Overview
Nothing can be more difficult than experiencing the death of a family member. Your world is turned upside down and you do not know where to turn or who can help. This can be especially bewildering where someone has died suddenly and unexpectedly, particularly if that death could have been avoided.
The specialist team at Hugh James recognises that many families have lots of unanswered questions and often the only place where they can find out what happened to their loved one and how and why they died is at an Inquest. Despite this, representation at Inquests can be difficult for families to access and sometimes they don’t find out until it is too late that they could have had someone there to ask questions on their behalf.
Hugh James is delighted to launch its Inquest Service to give families a better chance of finding the right advice and support around the Inquest process. Working in collaboration with other expert teams across the firm, several specialist charities and support agencies, the Service aims to provide holistic support to families from day 1 in the following ways: -
- Discussing and understanding families’ immediate needs
- Advising on any practical steps to be taken
- Investigating a potential civil claim
- Signposting to specialist support services
- Providing options for families regarding representation at an Inquest
As well as working with families directly, the Inquest Service has been set up to help guide and advise professionals working in this area, including police Family Liaison Officers (FLOs), Homicide Case workers, Military Welfare Officers, members of the medical profession and charities.
We are always happy to discuss the assistance we can provide without obligation so please don’t hesitate to get in touch to see how we can help. Initial advice and signposting are often provided by our team on a pro-bono basis (without charge). Early access to advice can often make a massive difference and give families choices they may otherwise not have, including helping them to access early financial, practical and emotional support.
Specialist Areas
The Inquest Service can advise in any case where families have suffered bereavement including
- Medical Negligence
- Road collisions
- Military Combat and Training
- Accidents at Work
- Acts of Terrorism
- Natural Disasters
- Accidents abroad
- Murder / Manslaughter
- Abuse
An inquest is an investigation into a death conducted by a Coroner. Inquests are only held in certain circumstances, and would be held because a Coroner determined that the cause of death was either unnatural, violent, or unexplained; or the deceased died whilst in police custody, in prison or detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
The purpose of an inquest is to identity the person and establish where, when and how the person has died. The information that is discovered whilst an inquest is held will be used where possible to assist in preventing future deaths.
Our specialist solicitors are experts in representing families in civil claims where there has been a death and an inquest will be held. The team will guide the family professionally, compassionately and empathetically through the process from initial instruction, at the inquest and to the conclusion of the civil claim.
Our other experts across the firm can also advise on the following so a client’s full legal needs can be met in-house:
- Wills, Trusts and Power of Attorney and Court of Protection matters
- The Hugh James Emergency Fund
- Welfare Benefits
- Employment concerns
- Family law matters
We work with the following charities who can also assist families affected by bereavement.