcome.

Marcia Mediation offer ongoing support for all concerned and can provide summaries to pass on to your solicitor to keep them informed too, with flexibility to tackle issues as they arise so forward momentum is not lost.

Initial contact is via telephone or email, with no obligation to proceed to in-person meetings, and we will always aim to provide a full, costed timetable during which we believe we will be able to resolve the specific issues you raise at the outset.

In cases where children are involved, the mediator is also there to make sure the children's interests are taken into account at every stage, so that an acrimonious divorce does not lead to the welfare of dependants being neglected.

Mediators help troubled waters to run smooth, while making sure the interests of all concerned - including both of the separating couple and any dependants - are equally represented for the best possible mutual outcome overall.

This keeps things moving forwards with less stress and argument, and frees up family court time for the cases that cannot be resolved through mediation, typically leading to the completion of divorces faster and cheaper than would be the case in court.

Ultimately, Marcia Mediation want to see you make progress quickly and painlessly, with nobody's needs neglected - an outcome that is often achieved through mediation when it seemed impossible through direct negotiation.

Exploding Phones and Explosive Claims: Your Rights When Products Fail

Many products promise to make our lives easier, but all too often they do exactly the opposite. Here’s what you need to know about defective products and how to claim compensation in the event of something terrible happening

Britain is still in the European Union and, while it untangles itself from the bloc over the next two years, we remain guided and ruled by its many laws and regulations, including for the countless consumer products we import and produce at home. Naturally, the rules are strict. They're designed to protect the consumer by doing what they say they will: to be durable and safe to use.

But as we know, consumer products can often be anything but durable and safe, and real injuries can be caused by using them. It’s one of the main reasons for No Win, No Fee accident claims. Right now, a popular make of smartphone is causing all manner of consternation - and injury - by spectacularly bursting into flames. In the US alone, Samsung has recalled around 1.9 million Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to a faulty battery, and has even called a halt to production.

So dire is the problem — and the potential for catastrophe — that airlines around the world have banned them. Some are even resorting to using fire-resistant bags to contain the devices, should they erupt into mini infernos while up in the air. Not surprisingly, owners are now looking for the best No Win, No Fee solicitors they can find to handle compensation claims.

Everyday Product Liability and Making Personal Injury Claims

It's not all about high-tech gone wrong, though. Even ordinary appliances in the home can cause major problems. Washing machines and dryers can also go haywire, triggering blazes that can destroy homes and lives. Food, drinks, hair dyes - so much of what we ingest or use on our bodies has the potential to cause problems, even poison us.

Families with small children are always on the lookout for the dangers of the many small toys they play with. It’s not only the very real risk of swallowing a toy and choking on it, but also the tiny parts, such as button batteries, that can pose real problems — and there are new concerns emerging all the time.

One of the latest is what you may well put in your cup of tea or coffee: sugar. We're increasingly being told this once-essential sweetener may actually be toxic to the body and cause a number of conditions and diseases. In much the same way as the tobacco industry was targeted with mass compensation claims for damaging people’s health and killing them, now sugar manufacturers may be dragged into court.

Among the many other potential hazards in and around the home are balconies, garden tools, all kinds of chemicals (cleaning, painting, stripping products) and a whole lot more. It’s a wonder the majority of us manage to stay safe and well at all.

No Win No Fee Accident Claims for Product Liability

So what does the law say about product liability and your ability to make No Win, No Fee accident claims when things go badly wrong? First of all, as with any type of personal injury claim, whatever happened - damage, destruction, or injury to you or your loved ones - cannot have been caused by you. It must be entirely the fault of the product itself.

You are protected by legal responsibilities not only on manufacturers to make sure their products are safe to use, but also wholesalers and the shops that sell the products. These three entities must ensure their products contain sufficient warnings about possible risks in using them, as well as providing ample information on how to avoid injury or damage. They're also legally bound to monitor their products so that they're always in compliance with evolving safety laws. If they're not, they have to bring them up to date as quickly as possible.

Almost all have product liability insurance, so if something does happen and someone is injured or damage is caused by using a product, there are funds available for compensation. Certainly for families that fall victim to defective products, it makes sense to reduce their financial burden by searching for No Win, No Fee solicitors instead of paying to get a claim started. Hopefully then, it will be a win-win all round.

What You Need To Know About Child Maintenance

The number of children benefiting from Child Maintenance has decreased by 17% according to the DWP’s Child Support Quarterly Summary. This is the lowest since March 2012. The recent Child Support Agency (CSA) case closures have had a dramatic contribution to this reduction.

The report also shows that outstanding Child Maintenance arrears currently stand at a staggering £3.584 bn. Cases with outstanding payments have increased since January 2012 from 54.7% to 55.5%.

The number of male Non-Resident Parents (NRPs) accounts for one in nine live cases, the same as previous quarters. When you consider that 48% of couples divorcing in 2013 had at least one child under 16, it’s clear why there’s a real need to be crystal clear on the subject of Child Maintenance.

What Is Child Maintenance?

Child Maintenance, also known as Child Support, is a weekly amount paid to the Parent With Care (PWC) by the NRP. This helps towards the child’s living costs and ensures their wellbeing isn’t affected following the breakdown of the relationship.

Child Maintenance is so important because it helps to pay for things such as food, clothes, and other essentials. It also ensures both parents provide a healthy relationship for their child.

It’s worth noting that paying Child Maintenance is a legal responsibility. If you miss your weekly payments, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will take action to recoup the money.

How Can The Child Maintenance Service Help?

The CMS will help to determine how much Child Maintenance is due. They take into account a number of factors, which we will discuss later on, in order to calculate how much money the NRP needs to be pay each week to the PWC.

Before you apply to the CMS, it’s worth talking to Child Maintenance Options (CMO) to get a clearer understanding of how much the NRP needs to contribute. You can call CMO free on 0800 988 0988 or find out more on their website.

How To Apply For Child Maintenance

Once you have discussed your arrangement options with CMO, you will be given a reference number. If you choose to apply for Child Maintenance, this reference number tells the CMS which route you would prefer to go down.

You will need to provide the following information about you and your family:

• Details of the child you’re applying for
• Your National Insurance number
• Your bank account details 

The application fee for this service is £20. However, you won’t have to pay this if you are:

• A victim of domestic violence
• Under 19 
• In Northern Ireland

This information is then used to set up and manage the Child Maintenance payments, and sometimes locate the paying parent if an amount goes unpaid.

If the CMS isn’t provided with the necessary information, this can also be taken from:

• The ‘paying’ parent’s employer
• Government organisations such as Jobcentre Plus
• Prison services
• Local councils
• The paying parent’s bank or building society

Most Child Maintenance cases are set up within a month of application. It may take longer if there is an issue contacting the paying parent. The first payment is ordinarily made six weeks after making the arrangements.

Are There Different Payment Methods?

The CMS provides two payment methods. The first is Direct Pay. The CMS calculates how much the paying parent must contribute. Then both parents must come to an agreement on how and when the payments will be made by the PWC.

If the NRP doesn’t pay in full or on time, the CMS may choose to move the case to Collect & Pay.

Collect & Pay is the second payment option that the CMS offers. With this method the CMS collects the amount due from the paying parent and passes it on to the receiving parent.

If the NRP fails to make their payments in full or on time then the CMS may take immediate enforcement action.

Application and enforcement fees were introduced in 2014. This means that if you choose the Collect & Pay service, you will also need to pay for the collection and payment of the Child Maintenance.

In addition to the application fee, there are a number of other costs to take into account when applying for Child Maintenance. There’s a 20% collection fee for paying parents using the Collect & Pay service. This is on top of the Child Maintenance amount.

Receiving parents must pay a 4% collection fee for using the Collect & Pay service. This will be deducted from the amount received. Paying parents may have to pay enforcement charges if they fail to make their payments in full and on time.

Parents who have set up a Family-Based Arrangement or have opted for Direct Pay do not have to pay any additional charges.

How Is Child Maintenance Calculated?

There are a number of factors that the CMS takes into consideration when calculating how much Child Maintenance is due.

These include:

• Your weekly gross income, before tax and National Insurance is deducted but after pension contributions have been taken
• If you receive certain benefits
• How many children you are paying Child Maintenance for
• The number of other children you support in your household
• How often your child stays with you overnight

Leading international family law firm Cordell & Cordell has created an innovative Child Maintenance Calculator that provides an estimate of what you can expect to pay.

By answering a number of questions, you will be able to get an idea of how much Child Maintenance you or your ex-partner should be paying. The calculator provides an estimated amount, so it’s worth seeking guidance from the CMS for further information.

What If My Circumstances Change?

If your circumstances change, for example if your salary increases or decreases, you need to inform HMRC and the CMS straight away. This is because any changes to your personal details may impact the amount of Child Maintenance you should be paying.

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This post was written by Haroop Ahluwalia, Divorce Solicitor at Cordell & Cordell.

Is Social Media Is Destroying Marriages?

Family law solicitors at Carter Law’s Manchester based practice have noticed a trend for social media to be the cause, or a catalyst in an increasing number of divorce cases. As people are becoming emotionally attached to their smartphones, it seems that Facebook, Twitter et al, are becoming factors in an increasing number of divorce cases.

A study in 2014 shows the use of social media negatively correlated with marriage quality and happiness. The more a person used social media, the more problems appeared in their relationship. The study claimed that 1 in 7 married individuals consider divorcing their spouse due to social media issues.

So what exactly is it about social media that is causing problems for married couples?

Social media has its positives. It allows you to share your life with family and friends, and keep in touch and up to date with what’s happening amongst your network. But there is a dark side to social media which is becoming more apparent; the potential temptation for spouses to have affairs and cause daily arguments in relationships.

Social media can make affairs more accessible. Affairs that may have taken almost years to develop in the past are a lot easier to have with access to social media. When people are experiencing a rocky patch within their marriage they tend to seek outside support and with accounts such as Facebook, an old flame is only one ‘Add Friend’ button away.

People tend to have people on Facebook who they see as potential back-burners if their marriage was to break down. Affairs don’t have to be just physical relationships; they can be purely a digital based affair. This involves talking to someone online who you are attracted to and keeping this a secret from your partner.

Partners in marriages are getting caught out for bad behaviour on social media, as this heightened connectivity has created a world that means no matter where you are, who you are with, you can be watched by someone. Social media accounts such as Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram make it easier for spouses to catch their partners in the act.

58% of people admit to knowing their spouse’s passwords, even though their spouse had no idea. Partners may be inclined to snoop into their spouse’s social media account to find out who they are talking to, who they are meeting and where they are going. A co-worker could tag a person in the pub who their spouse sees and become suspicious as their partner told them they had to work late.

As well as the opportunity for affairs, the trend of ‘facebragging’ on social media is contributing to the increased number of divorces. ‘Facebragging’ is when people use social media to cultivate an online image of success. Couples are comparing their relationships with other marriages that post about their happy lives, often striking up feelings of envy in viewers; the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, however.

Some husbands and wives put pressure on each other to outdo friends and their spouse’s on social media in terms such as physical appearance and splurging out on luxurious holidays which they can’t actually afford to brag about how much better their life is, causing financial stress to the marriage.  Social media is giving couples unrealistic expectations of marriage and resulting in unhappy partners being dissatisfied with their lives.

The amount of time spouses spend online is also a contribution to divorce cases. A study suggests people that use Facebook more than once an hour are more likely to experience Facebook-related conflict with their partner. This is down to spouses feeling undermined when their partner is failing to pay attention to them.

Spending a lot of time on social media can make a spouse feel like their partner is more interested in what is going on elsewhere, rather than what’s going on with them. When was the last time there was an ad break on television and you paid attention to your partner rather than checking your newsfeed?

Social media can be a catalyst for jealousy in marriages, which leads to further problems in the relationship. Spouses can become envious of the amount of a time their partner is spending on social media, they can become jealous of images they are posting including pictures of nights out with friends, or irritated by the people they are adding on Facebook. People can often feel less supported by their partner if they are choosing to post images of events rather than their family.

Some people use social media as a way to escape from their relationship problems, but being in a relationship takes work and sometimes it might seem easier to bury your head in a smartphone and see what’s happening across social media rather than talk about issues in the relationship and making the effort to make things work out.

Alana Mustill - Carter Law - Family Solicitors in Manchester

Serious Injury Compensation and Divorce: Myth busting by First4SeriousInjury

It’s an unfortunate truth that marriages in which one person has experienced a serious personal injury are more likely to end in divorce than those that haven’t. From the strains put on day-to-day living to financial pressures suffered from loss of work, it’s sad but not surprising that many couples eventually decide to split.

However, when the injured party has received an (often large) amount of compensation, the divorce process can become complicated. If you’re going through a divorce as the recipient of serious injury compensation or you’re the spouse of someone who has, here are some myths and preconceptions we’d like to bust:

My compensation will be protected by the court

It’s called serious personal injury compensation, right? We’re afraid not. When deciding on the final outcome of divorce proceeding, the court is primarily concerned with equality. This means taking into account each party’s earning capacity and income as well as the ongoing impacts of any serious injury. This means that the amount you were awarded may not necessarily be excluded when calculating your assets and that, while you may be living with a disability as a result of your injury for example, your spouse may still be entitled to some of your compensation if the court feels that their income, ability to earn or assets are significantly lower than yours.

As the injured party, I will be given the most consideration

Again, it’s important to remember that divorce proceedings are about finding a fair outcome for all involved so, while any disabilities and personal injuries will certainly be given great importance, the most consideration is often granted to any children involved in the divorce. Priority will be given to child welfare in most, if not all cases, and this can affect how your compensation is distributed.

The result of this past case means that my case will go the same way

It can be tempting to look at the results of past divorce proceedings similar to yours and to assume that the courts will act in the same way. However, each divorce case is extremely complex with many factors taken into consideration that will be completely unique to you and your family. So while you may read of one spouse who received part of their partner’s serious injury compensation, that doesn’t guarantee this will happen for you.

I’ve read up on serious injury compensation and divorce law and am confident going into this on my own

As we’ve mentioned, each divorce case is completely unique and the law surrounding the proceedings can be extremely complex and very specific. That’s why it’s vital to get expert legal advice before entering into any proceedings.

If you’ve suffered a serious personal injury and would like to know more about making a claim or finding out what you’re entitled to, visit our website at www.first4seriousinjury.com or call us on 0800 779 7862 for 24/7 advice from our expert and award-winning team of lawyers.

Wills - What you should know infographic

Thinking about your own death can be a difficult thing to do, but it can be one less thing for your family or loved ones to worry about if you prepare for the inevitable in advance. This infographic from SunLife brings to light some interesting statistics on what kind of attention people across the UK give to creating a Will.

Living in the digital world that we now do, it’s also worthwhile learning how to de-activate social media accounts after some-one has passed away, so take a look at this image to find out how to do this and learn more about Will making.

Looking for a Hair Drug & Alcohol Testing Service?

Cellmark brings our renowned level of scientific rigour, chain of custody management and industry leading customer service to a comprehensive hair drug and alcohol testing service targeted squarely at solicitors and local authorities.

Our fully validated in-house methodology is based on state-of-the-art equipment and technology specifically selected to provide accuracy, quality and rapid turn around times.

As you would expect from the UK’s most recommended DNA relationship testing service, we offer a clear pricing structure, a network of trained sample collectors and standard analysis turnaround times within 5-10 working days including interpretative statements, all backed by advice and support on the end of the phone.

Our laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to test for a wide and expanding range of drugs in hair. Details of Cellmark’s ISO17025 schedule of accreditation can be found at www.ukas.org.

Cellmark has been delivering high quality testing services for over 25 years. We're part of the Labcorp group of companies, an organisation that tests 470,000 samples each day, employs 34,000 people worldwide and which has 220,000 customers - thinking globally but acting locally.

For further details or a quotation call now on 0800 043 4247 or go online to www.cellmark.co.uk.

Legal DNA Testing from The Genetic Testing Laboratories

Legal and Home/Peace of Mind Paternity Testing

There are two types of paternity test: legal paternity testing and peace of mind paternity testing. Depending on what the results of a paternity test are to be used for, interested parties need to choose between a peace of mind or a legal paternity test. Deciding which test is most appropriate is simple and the following is a good rule of thumb: when an individual only has some doubts and has no definite evidence that the alleged father is not the biological father of the child or children, a peace of mind paternity test is the recommended test. Legal testing is required when somebody needs to appear in court or plans to instigate a court case to prove or disprove paternity in order to change the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate, apply for custody or parental responsibility. The mother or Child Support Agency may request a legal test to claim child support - this is especially the case where a child is born out of wedlock and the presumption of paternity is hence not applicable. In some cases, the child may request the test if they have not been legally recognised as the legitimate offspring of their father. The results of a paternity test may help to establish their right to inherit property. Home or peace of mind testing is a sensible test to begin with as one can decide how best to proceed based upon the results of this test. In many cases, a legal test may not be warranted.

The Sample Collection

Samples for a legal and peace of mind test are collected using mouth swabs which enable a quick and painless DNA sample collection. The swabs are sent in a kit by the company carrying out the test. Interested parties (typically the alleged father, mother and child) need to rub the swabs inside the mouth, under the tongue and against the inner cheek for ten seconds. Following this, the swabs need to be left to air dry. The kit contains registration forms which also need to be completed and signed by each person taking part in the test (more information about required forms, samples and authorisation for DNA testing can be found under the Human Tissue Act section below). Once all the required steps have been completed the samples can be sent off for testing.

With legal DNA testing, the test participants do not collect their own samples. Rather they need to seek a third party person with no interest in the outcome of the case, known as a sampler, to collect the samples from them. The role of the sampler is extremely important in a legal test as he or she forms an integral part of what is known as the “chain of custody”. This “chain of custody” is a procedure which ensures that all samples have been collected in the correct way, that all documentation and procedures have been adhered to and further ensuring that that there is no alteration or substitution of samples. The kit is sent directly to the sampler, who physically collects all DNA samples from the test participants, verifies the identity of each and thus, confirms the provenance of each DNA sample. Once this is done, he or she is also in responsible for sealing the samples in their respective envelopes and sending everything off for testing.

Peace of mind paternity testing and legal paternity testing only differ in the procedure followed for the sample collection. The laboratory analysis follows the exact same procedure.

Accreditation and Legal Testing

There are some important international accrediting bodies which have accreditation programmes specifically aimed at DNA testing laboratories. One of the most widely known is ISO 17025 - this is a globally recognised laboratory accreditation that sets very high standards for these testing entities and translates into reliability and competence for those individuals seeking to do their DNA testing with such laboratories. However, for legal testing within the UK, the laboratory itself much be accredited by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Not all companies offering legal paternity testing in the UK are accredited by the MoJ. The Genetic Testing Laboratories are however, one of the leading companies in the UK that offer testing that is accredited by the Ministry of Justice. The list of companies offering testing that meets the requirement of MOJ can be found on the HMRC website.

Getting a Legal test in the UK

The Genetic Testing Laboratories (GTL) offer fully accredited DNA testing services. GTL UK are accredited by the Ministry of Justice and legal test results can be used in court cases to support evidence of a paternal relationship. Results are ready and emailed in 4 working days. A notarised hard copy will follow within a week.

The Genetic Testing Laboratories has the most competitive pricing in the UK and currently offers all its clients a 10% discount on all DNA testing for 2014. Simply sign up by clicking here and enjoy reduced prices on any test.

HTA - The Human Tissue Act

The Human Tissue Act (HTA) was implemented in order to control the way is which any type of human tissue is used, removed or stored. DNA testing requires a sample of human tissue, whether this is a blood stain, finger nails, hairs or a sample collected by means of a mouth swab. In order to comply with the HTA, the person from whom the DNA sample has been collected must give consent to the test - the Human Tissue Act refers to this as “appropriate consent”. Laboratories cannot test any DNA samples that have not been authorised for testing by the person to which the sample belongs. Whilst adults must give their own consent, children’s DNA samples can be tested if an individual with parental responsibility signs for the test on behalf of the child.