Legal News

Our Family Department have outlined some useful information with regards to financial and children matters following the The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 that came into force on 6th April 2022.

On 6th April 2022, divorce proceedings based on ‘no-fault’ will come into force. The introduction of the no-fault divorce represents a major change to the current divorce law.

You may have made a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney. These are separate documents, but we are often asked if there is any relationship between the two documents and the differences between Attorneys and Executors.

An update on the mortgage guarantee scheme.

I've been with my partner for several years, we have a house and children together.......am a common law spouse.........aren't I?

An update on family mediation in the current climate.

Gardner Croft Partner and Property Services expert, Tim Townsend, explains what the extension to the stamp duty holiday means for you.

Joanna Illingworth, Gardner Croft Partner and Head of our Family Department, outlines some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding arrangements for children following a separation.

Richard Giles, a Partner at Gardner Croft, explains the difference between "without prejudice" and "protected" conversations.

Richard Giles, a Partner at Gardner Croft, explains what you need to know about Employment Law Settlements.

Fariha Shams, a member of our property services team, discusses what you need to know about lease agreements.

Joanna Illingworth, the Head of our Family Law team, answers some of the most common questions about divorce and separation.

Is it ever too early to put up the Christmas Tree? Maybe. Is it ever too early to make a Will? Never.

How current events have shown us the importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Updated information on the Furlough Scheme.

The property market remains open- and our property services team are here to help you.

The Covid 19 crisis has caused much change and disruption since March 2020. However, as the current lockdown starts to ease, what does this mean for the local Family Court? Over the past four months, Family Court hearings have taken place remotely by telephone conference or video call which has worked well. In some instances, cases have had to be adjourned due to the nature of the hearing and relisted for a later date.

To help the UK economy recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a temporary reduction in Stamp Duty Land Tax rates to take effect from 8th July 2020. This reduction in SDLT rates will last until 31st of March 2021 and will be welcomed by the property market.

We tackle different Legal Myths to help you understand the facts behind the fiction, it's an often held belief that the Government will receive the deceased's estate if they don't make a Will, but is it true?

When couples decide to separate, they must face the difficult and sometimes confusing question of how to divide their personal belongings. The process of working out what belongs to you, can often lead to dispute. What happens, for example, to the painting you bought before you were married, or the television that you purchased together?

Most people with dementia will eventually reach a point where they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. So, what can be done now to prepare?

We posed 3 popular questions regarding Employment Law during Coronavirus to Richard Giles of Gardner Croft.

Following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been much concern about what happens regarding arrangements for children spending time in the households of each of their parents. This is particularly relevant following the stay-at-homes rules and advice provided by the government.

As part of its response to the current COVID-19 crisis, the Government has introduced a scheme whereby employers can place their staff on "furlough leave" and reclaim from the Government 80% of their salary.

Following government guidance recently published, a variety of measures have now been implemented to assist private and social renters affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.

Although the title to this article might raise a smile, the question of where, or rather with whom, pets will live is often a very important decision during a separation or divorce. Pets are frequently considered to be part of the family with the responsibility, both financial and practical, playing a big factor in family life. So, what will happen to pets on divorce?

Whilst a difficult and intimidating subject to consider, what will happen to our estate and belongings when we pass away are important decisions to make. Many people assume whether it's the fault of false media presentation or evolving practices that have yet to become modern common knowledge, that a person's husband or wife will automatically receive everything after their partner's death.

A Will is one of the most important documents most of us Will ever create, involving some of the most important decisions. This is because your Will is your voice when you pass away, ensuring that your assets and estate are divided precisely as you wish for them to be. To make sure your Will is kept up to date both in terms of legalities and content, it is advised that you review it every five years or after any life event that may require you to make amendments.

This is often the first, and perhaps most obvious, question for anyone who is going through or considering a separation or divorce. This leads to other important questions such as: how will property be divided and how will arrangements for children be decided.

With legal services so readily available over the internet and conveyancing factory firms tied in to several of the national and regional chains of estate agents, prospective clients of ours often ask whether they would benefit from being represented by a firm local to where they live or the property they are hoping to buy or sell.