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Can I Smack my Child?

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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

LGBTQ+ Families – who has parental responsibility?

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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

What is a Safety Plan?

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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

Where can I seek support for domestic abuse?

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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

Can I discharge a Care Order?

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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

Delays in a Property Transaction

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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

What is Civil Mediation, and how can it help me?

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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

What is Arbitration?

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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

What is a Looked After Child Review?

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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

What is Parental Responsibility?

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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

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

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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

International Women’s Day 2024

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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

‘Raneem’s Law’

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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

National Conveyancing Week 2024

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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

What is a Children’s Guardian?

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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…hmm what in fact is it?

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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

What is new to Family Law in 2024?

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As the new year has begun, here is what you can expect to see in the year of 2024. Media in the Family Court (The Transparency Pilot): For decades there have been calls for more transparency in

What is a Legacy Contact?

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A Legacy Contact is a person you can choose to access your accounts (e.g. Apple, Instagram or Facebook) after your death. This gives the nominated person access to certain elements of your account and allows them to

Top 4 New Year Resolutions for Lawyers

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1. Network The legal industry is huge and these days there are so many different kinds of events that provide the opportunity to network with different individuals, both online and in person. You can learn so many

Divorce Day 2024

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Family Law Practitioners receive a higher volume of calls in and around the first working days of the New Year from people deciding to take steps to end their marriage and issue a divorce application. This has

Drink Driving: Keep safe this Christmas

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It’s that time of year, the Christmas party season is underway which coincides with the national Christmas drink drive campaign. That means there will be more stops and more prosecutions due to an increase in police patrols

What does an Interim Care Order mean?

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When the Local Authority considers that a child is at risk of significant harm, they can apply for a Care Order or an Interim Care Order. This would only be granted if the Court finds reasonable grounds

What is a Grant of Representation?

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When someone dies, in order to access assets held with financial institutions, sell assets, and even pay any debts that the deceased held on their death, a legal document known as a Grant of Representation is required.

What is a Communicourt Intermediary?

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Communicourt is an intermediary service mostly funded by HMCTS, with no charges or payments required by parents or legal professionals. In the context of Care Proceedings, their aim is to assist a parent who has a communication

How Much Is My Public Sector Pension Worth?

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For many people, a large part of the Divorce process will revolve around how their financial assets will be divided. However, for those who work in the public sector, the value of their pensions has been unusually

What is a Child Assessment Order?

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If the Local Authority are concerned about a child’s health, development or the way that they are being treated, but do not feel that there is an immediate risk to them, they may request that various assessments

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‘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.’