Welcome to Macaulay & Ritchie Solicitors - Larne, Ballyclare and Belfast

The expertise gained over that period makes Macaulay and Ritchie one of the leading solicitors firms in Northern Ireland working with farmers to provide the best legal advice possible in the field of farming.

Our experience of serving the farming community over the years has allowed Macaulay and Ritchie to apply its extensive knowledge to specialise its services for those working and involved in the agricultural community and their particular concerns.

Macaulay and Ritchie will offer its extensive experience to individual farming families and the farming community at large. Our aim is to build close ties with our clients so that we can fully represent them not just within farming matters but also within the other legal services Macaulay and Ritchie provide.

To enhance the exclusive services available to UFU members the Union has entered into an arrangement with Macaulay and Ritchie to provide a free legal helpline. With their wide experience in serving the farming community and expert knowledge on farming issues this service should provide a valuable supplement to the information and advice available from UFU staff. This legal helpline should make practical legal advice on specific farming related legal issues far more accessible.

The legal advice provided by Macauley and Ritchie over the phone includes:

• Agricultural tenancies
• Commercial contracts/ sale of goods
• Courts, tribunals and disputes
• Employment Law
• Family and Matrimonial
• Health and Safety
• Advice on new legislation
• Advice on any potential criminal prosecution
• Land ownership
• Planning and environmental issues
• Wills, Succession and Inheritance Tax

The helpline is 08000 858945 and is available Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Calls will be charged at the normal network rates.

The helpline can offer up to 20 minutes of free advice. In order to maximise the call, make sure that before you contact us you have your UFU membership number and a concise summary of the issues you want to discuss.

You can also e-mail your enquiries to ufu@mac-rit.com, with a reply being provided via e-mail or over the phone. Make sure you quote your UFU membership number and your telephone number in your e-mail.

Some issues may be too complex or specialised for an adviser to deal with without first carrying out some research. If this is the case your call will be returned.

All the advice provided free from this service will be verbal. Written advice can attract an additional fee.