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
A Will is a document that allows you to decide what happens to your estate when you die. It usually appoints someone you trust to be able to manage your estate and affairs on your death. It
When a marriage ends, all of the couple’s assets are usually taken into account before a financial settlement is decided, and that includes both spouses’ pensions. Workplace schemes, personal pensions, and, in some cases, additional state pension
If you are searching for a clear answer to ‘can my ex-wife claim my pension after divorce’, the starting point is that pensions can be taken into account and dealt with as part of the financial settlement,
If you are searching ‘Pensions on divorce expert’, chances are that you are separating from your spouse and have concerns about how your pension pot will be dealt with. Many clients are surprised to learn that pensions
If you are searching for ‘Divorce lawyers for men’, the specialist team at Johnson Astills is on hand to help. While divorce law is gender-neutral, many men still worry about being treated as the financial backstop, being
If you are looking for a high asset divorce lawyer, it usually means you need more than a standard divorce service; you need clear advice on complex wealth, careful planning, and a strategy that protects your future
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
Many people pay into pensions their whole lives without really thinking about it. It can therefore come as a surprise when divorcing that pensions are treated as a matrimonial asset, in the same way as other assets
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.
Parents involved in Care Proceedings will almost always be told about the “26-week” timetable”. The law is clear that Care Proceedings should usually be concluded within 26 weeks, or around six months, from the date the application
