Castrén & Castrén Law Firm

Real estate and housing transaction dispute

Finns save through their apartments and real estate, and a large number of us make an apartment or real estate sale during our lifetime, many even a second or third one. When things are going well, legal matters are usually not of much interest to the parties to the transaction. The buyer gets the object of sale, the seller gets his money, the real estate agent gets the agreed fee, and no one has any comments on the matter after this. Demolition of an apartment deal, contact us and we will carefully evaluate your situation together with you.

There are many risks associated with real estate and apartment transactions due to the nature of the transaction. In a sales situation, the characteristics of the building or apartment and the housing company are examined in particular, which are not always clear to the buyer in their entirety, despite the condition inspection that may have been carried out before the transaction.

The seller may have forgotten to tell the buyer something essential, for example about the condition of the object of sale, about the renovation or even about the zoning. On the other hand, the seller may have told the real estate agent about it, but for some reason the information was entered incorrectly in the apartment's sales brochure, and the matter is not discussed before the sale is made.

Demolition of real estate and housing trade , more on the subject

Of course, the seller can intentionally leave something out about the object of sale or mislead the buyer by giving incorrect information or by failing to correct the buyer's misconception. Things can be revealed about the apartment or real estate after several years that neither the seller nor the buyer knew about at the time of the transaction - the parties to the transaction have to find out whose responsibility it is for the things discovered later and their possible correction. Demolition of the apartment deal, read more about the subject below.

In the situations described above, there may be an error in the apartment or property. If this error meets the requirements of the law, the buyer has the option to cancel the real estate or apartment sale, price reduction and compensation. Primarily, the buyer is entitled to demand a price reduction. If the error or the inconvenience caused is substantial, the buyer has the right to cancel the real estate or housing transaction. If the requirements of the law are met, the buyer can also claim damages if he has suffered damage due to a defect in the apartment or property. Depending on the situation, it must be assessed whether the error is the responsibility of the seller, real estate agent or possibly the housing association .

We help in real estate and housing transaction disputes

If you suspect that everything has not gone as it should in your real estate or apartment transaction, contact our law firm to find out. Our lawyers handle assignments related to housing and real estate transactions with years of experience. They will consider different action options with you, prepare a complaint or an equivalent to a complaint and negotiate with the other party about a possible settlement to avoid litigation. If necessary, the matter will be taken to court, where the matter will be handled expertly, carefully and in your best interest.

Our office also handles land law matters , i.e. appeals arising from various real estate deliveries or road board decisions in a special court, i.e. land court. Often the subject of complaints are, for example, border crossing or compensation matters related to the Real Estate Formation Act, the Redemption Act or the Private Roads Act. The Land Court, as an appeals court, resolves appeals against the authority's decision or a complaint against the road board's activities.

The land rights process is its own special kind of process, which should always be handled by an expert in the field, which you can find in our law firm. We can also find out together with you whether it is worth filing an appeal against an official decision or not.

Legal expenses arising from housing and real estate disputes and land rights issues can often be reimbursed from legal protection insurance. Covering legal fees is explained in more detail on the Price List page of our website. Ask our lawyers for more information about your legal matter.

Division of inheritance

Organizing things after a person's death often causes uncertainty about how to proceed, how to get the necessary documents, and what all should be clarified for example for the deed. Managing the estate and the future distribution of inheritance may also cause you to think about it.

What kind of decisions can be made in the estate and are they made together among the partners or can the partner decide on some of them alone? Who inherits and what inherits, how is the property of the estate divided? How does a will made by the inheritor affect the distribution of inheritance? What does the legal part mean and how is it calculated? Is a large gift received from a partner's executor taken into account in the distribution of the inheritance? The answers to these above-mentioned questions are not always simple, and unfortunately cannot be found by looking in the law book.

Basic writing

It is the duty of the shareholders of the estate to submit the original document within three months of the death of the beneficiary. Shareholders must be invited as required by law to the charter meeting, during which the charter is drawn up. The declaration is the last tax declaration of the person being collected, which includes, among other things, the assets and liabilities of the person being collected, possible pre-inheritance, the scope of possible marital rights and a will .

The articles of association shall be accompanied by a family history of the shareholders. The deed must be drawn up carefully, as it has tax implications and serves as a basis for future distribution of inheritance. In order to avoid ambiguities and the need to supplement the charter, the charter should be drawn up by an expert. Correcting the mistakes made afterwards is often considerably expensive.

Shareholders of the estate and other parties , distribution of inheritance

The shareholders of the estate are the heirs of the deceased, the widow and the beneficiary of the general will. They manage the estate together and make decisions about estate matters together as a rule. The person who receives a specific item of assets based on the will, i.e. the recipient of a special will or the creditor of the beneficiary, are not shareholders of the estate, but their rights must also be taken into account when deciding on matters of the estate and before the distribution of the inheritance.

The shareholders of the estate have the opportunity to agree unanimously on how the assets of the estate will be distributed. In this case, we are talking about a contractual division between the partners of the estate. Even in this situation, it is good to contact a professional to draw up an inheritance distribution book. Our lawyers prepare the distribution deed in accordance with the wishes of the shareholders and ensure that all the necessary facts are mentioned in the deed of distribution, the amount of the inheritance for each shareholder is calculated separately, and the type of property each of the shareholders receives according to the deed of distribution is specified.

We also make sure that the distribution book is valid, i.e. it meets the format requirements set by law or other authorities. A clear distribution book makes it easier for shareholders to do business and account for assets, for example at the bank and the Land Survey Office.

Nest settler and distributor

Sometimes the members of the estate, i.e. the heirs, get into disagreements about managing the affairs of the estate and dividing the inheritance. In this situation, they can apply to the district court to appoint an estate liquidator and distributor to the estate.

Once the liquidator and distributor of the estate have been appointed, the assets of the estate are transferred to the management of the liquidator and distributor of the estate. In this case, the estate liquidator and distributor manages the affairs of the estate and is entitled to take legal action on its behalf. He organizes an estate settlement and inheritance distribution meeting for the shareholders or, if necessary, several such meetings, where the shareholders can discuss their disagreements and present their demands related to the affairs of the estate and the distribution of the inheritance.

The executor's task is to bring the estate to a state where the distribution of the inheritance can be delivered. If the liquidator and distributor of the estate cannot reach a negotiated settlement between the partners, he will carry out distribution of the estate in accordance with the law. The fee of the estate settler and distributor is paid from the assets of the estate. A shareholder of the estate has the opportunity to appeal the decision of the estate liquidator and distributor to the district court within the deadline set by law.

Distribution of inheritance - contact our professionals

Our lawyers are specialized in handling matters of inheritance law with decades of experience. You can turn to us for all your questions related to inheritance law, from the writing of the will to the distribution of the inheritance and a possible objection to the distribution of the inheritance to be processed in the district court. If necessary, we also give consent for the task of executor and distributor of the estate.

Contact us as early as possible. In this way, you avoid loss of rights, you are aware of your own rights as a shareholder of the estate and you can prevent unnecessary disputes caused by lack of knowledge. Are you wondering about the division of inheritance? Contact our experienced law firm in Oulu , which has more than 35 years of experience in handling legal matters.

You can read more about the coverage of legal fees on the Price list page of our website . Read it carefully and contact our lawyers.

Child custody, housing and visitation rights

Custody of a child means deciding on the child's affairs and monitoring the child's interests. Under the law, a child has the right to receive care from both parents. However, in the case of a custody dispute, this can be deviated from by a district court decision, if the conditions for sole custody of the child exist and sole custody is in the best interest of the child. Visitation rights of the child, learn more about the subject on this page.

It is also possible to divide the care of the child between the parents according to the task, if it helps to decide on questions related to care and secures the realization of the child's best interests.

Child custody and living arrangements

Living with and visiting the child are separate issues from custody. The child's parents decide with whom the child lives and which parent the child meets. This is how the immediate parent of the child is defined, to whom, among other things, child allowance is paid, and the remote parent whom the child has the right to meet in accordance with the agreement. Parents can also agree that the child will be with both parents every other week. Despite this, the child must officially live with one of his parents.

Questions related to child custody, living and visitation usually become topical when the parents separate. Whether it is a divorce or a civil divorce, it is important that the child's affairs are agreed upon in writing. It is good to agree comprehensively and in detail on child maintenance, living and visitation, so that the common, binding rules of the game are already clear in the event of a possible disagreement. A clear agreement prevents ambiguities and facilitates the resolution of a possible dispute between the parents.

Child custody disputes and housing and visitation issues also arise when the circumstances of the child or the parents change, when agreements made need to be revised or changed. Agreements can be changed by mutual agreement between the parents or the disputed matter can be taken to the district court for resolution. Arguments also arise when one of the parents does not comply with the living or visiting agreement. In this case, the execution of the contract can be demanded from the court if the requirements of the law are met.

If it is only a short time since the separation or the dispute between the parents has been prolonged, deciding and agreeing on matters concerning the child often do not go smoothly. Our experienced lawyers will assist you in child custody disputes as well as housing and visitation issues, monitoring the interests of both you and your child. Our lawyers first try to reach an amicable solution in the matter by negotiating with the other party or his representative.

An amicable solution is often in the interest of all parties, the fastest and least burdensome for the child and parent. It is also possible to take the matter to the child affairs expert-assisted mediation procedure organized by the court. Its purpose is to find an amicable solution between the parents with the help of a district judge and a social worker.

Feel free to contact our professionals

We help in matters related to child custody, housing and visitation rights. Our lawyers will also assist you in the mediation procedure. If the disagreements between the parents are too great, and a reconciliation cannot be reached, our lawyers, in cooperation with you, will prepare an application for the district court and take care of the proper handling of your case until the court's decision. Child visitation rights, our lawyers are here to support you. Contact our experts who are familiar with this legal matter.

We also assist in matters related to child support, feel free to contact us! You can read more about the coverage of legal fees on the Price List page of our website. Please take a closer look at it.

Insurance claims dispute

Sometimes the compensation decision received from the insurance company is not what the claimant has hoped for and reasonably required based on the insurance terms and the insurance contract. Sometimes compensation has been denied or reduced based on a condition that the policyholder was not aware of and that seems unreasonably harsh. Complaining about the insurance company's decision, ask our expert professionals for help.

Whether it is the case that the compensation has been completely denied or that the compensation has been announced to be paid substantially less than the claim, we will find out whether it is worth appealing the insurance company's decision.

With years of experience, our office assists individuals in appeal processes related to various compensation decisions of insurance companies. Appealing an insurance company's decision, ask us for more information on this matter.

Let us help with insurance claims

It is good to discuss with a legal expert what the chances of success of the appeal are in relation to the costs incurred by the appeal. In addition, you should consider with an expert whether you can request an opinion on the matter from, for example, the Consumer Disputes Board or the Insurance Board. With our professional, you can also review whether it is possible to consider an insurance condition to be unusual – and harsh and surprising.

We will also find out whether you can get the attorney's fees incurred from the appeal reimbursed through home insurance or public legal aid. You can read more information about covering legal fees on the Price List page on our website . You can find our own comprehensive information packages on traffic accident cases and work accident compensation . Contact our lawyers , together we will find the best solution for your situation.

Appealing an insurance company's decision, let our law firm help

The law firm Castrén & Castrén Oy has been serving individuals and companies in the Oulu region and Northern Finland for more than 35 years with versatile experience and constantly updated professional skills. We are a flexible and reliable partner in assignments requiring legal expertise of an individual or a company.

Our industry knowledge is extensive. We handle our clients' assignments efficiently, expertly, confidentially and, of course, taking our clients' overall interest into account.

Our law office is located in the center of Oulu, in the historical building of Valkealinna on Hallituskatu. Contact us regarding your legal matter by e-mail, phone or visit our office. You can also use the easy-to-use contact form in your legal case. In its message field, specify your legal matter, for example, complaining about an insurance company's decision, for which you need the help of our law firm's lawyers. You can find a convenient contact form by scrolling down your page view.

Employment matters

Dealing with matters related to the employment relationship is usually something different in the everyday life of employers and employees than what one could imagine when reading the Employment Contracts Act. The law requires that the employer and employee must know the rights and obligations regarding the employment relationship, but in practice the parties often do not have knowledge of the more detailed content of employment contract legislation, regulations and collective agreements. Are you thinking about employment matters? Contact our law firm , together we will examine your situation in more detail in relation to this legal matter .

It is in the interest of both parties that the documents concerning the employment relationship are drawn up in a written and clear format. Our lawyers help in drafting labor law documents and notices and in other labor law-related consulting situations.

Employment relationship, help for both employers and employees

Our office's experts assist both employer and employee parties in disputes concerning the employment relationship. Typical labor law matters are, for example, wage claims and disputes related to the termination of an employment contract.

Before taking legal measures, the lawyers negotiate with the other party to find out the terms of the settlement. If the settlement negotiations do not lead to an outcome acceptable to the customer, we will find out the possibility of an amicable solution in the mediation procedure that takes place in court.

The mediation session is usually arranged before the actual trial. At this stage, the positions of the parties to the labor dispute are usually not yet locked, and it is easier to find an amicable solution than later. However, if an amicable settlement cannot be reached, we will assist you in court proceedings related to the labor dispute .

In labor law matters, it is often possible to get help with legal costs from the union or, in the case of an individual, also public legal aid. Read more about covering legal fees on the Price list page of our website.

Employment issues, our law firm is at your side.

The law firm Castrén & Castrén Oy has been serving private individuals in the Oulu region and Northern Finland for more than 35 years with versatile experience and constantly updated professional skills.

In addition, we are a flexible and reliable partner in matters requiring legal expertise of both large and small companies. Our industry knowledge is versatile. We handle our clients' assignments efficiently, expertly, worthy of trust and taking our clients' overall interest into account.

Our office is located in the center of Oulu, in the traditional building of Valkealinna. Contact us regarding your employment matters by email, phone or come visit our office. You can also contact us using the convenient contact form on our website regarding this legal matter. In the message field of the form, write your matter (for example, employment matters and possible clarification and/or description) for which you need our expertise. You can find the contact form on this page by scrolling down on your page view.

Company law

Legislation requires the company to provide a wide range of documentation, from the establishment of the company and meeting practice to personnel plans. Appropriate and up-to-date preparation and updating of documents also helps the company in risk management and creates trust in partners. Company law - ask our law firm for support in your company's case.

Both national and European regulation also require more and more from companies, an example of this is the EU data protection regulation that entered into force in May 2018. For the company's document management, we recommend turning to our law firm in Oulu.

Regardless of the company form, we help in the preparation and administration of your company's documents, such as minutes, documents to be submitted to the register, shareholder agreements, share issue documents and other similar ones. Contact our experienced lawyers at our law firm without delay!

On this page, you can read more about, among other things, establishing a company, company documents, and housing and real estate joint stock company legislation. Company law: our lawyer will carefully familiarize himself with your matter regarding company law. Contact our professionals for legal matters related to your company.

Starting a company , take advantage of our expertise

A good business idea and the necessary skills are an excellent starting point for starting a company. In addition to this, various documents are needed, among other things, in order for the company to be formally and legally established.

The lawyers of our law firm will prepare the documents related to the establishment of the company on your behalf, we will guide you in the registration of the company in the trade register and other practical matters. We help, among other things, to find out which business form is the most functional and recommended in your situation.

We are a law firm with solid experience serving the Oulu area. Contact our lawyers , you can get us to support you in setting up a company.

Company documents , prepare them carefully

Even after the establishment of the company, there is a need to prepare various documents and properly document the operations. At least meeting minutes have to be prepared and managed in every company. Not all decision-making needs to be registered, but many actions require a written decision approved by the appropriate parties.

In addition, the company may need, for example, the following: engaging employees or key personnel, obtaining financing, redeeming shares or company shares or, for example, changing the company form. Depending on the operation, the company may also need to review data protection issues and related procedures.

Criminal matters

Our experts also provide professional assistance in the handling of a criminal case in all its phases. For example, a business ban imposed in connection with a criminal conviction can be fatal for a company and an entrepreneur. If there are criminal suspicions against your company, its decision-making people or its employees, contact us in time. The right kind of legal assistance is necessary already at the stage when there is some kind of suspicion of a crime. Company taxation, ask an expert from our law firm for your help.

We help companies and entrepreneurs in handling various criminal cases. We assist in all phases of the criminal process and assess your position in the handling of the criminal case. Contact our experienced professionals.

We assist you from the preliminary investigation phase to the trial and evaluate your position in the handling of the criminal case. Below you can learn more about the legal practices related to financial crimes and occupational safety crimes.

Economic crime , corporate taxation

There are many obligations associated with business activities, and the entrepreneur is largely responsible for fulfilling them, although often these related services are outsourced to, for example, an accounting firm. In most cases, negligence occurs regarding the company's accounting or tax reporting obligations, and they appear, for example, in connection with a tax audit. Company taxation, we carefully familiarize ourselves with your company's situation.

Contact our lawyers if you have doubts regarding your company's accounting, taxation or other similar obligations. We assist in all stages of the criminal process, from preliminary investigation to possible appeal stages. We will clarify the prerequisites for the plea negotiation on your behalf and defend your rights to achieve the best possible outcome.