Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.
Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.
What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.
While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.
You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.
The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.
Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.
While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.
Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.
Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.
Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.
As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.
Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.
Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.
With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.
The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.
As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.
Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.
Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.
Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.
Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.
Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.
From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.
An inheritance can never compensate for the death of a partner or family member. And, unfortunately, inheritance claims can cause problems, for example, if someone believes they aren't receiving their fair share of a person's estate.
Even more difficult and upsetting inheritance problems can arise if a person was financially dependent on the deceased or if the executors of a will are accused of not acting properly.
Claiming an inheritance is usually straightforward if you are named in the will as a beneficiary. The executors take control of all the deceased's assets, pay off any debts and distribute the inheritances to the beneficiaries according to the terms of the will.
As a beneficiary, you do not normally need to claim your inheritance or pay any inheritance tax - the executors should sort it all out.
You may, however, need to be patient. Administering an estate can be time-consuming and it often takes several months before a beneficiary receives an inheritance.
Family inheritance becomes problematic if there is no will or if you feel the will was unfair.
If there is no will, family inheritance entitlements are governed by the rules of intestacy. Depending on the amounts involved, any spouse (or civil partner) is entitled to inherit at least part of the estate, with the remainder split among the nearest relatives.
With or without a will, family inheritances may seem unfair. Particular problems can arise if a couple were living together (without actually being married or in a civil partnership), if there were previous relationships or stepchildren or if a will unexpectedly favours one child over another.
Spouses, civil partners, former spouses or civil partners, cohabiting partners, children and any financial dependents may be able to make a claim for reasonable financial provision - even if the will (or the rules of intestacy) specifies a smaller inheritance or no inheritance at all.
Inheritance disputes can occur in other situations. For example, a will can be invalid if it was drawn up under undue pressure or if the testator subsequently married.
Individual bequests in the will may be invalid. For example, if the bequest is unclear or if an inheritance has been left to one of the witnesses. Disputes can also occur if executors act improperly, either by mistake (eg misinterpreting the will) or deliberately.
Inheritance claim disputes, like other legal disputes, can be complex, time-consuming and costly. Whether you are a beneficiary or not, if you are not getting the inheritance to which you believe you are entitled you should take legal advice.
Reviewed by Ruth Heap, partner, Hillyer McKeown solicitors