Johnson Astills 
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
At Johnson Astills we appreciate that selling a property can involve a lot of paperwork and a lot of questions that you may be unsure of. We have put together this brief guide to assist you with this process.
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
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;
It is safe to say that divorce has never been more straightforward since the introduction of the ‘no fault divorce’ legislation in the UK. Where online services and easy-fix solutions are readily available, the appeal for separating
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
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
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
Deputyship applications can be made to the Court of Protection for an order appointing you as Deputy to manage the property and financial affairs of your friend / relative. Becoming a Deputy for your friend / relative means
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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’.
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.
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
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
If you are summonsed to court as a witness, it is essential to understand what this means and the implications of failing to comply. A witness summons can be issued in cases where your evidence is considered
If you have been caught sitting behind the wheel drunk or even near your car after drinking, you might wonder if you are committing an offence. UK law allows the police to charge you with being drunk
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
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
Whilst Christmas might still feel far away, now is the ideal time to give some thought as to how you might manage arrangements with your ex-partner in relation to where and when your child(ren) will be at
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
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
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
The law in England & Wales is clear in stating, if you are living with your partner and you are unmarried upon separation, you will not have the same legal rights available to a married couple upon
Every year, World Mental Health Day is recognised by the World Health Organisation on the 10th October. The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is ‘it’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace.’ This
Johnson Astills are pleased to announce that we are taking part in Free Wills Month during October 2024. Free Wills Month brings together a group of well-respected charities to offer members of the public the opportunity to make simple Wills
Johnson Astills understand that property transactions, such as buying or selling a house can be stressful and expensive. Conveyancing fees are the legal and administrative costs associated with transferring property ownership and will depend on the specific
October typically welcomes the ‘spooky’ season and winter months, however it is also Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. This is recognised annually to raise awareness about domestic violence and abuse and more importantly, how to recognise it, how
If you are an unmarried couple who is cohabiting and upon separation you have a dispute regarding a property or land that is jointly owned or have a financial interest in, your principal remedy is to apply
What is Conveyancing? Conveyancing is the legal process that must be undertaken to transfer the ownership of a property. Should I instruct a conveyancing firm or a solicitor’s firm? Both Conveyancers and Conveyancing Solicitors specialise in the
In divorce under English Law, the Court begins with a 50:50 starting point when considering a financial settlement. The court then decides whether there should be a departure from equality. Contribution is one of the factors which the court
When purchasing a property, it is important to budget for ground rent and service charge. This generally applies to Leasehold Property purchase and some freehold properties with management companies. Ground Rent Ground rent is generally paid to
For opposite-sex parents, the question of who has parental responsibility for any child may be easily answered. However, the same cannot be said for LGBTQ+ parents, who may face certain obstacles in obtaining parental responsibility. With June
What is a Care Order? A Care Order is an Order made by the Court when the Court determines that a child is suffering or is at risk of suffering Significant Harm. When a Care Order is
Currently, parental rights are ‘absolute’ in law and can only be managed through a court order. However, a new law could mean that in the UK convicted paedophiles who are parents, would automatically lose the right to
Buying or Selling a property, may sound straightforward but it can sometimes become prolonged and complicated. Not all transactions are the same due to several reasons but here at Johnson Astills, we are here to make the
This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week. Neurodiversity is a non-medical term used to describe a person whose brain forms, works, or functions differently to the typical brain. Some of the most common types of neurodivergence are Autistic
International Women’s Day is recognised on the 8th March every year. This day celebrates the various achievements of women worldwide and also reminds us to continue supporting women’s equality. There are so many ways to honour women
The Labour Party have introduced the idea of a new law called ‘Raneem’s law’ – named after Raneem Oudeh, who was murdered at 22 years old alongside her mother Khaola Saleem. Ms Oudeh and Ms Saleem were
What is a Special Guardianship Order? A Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is a long lasting, Private Law Order, made by the Family Court. The Order appoints one or more individuals to become the child’s ‘Special Guardian.’ This
When a couple obtain a divorce it is important to have a Financial Order from the Court – more often than not this Order can be agreed, meaning no Court attendance or formal court application. This is
1. Network The legal industry is huge and these days there are so many different kinds of events that provide the opportunity to network with different individuals, both online and in person. You can learn so many
It’s that time of year, the Christmas party season is underway which coincides with the national Christmas drink drive campaign. That means there will be more stops and more prosecutions due to an increase in police patrols
What is a Child Protection Conference? A Child Protection Conference is a multi-agency meeting arranged by the Local Authority. The purpose of the conference is for family members and professionals involved in a child’s life to share
A new scheme will be launched in the East and West Midlands, which will see offenders that pose a threat to their former partner and/or their children, being subject to electronic tagging. This will help protect victims
Why have I been asked to provide proof of identification? As a firm of solicitors, under the Money Laundering Regulations we must comply with the requirements for proof of identity and money laundering. This is a legal
