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Johnson Astills

How would I know if a loved one had any debt?

If you are appointed to act as a Personal Representative (PR), you have a legal duty to settle all liabilities of the deceased’s estate. However, when a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know the

How Are Assets Divided In A Divorce?

If you are facing a divorce, you will undoubtedly have scores of questions about the process and likely outcomes. One question that our specialist family law solicitors are asked time and again is, ‘How are assets divided

High Net Worth Divorce Lawyer

High-net-worth divorces often involve a number of issues not seen in standard divorce cases. The financial stakes are higher, the assets are more complex, and the potential for dispute is greater. That is why seeking specialist advice

High-Net-Worth Divorce Solicitors

High-net-worth divorce cases often involve far more than dividing the family home, a couple of pensions, and some savings. They necessitate unravelling complex wealth structures, protecting reputations, and securing long term financial security across generations. The high-net-

Pension Sharing On Divorce

Pension sharing on divorce is often one of the most significant, and often misunderstood, aspects of a financial settlement, especially where one or both spouses have built up substantial retirement savings. At Johnson Astills, our family law

What is an Asset Search?

If you are acting as a Personal Representative (PR) of an estate, you have a legal obligation to identify all assets and liabilities of the deceased’s estate. An Asset Search will aid you in establishing any financial

Buy To Let Solicitors

Investing in buy to let property can be one of the most rewarding ways to build long-term wealth. Whether you are a first-time investor or an experienced landlord expanding your property portfolio, navigating the legal side of

House Sale Solicitors

Selling a home is one of life’s biggest financial and emotional milestones. Whether you are moving to a new area, downsizing, upsizing, or restructuring your property portfolio, the legal side of a house sale can be complex

Buy To Let Conveyancing

Investing in a buy to let property can be a lucrative and rewarding opportunity. However, the legal side of buy to let purchases and sales is often more complex than standard residential property transactions. This is where

Transfer Of Equity Solicitors Near Me

If you are in need of ‘transfer of equity solicitors near me’, the specialist team at Johnson Astills is perfectly placed to help. Whether you need to transfer equity following separation from a spouse, to add a

Property Transfer Solicitors

Transferring property ownership is a significant legal and financial transaction. Whether you are buying or selling a home, transferring property as part of a divorce, gifting property to a family member, or dealing with an estate after

Transfer Of Equity Solicitors

Property ownership does not always remain static. Life events, such as marriage, divorce, and financial planning, often necessitate a change in who officially owns a residential property. This legal process is known as a transfer of equity.

Fixed Price Conveyancing

Buying or selling a property is one of the biggest financial decisions most people make, and with that comes a fair amount of paperwork, processes, and, inevitably, costs. Increasingly, homebuyers and sellers are choosing fixed price conveyancing

Conveyancing Lawyers

Buying and selling property can be stressful, even for the most seasoned property developer or homeowner. That is where experienced conveyancing lawyers like ours at Johnson Astill come in. We have the expertise and experience you need

Buy To Let Conveyancing Quotes

Embarking on a buy-to-let property investment journey is an exciting step towards building what will hopefully become a lucrative property portfolio. However, the legal landscape for buy-to-let properties is significantly more complex than a standard residential purchase.

Conveyancing Solicitors Near Me

Buying or selling a property is one of the biggest financial decisions most of us will ever make. Whether you are taking your first step onto the property ladder, moving home to accommodate a growing family, or

What is a Property Information Form?

The Property Information form, known as the TA6 form, is a detailed questionnaire about the sale property that sellers are required to complete and return to their solicitor / conveyancer. The form is designed to give the

What are the Money Laundering Regulations 2017?

The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017) came into force in June 2017. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has developed Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidance for the legal sector to

What is the express financial remedy procedure?

Since the launch of the new scheme in April 2025, financial remedy cases with limited means can be dealt with quicker. The details of this procedure are set out within Practice Direction 36ZH and supplement the Family

Conveyancing – Why do Solicitors ask for my ID documents?

Johnson Astills are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and are proud members of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS). All solicitors are legally required to verify client identities to comply with Money Laundering Regulations;

Dealing with the Estate of Someone Who Has Died

Who can deal with a deceased persons estate?  The Personal Representatives are responsible for dealing with the estate. Where a valid Will exists, the Personal Representatives are the Executor(s) appointed in the Will. In the absence of

National Stalking Awareness Week

This year, National Stalking Awareness Week will take place on 21st April – 27th April 2025 and the aim is to raise awareness around the signs of and how to spot stalking. It is estimated 1 in 5 women,

What is a Transfer of Equity?

When the legal ownership of a property is transferred, this is known as a transfer of equity. This process allows property owners to add their names onto the title of the property or remove themselves from the

Civil Partnerships 20 years on…

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 which came into force on 5th December 2005. The first civil partnership registration took place on that same day allowing same-sex couples to enter a similar lifelong

What is the Pathfinder Pilot Scheme?

The aim of the Pathfinder pilot is to bring together local authorities, police and other support services to gather and share information on a private law (applications brought about by parents) children case at the earliest opportunity.

Property Transaction Timescales

Any type of property transaction involves several important steps and sometimes this process can be time consuming. As we draw closer to the Stamp Duty Land Tax deadline on the 31st March 2025, thousands of individuals across England

The Probate fee increase has been scrapped!

In order to obtain a Grant of Representation from the Probate Registry (which includes a Grant of Probate), an application fee must be paid. The application fee is currently a flat fee of £155 if a Solicitor

Internal and External Relocation

It is not uncommon that following a breakdown of a relationship, that one party wishes to relocate (with their child(ren)) either in the UK or abroad. This can be a complicated and emotional process with legal implications

I am a First-Time Buyer…. What do I need to know?

Johnson Astills understand that property transactions, such as buying or selling a house can be a stressful process for any of our clients, but even more so for first-time buyers. Buying your first property is exciting and

What happens if my spouse dies during our divorce?

Divorce is a stressful period for anyone, but it can be made more difficult by the death of an estranged spouse. The final Divorce Order (previous called a Decree Absolute) is the document that legally ends a

Divorce Day 2025

What is Divorce Day? It is believed that couples are more likely to end a relationship after spending the  festive period together, therefore the first working Monday of the new year is referred to as ‘Divorce Day’.

Navigating Pensions in Divorce Proceedings

It can be a challenging prospect trying to deal with pensions in divorce proceedings. However, it is an asset that your spouse can make a claim over when considering how to divide the finances of the relationship.

What is a Section 7 Report?

A Section 7 Report is a court-ordered document prepared under Section 7 of the Children Act 1989. It is ordered when parents cannot agree on arrangements for children’s care, usually only if there are any aspects of

How long will my information stay on Police Record?

The Police National Computer (PNC) retains all records of arrests and summons, regardless of the outcome. This information remains on the system until the individual reaches 100 years old. In addition to police records, DNA profiles and

What is an application for Exceptional Hardship?

An application for exceptional hardship can be made when a driver accumulates 12 or more penalty points on their licence within any 3-year period, leading to a potential disqualification under the totting up ban provisions in Section

Will I be affected by the Autumn Budget?

What is the Autumn Budget? The Autumn Budget is an update from the UK Government about the state of the economy. It was launched on 1st November 2024. According to the UK Government, the aim of the

Blog How we are raising funds for the Poppy Appeal

How did you support The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal last year?  Did you buy a poppy? Johnson Astills are supporting The Poppy Appeal again this year by adding a ‘poppy’ to our logo on our website. The

What is a Special Guardianship Order?

A Special Guardianship Order can be made when the Court determines that a child requires a long-term and stable placement which offers more permanence than a Child Arrangement Order. The need for a Special Guardianship Order can

What is an Advance Decision?

An Advance Decision is a statement of instructions about what medical and healthcare treatment you want to refuse in the future, in case you lose mental capacity to make these decisions. It only applies to refusing specific

‘Thank you so much. We needed your help and support in such a vulnerable time in our lives.’

‘Although our partnership was under unpleasant circumstances, working with you make it a pleasure! I can’t thank you enough for making these months a positive experience as I always was assured of your support in the background. I will not hesitate to recommend you highly to anyone who needs your services.’

‘Having had experience of your organisation, my confidence in you grew. I would have no hesitation in asking you for any necessary representation in the future. Relatives and friends have already been told of my satisfaction. Thank you and well done!’

‘I am perfectly satisfied with the way the case was handled. My solicitor was very efficient, easy to communicate with and was very clear on what the outcome would or could be and who worked well.’

‘Thank you for your kindness. Sometimes it is not easy when you are trying to express how you gave us happiness. A very big thank you!’

‘I cannot fault my experience with Johnson Astills Solicitors. Throughout this difficult time I was made to feel secure, supported and validated – money can’t actually buy these things.’