Blog

Making a Will

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It is important to make a Will to ensure that your estate passes as you wish when you die. Your estate includes your house, money in bank accounts and even your jewellery. If you do not make

Can you go to prison for using a Drone?

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The UK has seen a rise on the use of Drones for both fun and commercial use. However as a result of new laws being brought in, people found flying drones above 400ft and within a kilometre

What is a Family Assistance Order?

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A Family Assistance Order (FAO) is a short-term order which the Court can grant under Section 16 of the Children Act 1989 requiring a CAFCASS officer or an officer from the Local Authority to advise, assist and

British Court recognises Sharia Law

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The High Court has made a ruling recognising Sharia Law for the first time in a British Court. This could change the way Islamic marriage and divorce works in the UK. Mr Khan and Mrs Akhtar’s marriage

What searches are needed if I am buying a property?

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Pre-Contract searches reveal additional information about the property you plan to purchase. You can withdraw from the transaction without penalty prior to the exchange, if you discover something about the property you are not happy with. Your solicitor

Prisons are not working…..

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“The reformed prisons of the 1800’s with their new emphasis on rehabilitation were invented to destroy the criminal personality and to generate new life and a new law abiding identity. Predicated upon violence the prisons proved successful

Alternative Options to Court in Family Matters

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Here at Emery Johnson Astills we understand that going through a divorce or separation can be an emotional and difficult time. It is generally better for everybody involved if arrangements between you can be agreed, this is

Nitrous Oxide & Beyond…

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Johnson Astills have seen an increase in the number of cases before the Courts involving newer synthetic drugs. The offences were created by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 which came into force on 26th May 2016. The

World Cup Penalties

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A further “penalty” of the World Cup, which has recently been reported on is the increase of domestic violence and abuse during the tournament. Research undertaken at Lancaster University has shown there is an increase in domestic

Wrongly accused of a Sexual offence?

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At Johnson Astills we know how frightening it can be to find yourself under investigation for or charged with a sexual offence. The chances are you will have no previous experience of being interviewed by the police or

12 points on licence exceptional hardship

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When a driver accumulates twelve or more penalty points within a three year period, the court will need to consider whether they should be disqualified under the totting up provisions. The Court guidelines state that where a

Leicester Legal Walk 2018

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Leicester Legal Walk Many of our staff at Emery Johnson Astills took part in The Leicester Legal Walk yesterday, 4th June 2018. The Walk was 10km around the City of Leicester. Our route took us past many

Stamp Duty Guide

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What is stamp duty? Stamp duty is a lump sum that you are liable to pay when you buy a residential property or a piece of land costing more than £250,000.00 (or more than £40,000.00 for second homes). This

First English Forced Marriage Prosecution

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22nd May 2018 saw the first successful conviction in England for forced marriage.  The mother of the victim, who was 17 at the time, fooled her daughter into going to Pakistan in September 2016 to marry a

Drug Offences – An Overview

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In efforts to prevent drug misuse legal restrictions are placed on the creation, use and distribution of highly dangerous and harmful drugs. Under legislation controlled drugs are those classified as being of either class A, B or

What is a Pre-proceedings meeting?

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Are you a parent and have you received a letter from the Local Authority asking you to attend a Pre-proceedings meeting? If you have, our specialist team at Johnson Astills can help you. A Pre-proceedings meeting means

What is the role of an intermediary in court?

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The role of an intermediary was created by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to aid in criminal cases which involved vulnerable witnesses. However, the use of intermediaries has since spread to be included in

Just a little fight….Affray

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What could start out as a disagreement between two people could result in your arrest and ultimately a criminal conviction. In recent months even England Cricketer Ben Stokes has found himself charged with affray following an incident

Director of Public Prosecutions resigns

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The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Alison Saunders (the Lawyer who leads and is ultimately responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)) has announced that she will not be extending her five-year term and will be resigning.

Road Traffic Offences Specialists

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With offences ranging from failing to wear a seatbelt to causing death by dangerous driving it is arguable that no other area of criminal law covers such a broad spectrum of offending behaviour. At Johnson Astills our

Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common?

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Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common? As a prospective buyer, buying with another person can be an attractive option, allowing you to gather a bigger deposit and share your mortgage repayments. In England and Wales, there are

What is a Child Protection Conference?

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A Child Protection Conference is generally held following a referral and investigations by the Local Authority in relation to a particular child and their situation. The test for convening a Child Protection Conference is: the child is

Drones: New Technology v. Old English Law

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At Johnson Astills we are alert to technological innovation and the implications this has with the criminal law. Professional and amateur use of drones has increased significantly over the last few years, but it is increasingly coming

What is Disclosure in a Criminal Case?

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You may have heard of a number of high profile rape and other serious cases collapsing recently due to a lack of disclosure. But what is disclosure?  As experts in Criminal Defence, Johnson Astills can explain. When investigating

Child Protection Plans

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Social Services have a statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. If Social Services invite you to attend a Child Protection Conference it is because they have some concerns about the safety of

Do you require legal representation at Court?

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If you require legal representation at the Youth Court, Magistrates’ Court and/or the Crown Court do not hesitate to call our Criminal Law Team at Johnson Astills on 0116 255 4855 or email us at crimeteam@johnsonastills.com. Our team

Stamp Duty Land Tax changes for First Time Buyers

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Following recent spring budget announcement there is no significant changes to stamp duty land tax for first-time buyers or downsizing individuals. If you are a first time-buyer, SDLT will only be payable on residential properties over £425,000

What is an Easement?

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An Easement is a right attached to one piece of land (dominant tenement) which gives the owner of the land a right to use another person’s land (servient tenement). The owners of the dominant and servient tenements

‘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.’