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If you are a Landlord renting a residential property under an assured shorthold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007, you are required to put the Tenant’s deposit in a government backed tenancy deposit scheme. The deposit must be placed into a...

At Emery Johnson Astills , our Wills and Probate Department can take the stress away and can assist with drafting and registering your LPAs. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets the donor (you) appoint one or more people known...

Background of the Special Guardianship Order (SGO): The purpose of an SGO is to give one or more individuals parental responsibility (PR) and to exercise this ‘to the exclusion of all others’.  A Special Guardian can exercise their PR...

For the Local Authority to become involved with your family a referral has to be made. A referral can be made from a variety of agencies such as education, health and the police. The first formal stage when legal advice should be obtained is when a Child...

The Official Solicitor’s full job title is the Official Solicitor to Senior Courts. If someone lacks capacity within the meaning of Mental Capacity Act 2005 to conduct proceedings that person will require a litigation friend in those proceedings. ...

What are “reporting resticitions” In certain cases the court issues “reporting restrictions” preventing anything being published that would lead to the identification of a witness in the case. This could mean that you can’t...

Why do I need to provide so many ID documents to my Solicitor in a Conveyancing transaction?   The risk of fraud in the legal market has significantly increased and become an attractive target for fraudsters, particularly in conveyancing. The...

There is a common perception that when a couple get divorced, their finances are automatically settled. Unfortunately this is not the case as finances are considered as a completely separate entity to the divorce. This means that if you have started divorce...

The Children Act 1989 was granted Royal Assent on 16 th November 1989 and came into force on 14 th October 1991. It made radical changes to the law relating to children and their families both in relation to private and public law.  The Act made...

The Threshold Criteria are the facts that the Local Authority must prove if they want the Court to make a Care or Supervision Order. The Threshold Criteria is found under Section 31 of the Children Act 1989. In order to justify making a care or supervision...

By Jessica Huczmann, Solicitor in our Wills and Probate Team Reading time: approximately 4 minutes   What is IHT? IHT is the abbreviated term used for Inheritance Tax. This is a tax on the estate of someone who has died. There is usually no tax...

When the Local Authority has concerns about the welfare of a child in a person’s care, they may complete various assessments to establish what support the family may need. Early Help and Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) are both forms of intensive...

Under the power of Wardship, the High Court can become a legal guardian for a child. This is only used when it has become necessary to protect and safeguard a child’s welfare. What is Wardship? Wardship is the name that is given to Court...

We have been following the case of Oritse Williams from chart topping boyband JLS closely after he was charged with rape 3 years ago, today he was found not guilty by a jury after just two hours. Whilst he has now been declared a free man by the criminal...

Dozens of parents have told the BBC Victoria Derbyshire programme their abusive ex-partners were granted unsupervised contact with their child. When parents separate and they are unable to agree arrangements for their children, they may find themselves...

For some people Court is a very stressful and daunting place, particularly if they are vulnerable in terms of mental health issues or learning disabilities. What is an intermediary? An intermediary works within the Justice system with vulnerable victims,...

Equity release is a way to access the cash tied up in your property if you are over the age of 55. You can take the money you release in several smaller amounts or as a lump sum and you do not need to have a fully paid off mortgage to do this. Two Equity...

Mental health is not talked about enough. Statistics show that mental health issues are much more common that you would think. 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year 1 in 6 people experience a mental health problem each week ...

It has been illegal to use mobile phones whilst driving since 2003.  However despite many high-profile campaigns, including adverts on the radio and TV, motorists still continue to text and call whilst driving causing accidents, which in some incidents...

In 2013, the Government created the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme to assist first time buyers and homeowners buy a property. Under the scheme, the Government lends up to 20% of the cost of your newly built home, so you’ll only need a 5% cash deposit...

If you and your children are going through Care Proceedings and it has been agreed that a Sibling Attachment Assessment is required, here’s what to expect… Sibling relationships are emotionally powerful and critically important not only in...

A Section 7 report is a report written by a CAFCASS worker or a social worker from the Local Authority in cases where an application has been made to the Court under Section 8 of The Children Act 1989. A Section 7 report may be required in private...

Isabel Wilson, a Partner and highly experienced Solicitor-Advocate in the criminal team at Emery Johnson Astills, has been awarded Senior Solicitor of the Year by the Leicestershire Law Society. The awards which took place at Athena on Friday 26 th ...

All too often, particularly if it occurs over a long period of time, victims of domestic abuse seek advice from us, not really realising the extent of the abuse.  They become desensitised. Many of our clients, on speaking with us, tell us things like...

One of the first images that pops into a person’s mind when they hear that someone has social services involvement with their children is that of children who are severely neglected. The NSPCC website defines neglect as the “ongoing failure to...

Rape victims are among those who will be asked to hand their smart phones over to the police or risk the prosecution against the suspect being dropped. Why have rape cases been collapsing? This new measure follows the collapse of several rape and...

It is easy to get caught up in the bank holiday spirit, but, did you know that you may possibly still be over the drink drive limit the following day? Offences we deal with include being in charge of a vehicle while above the legal limit or unfit through...

Arbitration is an alternative form of dispute resolution where parties are encouraged to work together to reach a reasonable outcome for all parties involved, without going to Court. A qualified arbitrator is agreed upon by parties to adjudicate the dispute,...

In order to obtain a Grant of Representation from the Probate Registry (which includes a Grant of Probate), an application fee must be paid. The application fee is currently a flat fee of £155 if a Solicitor makes the application or £215 if the...

‘Upskirting’ is the term used when referring to the action of a camera or mobile phone being placed beneath a persons skirt to take a ‘voyeuristic’ photograph without their permission. Today, a new law has come into effect making...

Forces are rolling out technology that show when motorists are using their phones. A sign will flash at the driver telling them to stop using their mobile - but the detectors cannot tell if it is a passenger or driver using the phone. The technology will ...

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there are several family law agreements that will be effected and potentially no longer apply to the UK. This will mainly affect the principles surrounding the country that family law disputes are heard in and how the...

Whilst on a basic human level, naming the co-respondent seems logical, maybe even obvious and necessary; as specialist family solicitors we advise our clients not to include this information in a divorce petition. But Why? To begin with,  there is...

If you are suspected of driving with excess alcohol in your body, you may be asked to provide a breath sample at the roadside. You will be arrested and take to the police station if that sample is positive. Why do I have to do provide a further sample at...

A Financial Dispute Resolution, also known as a FDR is a court hearing in relation to financial proceedings. Attendance at a Court FDR is compulsory. The hearing is listed for parties in financial matters to obtain advice from a Judge regarding the likely...

In the last year, in England and Wales, some 118,000 people commenced divorce proceedings. Currently divorce laws mean spouses have to provide evidence for a divorce if one partner does not agree to it. Under current laws, unless someone can prove there was...

Our Care team at Emery Johnson Astills can assist on a range of Child Law related matters. Whether that is representation at case conferences and/or at Court. We have specialist solicitors who can assist you. In relation to the question posted, the law on...

Are you at risk from being disqualified from driving? Can you argue Exceptional Hardship?   View our video presented by Michelle Harding, Partner and Solicitor Advocate in our Criminal department .   For advice and assistance please contact...

In 2019, the press published the shocking story of a mother who became the first person to be convicted of performing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in England and Wales. The mother was sentenced to 11 years in prison. FGM is illegal in the UK. The World...

In order to enhance police powers the Government is seeking an amendment to the Offensive Weapons Bill to introduce Knife Crime Prevention Orders. What is a Knife Crime Prevention Order? It is proposed that anyone aged 12 or over can be made subject to...

Couples who live together without marrying do not have any legal rights if they separate.  Without the benefit of an agreement, one of them could be left with nothing on separation. The fastest growing type of family in the U.K. is that of the ...

Is it important to have a solicitor when starting divorce proceedings? If the unimaginable happens and a married couple decide to go their separate ways, they are left with the decision of whether or not to instruct solicitors to assist in petitioning...

What is an EPC and do I need one? An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information on the efficiency of a property. It also lists recommendations and suggestions on how to improve the efficiency of a property and to make it as efficient as...

MST stands for Multisystemic Therapy. Multisystemic Therapy is an intensive family and community based intervention for children and young people aged 11-17. MST work with the families of young people who are at risk of being placed into care or custody. ...

Many parents who are involved in Care Proceedings before the Family Court may feel immense pressure in trying to abstain from drugs or alcohol and proving this within the restrictive time limit of the 26 week timetable of the proceedings. Parents may feel...

When Sally Challen was convicted of murdering her husband in 2011, the courts did not recognise ‘coercive control’ and the impact it could have an individual’s mental health and state of mind. Four years later when physiological...

Research the Area  Before you decide on a property, research the area. One of the best ways to get a feel for the area is to spend some time there. Although you will likely visit when viewing the property, schedule in some time to explore the area....

A recent study undertaken by Lancaster University for the Centre for Child & Family Justice Research looked at the contribution of supervision orders and special guardianship to children’s lives and family justice. The number of...

You may be able to apply for a Child Arrangements Order . These are Court Orders that confirm whom a child is to live with and/or spend time with (often referred to as “contact”). Who can apply for a child arrangements order? A parent,...

What were my options? When choosing my options to further my career, I knew going to University was not the right path for me. I wanted to look at all of my options to see what other routes were available to me. Law and society has always appealed to me,...