Psychological and psychiatric assessments are commonly ordered by the Court in Care Proceedings and are frequently requested by the Local Authority during pre-proceedings. However, these assessments are not the same and there are key differences that distinguish
When writing a Will, the term ‘my child’ or ‘my children’ does not automatically include step-children, it only includes biological children and formally adopted children of the person making the Will. If you wish to include step-children,
On 20th September 2024, the Home Office announced new measures aimed at improving their response to domestic violence within the Police. These measures form part of Raneem’s Law, a legislation announced in response to the failures leading
Where there is no evidence that a vehicle has been driven by a defendant whilst over the prescribed limit, a charge of drunk in charge of a vehicle may be brought. In order to be guilty of
I am being asked to provide friends / family members to put forward for an Initial Viability Assessment, what does this mean If you are contacted by Social Services and told they are initiating Pre-Proceedings or Care
Avoiding penalty points on your driving record can be tempting, but providing incorrect driver details is not only illegal but falls under the serious criminal offence of perverting the course of justice (PCJ). While dodging a minor
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 driving without due care and attention? The offence of driving without due care and attention (careless driving) is committed when your driving falls below the minimum standard expected of a competent and careful driver or driving
Threshold is an important document in Care Proceedings which sets out a list of concerns and is different for each case. This document is designed to prove to the Court that a child is suffering or is
What is a Business Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)? A Business LPA is a legal document that allows you to authorise a chosen individual (an Attorney) to make decisions concerning your business interests if you are unavailable
In recent years, the Family Court has placed further emphasis on the consideration of post-adoption contact. This is where children who have been removed from their parents’ care and have been adopted by a new family will
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
The legal troubles between influencer Lauryn Goodman and professional footballer Kyle Walker have been much reported in the media. This dispute involved an area of family law that we deal with at Johnson Astills commonly referred to
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
Where do I stand with parental responsibility? When entering the care proceedings process father’s that are not registered on their child’s birth certificate or have not acquired parental responsibility via other means for example a parental responsibility
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
The financial remedy process that accompanies divorce proceedings can be very expensive, especially as each party will often have their own legal costs to pay. These fees can prove difficult to meet for those who earn significantly
Mental Capacity is the ability to make and communicate a particular decision. You must understand the decision you need to make, why you need to make it and the likely outcome of the decision. At any time
When a Court removes a child from their parents’ care and places a child into Local Authority Foster Care, very often parents are worried about how they will see and spend time with their child. At Johnson
For years, many calls have been made for the English Government to reform the law regarding smacking and hitting children. In England and Northen Ireland, any use of physical chastisement is illegal unless it amounts to a
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
Property Information Forms (TA6) form part of the draft contract pack that is sent to the buyer’s solicitors on the sale of the property. The seller is required to complete the form and all replies given must
It is well known that it is against the law to be in possession of a bladed article in public. However, it is a common misconception that you can own an offensive weapon, as long as you
On the 29th April 2024, the Family Procedure Rules were updated and a new term introduced – “Non-Court Dispute Resolution”, or NCDR. The update puts great importance on MIAMs and NCDR, but what does this mean for
A safety plan is a document which is personalised for each family. The main goal of a safety plan is to safeguard children from any current or future risk of harm. Usually, Social Services will state what
What is a Certificate Provider? A Certificate Provider is a person the Donor chooses to complete the Certificate in a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) form. You can read more about the different types of Lasting Power
In the last 12 months, it is estimated that more than 800,000 children in England and Wales have lived or continue to live in an abusive home.[1] Domestic abuse and violence remains a major concern for many
The role of an independent advocate is to support and assist a person to communicate their views, wishes and feelings. This may be encouraging them to voice their opinions or assisting their involvement in the court process.
What is the offence of Intentional Strangulation? An offence of intentional strangulation is defined as when: A intentionally strangles another person (“B”), or A does any other act to B that – affects B’s ability to breathe,
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
Four years after the domestic abuse bill was first promised in the late Queen’s speech in 2017, it finally became law on the 30th April 2021. The act further improves the effectiveness of the Justice system, providing
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
Often, court proceedings can be very costly and time-consuming, including solicitor fees, court fees and the hassle of navigating the court system. This can leave parties stressed and financially worse off. To try and minimise the court’s
If you have reached an impasse in respect of a family law dispute, it may be tempting to make an application to the court to resolve the matter. However, there are other forms of dispute resolution which
A Looked After Child Review can also be known as a LAC Review or a Statutory Review or a Review of Arrangements. This meeting includes all the people who are involved within the child’s life and discusses
A Letter of Wishes is a document that can be used to guide your Executors and Trustees when managing your estate after your death. A Letters of Wishes is generally used in two circumstances: Alongside your Will
Parental responsibility is the rights and responsibilities a parent has over their child. It simply encompasses completing the role of a parent that one would expect a parent to do. Parental responsibility is the legal term given
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
The guideline to whether children should give evidence in care proceedings is set out in the case of Re W (2010) which is now the leading authority on this issue. The considerations that are outlined in Re
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
Johnson Astills proudly supporting National Conveyancing Week for the second year running! Here at Johnson Astills, we are proud to be associated with the initiative that aims to improve the experience of home movers and professionals involved
Depending on what stage your case is at, the Local Authority could propose to undertake a number of different types of assessments when Social Services become involved with your family. What is a Section 47? Every child
When the Local Authority issue Care Proceedings to seek Public Law Orders regarding children, the subject children will be allocated a Children’s Guardian to represent their views, wishes and best interests throughout the proceedings. The Guardian is
CONVEYANCING: WHAT IS IT? Conveyancing is used to describe all the legal and administrative procedures involved in changing the ownership of land or buildings from one individual to another. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONVEYANCING Conveyancing is an essential
