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
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
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,
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 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
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
When a loved one dies, it is often difficult to find information relating to their estate, any assets they may have held, and whether they prepared a Will during their lifetime. Our expert solicitors at Johnson Astills
Understanding the Public Law Outline. When a Local Authority (council) becomes worried about a child’s safety or wellbeing, it can step in. In England and Wales, the rules for how this happens are mainly set out in
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)
In a bid to tackle reducing fatalities and serious injuries caused by driving offences, the Government proposes to reduce the legal limit for drink driving. This change would be the first in nearly 60 years, with drivers
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
Divorce Day is upon us once again. This is the day when family law teams around the UK receive their highest amount of calls, and usually falls on the first working Monday of each year. For 2026,
When social services have serious concerns about a child’s safety or a parent’s ability to meet their needs, the Court may consider a residential parenting assessment. This involves the parent and their baby or young child staying
From 17th November 2025, the fees for obtaining copies of Grants of Representation which are; a Grant of Probate, Grant of Letters of Administration with Will Annexed or Letters of Administration has increased from £1.50 per copy
The detail of a section 47 investigation is set out in s.47 Children Act 1989. It applies when the Local Authority/Children’s Social Services have received a referral which has been made to them by any person who
The Ministry of Justice could come under pressure to fund and accelerate the expansion of ‘Pathfinder Courts’, following an independent review of the murder of 10 year old Sara Sharif, published by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review,
Using a mobile phone or any handheld device while driving is one of the most common road traffic offences prosecuted in the UK today. What may seem like a quick glance at a message or a brief
The Government has faced increasing pressure to confirm its plans for reform of its cohabitation law, to strengthen the rights and protections offered to those in cohabiting relationships. More people are living together without marrying. There are
When a Local Authority issues Care Proceedings, the Court must ensure that all parties can participate effectively in the process. One crucial consideration is whether a parent has the mental capacity to understand, engage with and instruct
The week commencing the 10th November 2025 has been designated Good Divorce Week by Resolution, an organisation comprising family lawyers committed to resolving family law matters as amicably as possible. Whilst not all of our Family Solicitors
When people make a Will, they do this to ensure that their estate passes to their chosen beneficiaries. Something that is often not considered is what would happen to a person’s estate if all of their nominated
A person who lacks litigation capacity will be allocated a case worker on behalf of the Official Solicitor to act as their Litigation Friend in Court Proceedings. The Official Solicitor acts as a last resort representative for
Halloween often sees the rise in anti-social behaviour crimes, with people out ‘trick or treating’. But this year Halloween falls on Friday 31st October 2025, with the spooky occasion falling on a Friday, police are expecting a
Domestic abuse can have a significant impact on every part of family life, including when Children’s Services become involved. Many parents worry that asking for help will mean that their children are taken away, but in most
When a property is owned by two or more people, it can be owned in two different ways – joint tenants or tenants in common. The way in which you own your property can determine how it
