My husband won his case at an employment tribunal and was awarded £17,275.19, but we can't get the money from the employer.

Another person is also owed an award. We have logged our objection with Companies House to stop the boss striking off his company because he owes us this debt.

We now have to take him to court to receive the money. We have had a Sheriff's Officer serve the award on him but he has ignored this and all correspondence requesting payment. What is the best way to enforce this?

This is a growing problem, as you will have read recently in the Evening Times. I can give some preliminary advice, but you should see a solicitor for a full assessment.

The award has the status of a court order and can allow you to liquidate the company (or sequestrate if the employer is an individual).

The threat of that ought to be enough to change his mind, but if not, then you would become a creditor of the assets of the business - if any. You have taken the right steps so far and the fact a sheriff's officer has served papers on him should allow you to go to the final step soon.

I bought a flat with a partner but we split up and he left. He had not contributed to the price of the flat so he signed the title back to my name alone, through lawyers.

I tried to re-mortgage and was told an inhibition was raised against him at my address in February. How can I get this removed?

It depends on whether the actual title was transferred to you at the time of your separation.

If it was, then the person or company raising the inhibition (which is a court order to stop a debtor disposing of assets like a house or flat) is too late and the inhibition can be ignored. But if not, then the only way of getting it lifted is either if he repays the debt in full, or you can get the creditor to accept there is no value in the ex's share of the property.

My stepmother died and I was not mentioned in her will. Do I still have a claim because she lived with my biological father, who has also died. He left everything to her in his will, expecting her to include me if she died later.

You do not have a claim on your stepmother's estate if you were not legally adopted - if you had been then you would have had a legal claim even if not in the will.

With your father's estate it is the other way around. You would have had (and maybe still have) a claim even though not included in his will. People making wills in blended families need to be careful of this kind of thing.

I went to a shopping centre to buy kitchen units, but was refused credit. No reason was given for this. How can I find out?

The retailer will tell you which credit reference agency it has used to get your rating. Write to that company and ask for a copy of your file. You will have to pay a small fee.

If there is inaccurate information, you can require the agency to correct it.