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The usual parties within Court Proceedings are those directly involved with the child, such as the parents, social services and the children’s guardian. However, sometimes additional people may be affected by the outcome of the case and
Special guardianship is a family court order that allows a child or young person to live with someone other than their parents, providing a long-term care solution. The person(s) with whom the child lives with will become the child’s special
Yes, you must attend a Pre-Proceedings meeting if you have received a Pre-Proceedings letter. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible after receiving the letter, and a legal representative can attend the meeting with you.
Can I move my child within England and Wales without consent? If you have Parental Responsibility, you do not need permission from the Court or consent from the other parent to move a short distance away with
Life Interest and Right of Occupation Trusts are two common Trusts created by a Will, typically used by couples wanting to protect their respective share of their property. What is a Life Interest Trust? A Life Interest
There are 4 main stages to the divorce process: The application – made either solely or jointly with your spouse. The acknowledgement of service form completed by the Respondent (this does not apply if the application is
A Letter of Wishes is a confidential and non-binding document that should be read in conjunction with your Will. The aim of a Letter of Wishes is not to replace your Will, but to guide your Executors
Under Section 3 of the Children Act 1989, Parental Responsibility is defined as the rights, duties, powers and responsibilities that a parent has concerning a child. By having Parental Responsibility for a child, a person is able
New guidance has recently been released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in relation to “honour”-based abuse. This guidance has been updated to reflect growing concerns around evolving forms of abuse. The aim of this is to better
When couples separate, the legal differences can be significant depending on whether they are married or unmarried. Married Couples Married couples benefit from specific legal protections and entitlements under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. This legislation allows
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
Sibling relationships are often the longest relationship we will experience in our lives. During Care Proceedings, the Local Authority recognise the importance of sibling relationships and therefore aim to keep siblings together where possible, when making decisions.
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
Pensions are often one of the most valuable assets in a relationship, and how they are split on divorce in the UK can have a profound impact on each person’s future financial security. If you need answers
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
The rules for Family Courts in England and Wales are outlined in the Family Procedure Rules 2010. There have been many amendments to these rules over the years, one example being the Family Procedure (Amendment No 2)
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
There are two ways a child can be removed from a parent or guardian without the need for a Court Order. This is through the parent or guardian signing a Section 20 Agreement, or through the police
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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,
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
