When parents separate, few questions matter more than where the children will live and how they will keep a relationship with each parent. Many people search for a ‘child custody solicitor’ when they are facing these decisions,
At the highest end of the wealth scale, divorce can be a complex exercise in untangling sophisticated financial arrangements while protecting reputation, privacy, and family interests across generations. An ultra high net worth divorce typically involves operating
Getting divorced later in life can raise different financial questions from those that arise for younger couples, and pensions are often at the centre of them. Pension sharing on divorce after retirement is the process of dividing
Where a separating couple decide that one spouse’s pension should be divided between them, that division is carried out by a specific court order, known as a ‘pension sharing order’. Understanding what pension sharing orders are, and
Adjusting to not living with your child full time is among the hardest parts of any separation, and putting arrangements in place for your child can be a source of considerable tension. Parents often look for a
At Johnson Astills, we understand that dementia affects not only those living with the condition, but also their families and loved ones. Our Wills & Probate team, regularly meet clients who may be living with dementia or
We all experience moments in our lives when we feel vulnerable – perhaps due to mental or physical illness, grieving a loved one or simply facing difficult decisions. At times like these, we often need to seek
When a relationship breaks down, often, this can impact grandparents contact with their grandchildren. Unfortunately, grandparents do not have an automatic legal right to spend time with their grandchildren. However, as a last resort, grandparents can apply
The school summer holidays can be a lovely opportunity to spend with your children, but for parents who have separated, it can be a difficult time to navigate. There are many issues that can crop up about
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
What is the new social media ban? The UK Government has recently confirmed that a social media ban for under-16s will be introduced in early 2027. Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has said “keeping children off social
Driving without due care and attention is a criminal offence, which is often referred to as careless driving. The offence is committed when a driver’s standard of driving falls below what is expected of a competent and
Changes to the law in relation to pensions and Inheritance Tax is due to come in to force in April 2026. This means that now is a good time to review the provisions of an existing Will
If my partner and I were to separate, would I have any financial rights? As the law currently stands, unlike married couples, unmarried couples living together do not automatically have rights over any property or assets in
Concerns around drug use and alcohol use are common in Care Proceedings and Child Protection work. Parents are often worried about what professionals may already know, how concerns will be investigated and whether past difficulties with drugs
The public figure Bonnie Blue has recently publicised her unverified plans surrounding her pregnancy, including how she claims she became pregnant and her plans for an unconventional baby shower. There has been considerable discussion online about her
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
A separation that involves substantial wealth tends to involve a unique set of pressures, both practical and personal, and the way those pressures are managed in the early weeks and months can shape the parties’ lives for
When a marriage involving substantial wealth comes to an end, the financial and emotional consequences can be far-reaching, and bringing matters to a fair conclusion is rarely straightforward. Couples in this position need high net worth divorce
For many couples, pensions represent the most substantial financial asset in a marriage, sometimes surpassing the value of the family home. Yet when a relationship breaks down, pensions are frequently overlooked or misunderstood. If you are going
If you are searching for the phrase ‘my fiancé wants me to sign a prenup’, the specialist team at Johnson Astills are on hand to provide the advice and support you need. Being asked to consider a
Being asked to sign a prenuptial agreement, or considering raising the subject with a partner, is among the more sensitive conversations a couple can have before marriage. It is also one of the questions our family team
Funeral wishes in a Will are not legally binding. This is because often the funeral takes place before the Will is read. Whilst we recommend including your funeral wishes in your Will (i.e. cremation or burial), our
When a child who is jointly charged with an adult the first hearing will take place at the Magistrates court and not in the youth court. However, generally, childrens’ cases should be dealt with in the Youth
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
The Court process is lengthy, unpleasant and acrimonious, and can often result in parents facing large invoices for legal fees regarding sometimes relatively trivial matters. There are alternatives, but most people don’t consider these in relation to
If you are involved in Care Proceedings, you may hear professionals talking about ‘threshold’ being met. In simple terms threshold is the legal test that the Court must be satisfied about before it can make Care or
A Deed of Variation is a legal document that allows the beneficiaries of an estate to alter the deceased’s Will or intestacy rules. The purpose of this is to redistribute some or all of the deceased person’s
Blended families are becoming more common, and second marriages bring together couples with children from previous relationships. While many couples intend to ensure that everyone in the family is provided for, without the correct estate planning it
If you are engaged to be married, the last thing on your mind is likely to be the division of your finances should you end up divorcing the person that you are shortly to marry. However, it
On 26th February 2025, the then President of the Family Law Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, brought in new guidance for Family Law Judges regarding them writing to children. A tool kit ‘Writing to children – a toolkit
As fewer couples decide to marry or enter into a civil partnership, our family law team is regularly approached by clients asking, ‘Should I sign a cohabitation agreement?’ The law in England and Wales offers cohabiting couples
If you are researching ‘how to apply to court to take child abroad’, it is likely that attempts to reach an agreement with your child’s other parent have broken down. Court proceedings should never be the first
One of the most common questions we hear from separated parents planning a trip is ‘Do I need permission to take my child abroad?’ The answer depends on who holds parental responsibility, whether any court orders are
If you are looking for answers to the issue ‘my ex won’t let me take my child on holiday,’ you are not alone, and you do have options. The law sets out a clear framework for when
The question ‘Can my ex take my child out of the country?’ is one that arises frequently for separated parents, both in relation to a short holiday and a proposed permanent move abroad. The answer depends on
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
Each March, International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made towards gender equality while recognising the challenges that remain. In the legal profession, one continuing concern is the number of talented women leaving their
The introduction of the Sentencing Act 2026 makes a change to defendants being sentenced in criminal proceedings. The main changes For prison sentences of 12 months or less, there is a presumption that these will be suspended,
Choosing a conveyancing solicitor is a big decision and getting it right is crucial. At Johnson Astills, our conveyancing team works with buyers and sellers across Leicester, Loughborough, and the wider Leicestershire area every day, and we
Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions most of us will ever make. Solicitors nationwide can handle the legal side of it, but who you choose matters more than most people realise. At
When a property transaction completes, the activity that follows often goes unnoticed by the people involved. Buyers think about moving, sellers think about their next chapter, and lenders quietly await confirmation that their security is in place.
Having the right solicitor for buying property in your corner can be the difference between a transaction that completes smoothly and one that drags on for months or falls apart entirely. At Johnson Astills, our solicitors for
Separation and divorce are among the most financially stressful events a person can go through, and one asset that consistently falls through the cracks is the pension. Knowing your pension rights after separation can mean the difference
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 Care Proceedings are initiated to protect the welfare of a child, an important and key figure in this process is the Children’s Guardian. A Children’s Guardian, previously known as a Guardian ad litem, is an independent
