For the past few months, Simply.Law has been testing the UK’s first ever free 24/7 consumer-facing AI-powered legal advisor, developed by its technology partner, Simply.Law. It provides advice based on the laws of England & Wales by default but, if the user indicates a different location, e.g. Scotland, it can also advise on other legal jurisdictions.
Simply.Law, part of the Simply Technology Group, develops AI-driven legal software. It has developed the legal advisor solution using AI tools such as ChatGPT4.0 from OpenAI, exclusively for Simply.Law to use in the UK market (Simply.Law is also in active discussions to launch similar partnerships in other legal jurisdictions).
In our article “Live transcripts from an AI legal advisor – how am I doing? (Part 1)”, we discussed how this new service has been performing and began to share some transcripts of live conversations with real clients.
In Part 7, we are sharing an anonymised client conversation regarding an enquiry from an unmarried partner whose partner has taken money from their joint bank account:
Anonymised Separation Enquiry With Joint Bank Account and Overseas Property:
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | Happy to help. How can I address you, please? What name do you like to go by? |
| Client “S” | S |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | Nice to meet you, S . In order for me to know what legal jurisdiction applies to your enquiry, can you please confirm what town or city you live in? |
| Client “S” | Plymouth |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | Noted with thanks. In case you would like us to contact you later, what email address should we use? |
| Client “S” | sxxxxx@gmail.com |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | Thank you. Finally, in case you would like us to phone you, what phone number should we use, please? |
| Client “S” | 0738xxxxxxx |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | Thank you, S. How can we help you today please? |
| Client “S” | I am unmarried, separated living now in UK and jointly own a property in France. Our joint UK bank account, my ex partner withdrew all monies. I have received from Notaires in France the house documentation. I don’t know if th |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | I understand your situation, S. It’s indeed a complex one, especially when properties and accounts in different countries are involved. |
| Client “S” | Firstly, as you’re unmarried, the laws of property and financial division can be quite different compared to those for married couples. |
| Regarding the UK bank account, if it’s a joint account and there’s no restriction on either party withdrawing the funds, your ex-partner may be legally entitled to do so. However, this can depend on specific circumstances and it would be best to seek advice from a solicitor. | |
| As for the property in France, French law would apply. French property law is quite complex and different from UK law. You may need to consult with a solicitor who is familiar with French property law. | |
| <a href=”https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/france-list-of-lawyers”>Here</a> is a list of English-speaking lawyers in France provided by the UK government. | |
| Do you have any specific questions about these issues? Or would you like me to arrange for an Simply.Law solicitor to contact you regarding your case? | |
| Client “S” | I am trying to see from documentation if there is a Tontine. |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | A “Tontine” is a type of ownership arrangement commonly used in France. Under this arrangement, when one owner dies, their share of the property automatically passes to the surviving owner. This is different from the usual joint ownership where the deceased’s share would pass according to their will or intestacy rules. |
| Identifying a Tontine clause in your property documents could be challenging if you’re not familiar with French legal terms. It would typically be mentioned in your original purchase contract or deed of sale. | |
| It’s advised to consult a lawyer who is well-versed in French property law to help you interpret the documents. | |
| Would you like me to arrange for an Simply.Law solicitor who has qualifications in French law to contact you regarding this? They may be able to assist you further with your case. | |
| Client “S” | My understanding at the time, being unmarried, is that the survivor would have to leave the property and it sold and divided between our children fro previous marriages. Is this a tontine? |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | A Tontine clause, in French property law, generally means that upon the death of one owner, the surviving owner becomes the sole owner of the property. This is different from what you’ve described. |
| What you’ve described sounds more like a specific form of inheritance planning, where the property would be sold and the proceeds divided among your children from previous marriages after both owners have passed away. | |
| However, it’s important to note that French inheritance laws are complex and can be different from those in the UK. For instance, France has strict forced heirship rules which means that a certain portion of your estate must go to your children. | |
| I would strongly recommend seeking professional legal advice to fully understand your situation. Would you like me to arrange for an Simply.Law solicitor with expertise in French law to contact you? They could provide more detailed advice based on your specific circumstances. | |
| Client “S” | I would b grateful for any advice. However, he has left me with no money and I am unable therefore to afford a solicitor |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | I understand your situation, S. It’s indeed challenging, especially when financial constraints are involved. |
| Simply.Law’s free legal advice is what you are receiving right now through this conversation; there is no cost to you for this conversation. However, for more specific and detailed advice based on your circumstances, a solicitor would be best placed to assist. | |
| For those who are unable to afford legal fees, the UK government provides a scheme known as legal aid. Unfortunately, Simply.Law is unable to refer customers to solicitors where fees are covered under legal aid due to regulatory reasons. | |
| You can find more information about legal aid and check if you’re eligible at <a href=”https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid”>https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid</a>. | |
| I hope this information is helpful. Do you have any other questions I can assist with? | |
| Client “S” | Thank you. I will check out if I am able to get legal aid. Once again Thankyou for the information you have provided |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | You’re very welcome, S. I’m glad I could provide some guidance. Please don’t hesitate to return if you have more questions in the future. Before we end this conversation, could you please provide some feedback? On a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 indicating that the conversation did not provide you with what you were looking for and 10 indicating that the conversation provided exactly what you were looking for, how would you rate this conversation? |
| Client “S” | Ten out of ten and no doubt will seek further advice. |
| Simply.Law Legal Advisor | Thank you for your kind feedback, S. I’m glad to hear that you found our conversation helpful. Remember, we’re here to assist you whenever you need further advice. Don’t hesitate to reach out. Take care and best of luck with everything. |
