Our factor has recently started to bill us for another proprietor's bill.

We were told it was billing the rest of the residents for the proprietor's share of repairs that have not paid. I pay a management fee and always pay my bill. Surely it is the factor's responsibility to manage and pursue the debt of non-payers?

It's all in the deeds. If they give the factor the right to collect the debts of non-paying owners by the rest, they can do so, leaving you to pursue your share back form the recalcitrant ones. If not, they can't. Get a hold of the deeds via your lawyer or from the factor and read them.

I have a small business with a property lease tied to it, which I am trying to sell. If I can't manage to get it sold is there any way I can give the property back to the landlord and get out of the lease without it costing me any money? Also, do I need to give any notice?

Most commercial leases are for a fixed term, and neither landlord nor tenant can get out or cancel the lease before its natural conclusion without the consent of the other.

You should ask the landlord if he/she is willing to end the lease early. At the very least it will cost you some money to do an early termination deal.

You might be better approaching a commercial surveyor/agent to see if they can market the remainder of your lease to a new tenant who would take an assignation (transfer) of the lease, subject to the landlord's consent.

I have lived in my property for 30 years, and last week a neighbour told me my garage is built over a small part of his drive. He showed me a plan from the Registers Of Scotland that places the division between our properties 4ft into our garden instead of where the garage wall is. He says his title deeds were issued three years ago so they over-rule mine.

He has a Land Certificate, i.e. a computerised deed based on the Ordnance Survey map of the area, while you appear to have old-fashioned Sasine title deed. If the Land Register Of Scotland has made a mistake in granting him title to this 4ft strip, you can apply to have the Register corrected, though this is very rare.

If the Keeper Of The Register has made an error in allowing your neighbour too much land, you can claim compensation from the Land Register. But if his title is right, and your garage has inadvertently been built on his land, he can insist you move it.

I have a joint life insurance policy with my partner. He had a daughter in his previous marriage and we also have two children together. If he dies does the child with his ex-wife have a claim on this policy as is it would be part of a moveable estate?

If the policy forms part of his estate it is subject to a claim for children's legal rights no matter what his will says. If the policy is written in trust or otherwise does not form part of his estate the child can't claim. If you were to get married to each other and he had not made a will, your rights as succeeding spouse would take priority. See a solicitor.