ITV

Tag: divorce

  • Seeking legal guidance: sources and solutions you can count on

    Seeking legal guidance: sources and solutions you can count on

    There are many life situations where you might have to seek legal guidance. Divorce, prenuptial agreements, estate planning, business formation, contract disputes, personal injuries, and criminal charges are just some of the instances where obtaining appropriate legal advice is necessary or even mandatory.  

    However, if you’ve never found yourself in any of these situations, you might not know where to turn to for help. Should you go straight to a lawyer or do legal research on your own? The type and level of assistance you require largely depends on the nature of the issue you’re experiencing and the degree of legal literacy you possess. For example, if you’re facing criminal charges or you’re involved in a complicated lawsuit, hiring an attorney to advise and represent you in court is the smartest thing to do. But if you’re merely seeking general information or you’re dealing with a simple legal procedure, then you might not need legal representation, and a quick search online can provide you with all the info you require.

    Whatever the case might be, it’s good to know your options, so if you’ve ever met with a situation that has legal implications and you’re not sure what to do about it, you’ll know where to look for support. So, let’s have a look at the possibilities. Some of them are free or low-cost, while for others you’ll have to pay quite a hefty sum, with fees varying from case to case.

    Citizens Advice

    If you want to benefit from free legal advice on a wide variety of issues, Citizens Advice is a good place to start. This is an independent network of charities dedicated to providing free and confidential legal advice to those who need it. The purpose of the organisation is to equip everyone with knowledge of their legal rights and responsibilities, so they can navigate the legal landscape more easily and confidently.

    If you have questions regarding benefits, financial management, consumer rights, work-related issues, housing, or family matters, Citizens Advice can answer your queries and offer the support you require. The service is available in over 3,400 community locations, so you can go to one of their branches and talk to an advisor in person. However, if you can’t travel, they also provide advice online or over the phone.

    Law centres

    Similar to Citizens Advice, law centres are charities where solicitors and other legal professionals provide free advice and even representation in certain cases. Their services are mostly aimed at helping individuals or groups with limited financial means or who are vulnerable and socially disadvantaged.

    Law centres specialise in various legal matters, such as housing, employment, welfare benefits, immigration and asylum, discrimination, family law, debt, community care, education, and mental health. Through their work, law centres aim to make access to legal advice and justice available to everyone, regardless of their background or financial situation.

    Solicitors

    Solicitors are obviously the best people to go to for legal advice, given their specialised knowledge and expertise in different areas of the law. Therefore, if you’re planning to go to a solicitor for guidance and assistance, you first need to determine under which category of the law your issue falls and then search for a professional with the necessary specialisation.

    People are often reluctant to work with a solicitor because their fees can be quite restrictive. If you worry you won’t be able to cover these fees, look for solicitors that work on a no win no fee basis, so you can benefit from assistance free of charge. These types of services are available in most countries. In the UK, for example, legal professionals at https://www.legalexpert.co.uk/ can provide free legal advice on claiming compensation for damages caused by road traffic accidents, work accidents, data breaches, medical negligence, and other such issues.  

    Legal aid

    Legal aid is a government-funded program administered by the Legal Aid Agency in England and Wales that helps people who cannot afford to pay for legal advice, representation in court or tribunal, or family mediation to cover the costs for these services.

    To get legal aid, individuals generally have to show that their financial situation doesn’t allow them to cover the costs for legal advice and that their case falls within the scope of legally aided services. In some situations, applicants may also have to demonstrate that their case has a good probability of success. Legal aid is usually available for certain types of cases, such as criminal cases, family law matters (including domestic violence and child protection), immigration cases, and some welfare benefit appeals.

    Online resources

    The online space has made access to legal advice and resources easier than ever before. There are plenty of websites that provide accurate and reliable information on all sorts of topics and can put you in contact with legal aid providers. Many of these sites also allow individuals to ask legal questions online.

    However, you need to be careful which sites you get your information from. Not all online sources are created equal, and some may provide inaccurate, outdated, or even misleading information, which can confuse you and even cause you to make the wrong decisions.  To make sure you’re not ill-advised, you should prioritise official government websites, reputable legal organisations, and those maintained by established law firms.Be wary of sites that promise quick legal solutions for a fee, especially if they don’t offer clear information about their sources or qualifications.

    Pro bono services

    Pro bono legal services are provided free of charge to individuals or organisations that lack the financial means to pay for them. This involves lawyers or law firms offering their expertise to help those in need, such as low-income individuals, non-profits, or those involved in public interest cases.

    Usually, lawyers or law firms engage in pro bono work voluntarily, though some jurisdictions may encourage or require a certain amount of pro bono service annually. You can find pro bono lawyers through law clinics or by contacting organisations directly.    
     

  • How to Prepare for Your Divorce

    How to Prepare for Your Divorce

    Preparing for divorce is key to ensuring a smooth and successful process. Getting yourself ready for divorce allows you to weigh your divorce options so you can pick the best approach. It eliminates the risk of settling for the first divorce lawyer you come across because you have enough time to research and interview several attorneys. Since getting divorced isn’t cheap, preparing for it ensures you have enough money to complete the process. Discussed below is how to prepare for divorce.

    1.  Make plans for the kids

    Divorce with children comes with many changes. There are many decisions to make to ensure your kids’ well-being and best interests. When preparing for a divorce involving children, you must plan how you’ll navigate matters related to child support and custody. You and the other parent should decide on factors such as:

    ●  Who the kids will live with 
    ●  How you’ll make decisions for the children 
    ●  Child support 
    ●  Custody and visitation 
    ●  Your parenting plan

    If you and the other parent cannot arrive at an agreement out of court, then the custody issues will be resolved by a judge. You can visit here for professional legal advice and assistance with your child custody case.

    2.  Hire a divorce lawyer

    Whether your divorce is contested or amicable, you need a divorce lawyer. A skilled divorce attorney will help:

    ●  Prevent unnecessary conflict and prepare a fair separation agreement while safeguarding your interests 
    ●  When negotiating financial matters during divorce, such as spousal and child support, things may turn contentious. A divorce lawyer can give you the necessary legal guidance while helping you navigate through conflict points 
    ●  Ensure you don’t agree to things that are against your interests without knowing what you’re doing 
    Since divorces often include disagreements and disputes that can be hard to resolve, a skilled attorney will negotiate on your behalf to ensure a mutually beneficial agreement is amicably arrived at.

    3.  Understand your divorce options

    There are various ways to get divorced. Understanding your divorce options is key to helping you pick the most suitable alternative for your situation. They include:

    ●  Mediation: It involves divorcing couples sitting together with a mediator to help them communicate and make decisions on critical matters 
    ●  Litigation: In this process, each divorcing partner retains an attorney. One spouse files the petition or complaint for divorce, and the other one is served the documents formally, after which the case begins 
    ●  Collaborative divorce: It’s where the involved persons agree not to litigate. Instead, they work together to negotiate and agree on the divorce terms 

    4.  Gather the necessary documents

    Since divorce involves extensive paperwork, gathering the necessary documents beforehand can help ensure a smooth process. Consulting a divorce attorney can help you determine the documents to prepare in readiness for your divorce, including:

    ●  General financial records: Sharing finances is one of the most complex aspects of a divorce. As a married couple, you’ll have to provide sufficient paperwork to give a detailed view of your financial situation. You may require income documentation like paystubs, employment records, banking details, life insurance policies, and more

    ●  Debt documentation: It includes mortgages, student loans, credit cards, personal loans, tax debt, and more 
    ●  Shared assets: They include those you brought into marriage plus those you acquired together as a couple

     Endnote

    Divorces are complex and time-consuming. However, preparing for divorce can help ensure a seamless process. You can get ready for your divorce by making plans for the kids, hiring a divorce lawyer, understanding your divorce options, and gathering the necessary documents.

    Disclaimer: This article does not have journalistic/ editorial involvement of indiantelevision.com. indiantelevision.com group or its websites does not endorse/ subscribe to the contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein.

    The reader is further advised that Online Casino, Betting, Crypto products, Financial Investments/Engagement , NFTs, Products associated with health, wellness, and food are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions or risk associated with health conditions.

    Indiantelevision.com group shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in the same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of indiantelevision.com (indiantelevision.com group) of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute financial advice. 

  • Rupert Murdoch & partner of six years Jerry Hall to get divorce

    Rupert Murdoch & partner of six years Jerry Hall to get divorce

    Mumbai: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his wife of six years former actress-supermodel Jerry Hall are getting a divorce.

    As per reports, the separation is unlikely to alter the ownership structure of businesses Murdoch holds a stake in, which include parent company Fox News and The Wall Street Journal. Murdoch is worth an estimated $17 billion, according to Forbes.

    Murdoch, 91, married Hall, 65, in March 2016 in London. This is his fourth divorce.

    Murdoch maintained a powerful role in politics and the media after selling the majority of his corporation to Disney for $71 billion in 2019. The two men’s relationship further suffered after Murdoch’s Fox News predicted that Trump lost Arizona, an election call that came before other news organisations followed. He was a frequent unofficial adviser to the former president Donald Trump, though he distanced himself from Trump leading up to the 2020 election.

  • George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin: Trouble in paradise?

    George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin: Trouble in paradise?

    MUMBAI: A recent report by InTouch magazine claimed that Hollywood actor George Clooney and British human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, who got married in Venice 27 September last year, are headed for divorce due to constant ego-clashes.

     

    “Amal’s disdain for Hollywood and many of George’s pals, her increasingly diva-like behaviour, as well as fights over starting a family, have friends convinced it’s all gone wrong for the couple,” the magazine quoted a source as saying.

     

    However, the couple’s representative have denied the news and said that the couple is not getting divorced. “This story is totally made up in order to sell their magazines,” said the representative.

  • Rupert Murdoch clashes with Tony Blair over Wendi Deng

    Rupert Murdoch clashes with Tony Blair over Wendi Deng

    MUMBAI: Media baron Rupert Murdoch and his ex-wife Wendi Deng may have called it quits, but there seems to be lots brewing between the two even now. Several media reports are hinting towards a rift between Murdoch and Tony Blair. The reason being stated is the former premier’s friendship with Wendi.

     

    Though Blair had always stated that his relationship with Deng is platonic, it is learnt that Murdoch has refused to speak to him since filing for divorce from Deng in June.
    According to reports, the breakdown of the friendship between the two men is being attributed to the claims that both Blair and Deng met on several occasions without Murdoch’s knowledge.

     

    It was in June that Blair had to come out in open to clear the air which linked him to Murdoch’s divorce. At the time, his spokesman had told the Hollywood Reporter: ‘If you are asking if they are having an affair, the answer is no.’

     

    An acquaintance of Murdoch was quoted: ‘Rupert Murdoch will have nothing more to do with Tony Blair. Not ever.’ Several media reports were seen quoting Murdoch’s friends.  In a report published in The Mail, another friend of Murdoch said: ‘If you think that Rupert made a decision to end his marriage and a long-term friendship without just cause, you are sorely mistaken.’

     

    However The Mail also quoted a close friend of Blair saying: “The ridiculous stories about Wendi and Tony’ were not true.” Blair’s friends insist that the relationship between Blair and Deng was innocent and that they never met alone.

     

    While the duo had formed a strong friendship, with Blair becoming god- father to the Murdochs’ daughter Grace in 2010, this rift surely comes as a shock to many.

  • ‘Any attempt to gag freedom of media in garb of regulation has to be resisted’

    ‘Any attempt to gag freedom of media in garb of regulation has to be resisted’

    But, television viewer has only one option, to change the channel, if he/she doesn’t find the content interesting. Because TV viewers don’t have the option of skipping the news report and watching something else, as they might do with a newspaper. Therefore, at any given time television will have to put the best possible visuals on air. And it has been observed that if the viewer finds the story interesting, he stays on – else he shifts to another channel. So to stay in the rating game a TV channel has to give such content that makes the viewers stick with it.

    Therefore, the point to be noted is that the content on TV is not being controlled by the content maker, i.e, the journalist, but someone else who has the remote control in his hand. Basically the channel surfers, today decides the content and not an avid news watcher.

    Another observation is that news channels behaved like typical Bollywood producers in 2007. That is, if a certain formula was a hit, it was copied and you had a wave of that formula. Likewise in TV news, first came a wave of family drama, matrimonial discord, violence, divorce… People lapped it up. Once the novelty factor was gone, the audience got bored.

    Then came, ghost stories. So one after another channels started showing horror stories. While this content was very short lived, it was also alleged that some of the news reports were concocted. There might be some truth in these allegations, too. Just as it was proved in the Uma Khurana case (where a school teacher from Delhi was made a victim of a fake sting operation). Stories such as these do dent the credibility of the media, but the damage is limited.

    After ghost stories, came the Baba wave. Followed by amazing videos. This was a completely new phenomenon. In these videos, channels showed people doing crazy things. But finally this too seems to be nearing its end.

    Hence I believe that classical news will perhaps never die. Because, it is truly “new”, everyday. It’s unique and touches society. So amazing videos, Baba syndrome, ghost stories are fading in comparison to real news.

    This realisation is both internally generated and induced. Induced, as the government is considering a Broadcast Bill. Yet the handling of the bill raises many questions.

    I have stated earlier – freedom of press comes with some responsibilities. This freedom is critical for nation building. But freedom does not mean anarchy. It is necessary to give deep thought to what impact certain news will have on society. Then why are we opposing the Broadcast Bill? Because when the draft bill was brought out, it became very clear that the government wanted to bring in such a mechanism which can gag the media.

    Amazing videos, Baba syndrome, ghost stories are fading in comparison to real news
    _____****_____

    I strongly feel that self regulation is the need of the hour and to achieve this, we need a truly independent and free media body, with a transparent method of electing its members, which is funded by the media, runs its own independent office, and has some powers to deal with channels that flout guidelines. Currently this responsibility has been undertaken by the News Broadcasters Association, which has brought together editors of all news networks to work on the industry’s content code.

    But one thing is clear. Government can’t gag the media and any ‘regulation mechanism’ which is in the hands of bureaucrats or any such body which is directly or indirectly controlled by the government in any way is not acceptable to us.

    Coming to the issue of the media concentrating on the urban scenario and not doing ‘real’ stories – the rural stories… I do not think this will change vastly. Media will naturally give content that is relevant to the market it addresses. And it is that market which will assess its success or failure. Similarly, the channels will also modify their content as per the market’s needs and response, for instance, it would have been noticed that business content has vanished from most general news channels. While stock market has been hitting the roof, audiences prefer to watch business news channels for this news rather than general news channels. Hence most Hindi news networks did away with their business news bulletins.

    The changed economic reality has tremendously impacted the middle class psyche. Therefore the middle class does not relate to issues that they used to be concerned with a few years ago. So the content mix today cannot be the same as it was a decade ago. The viewer today is different. Plus, we have more than 50 per cent of our population below the age group of 25. Needless to say their taste and psyche is different and this changed reality today dictates the media’s content mix. We found this change quite apparent when Headlines Today showed the wedding of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan. Though it may be termed routine coverage, during these two or three hours, Headlines Today reigned supreme, all other English news channels paled in comparison.

    This changed content mix has dominated Hindi news for a while and we should accept the fact that it is here to stay. Similar will be the scene among English language news channels also, with the growth in audience base. So now we have to cast a new dye for moulding this new content. In today’s world, both technology and market are driving content – just as mobile phones have changed telephony, and sms has changed English.

    As for our channels, it is extremely satisfying that we have retained the number one position despite a virtual dogfight in the TV news market. We are proud to present balanced news content. Though this is a remarkable achievement for Aaj Tak, we are aware of the challenges ahead. A number of new channels coming in the fray and with a growing audience base, it will be our effort to retain our number one position – both in terms of content perfection and market share.