Spousal Maintenance Rules
When a married couple or civil partners separate, it is not uncommon for the financially weaker spouse or partner to seek regular payments from their ex to help with living costs. The following comprehensive guide to spousal maintenance for separating couples looks at the key aspects of this form of financial arrangement, from what this […]
Prohibited Steps Order Guide
If you have serious concerns about decisions being made in relation to your child’s upbringing, you may be able to apply for a Prohibited Steps Order (PSO). What is a Prohibited Steps Order? A Prohibited Steps Order is used to prevent someone from exercising their parental responsibility and taking specific action regarding a child. Under […]
Types of Trust: Guide for Families
Trusts offer a way to protect and manage your assets both during your lifetime and after your death. Assets that can be put into trust include money, shares and investments, and property. But with so many different types of trust, how do you know which is best for your needs? What is a trust? Although […]
Common Law Partner Rights
‘Common law’ partners usually refers to couples who live together and are in a long-term relationship. In the UK, the concept of the “common law partner” is a myth in legal terms. An unmarried, cohabiting couple do not share the same legal status as a married couple or a couple in a civil partnership. This […]
Child Custody Rights & Making Child Arrangements
In this guide for parents, we explain the law on child custody and how to deal with child arrangements and residency issues. We also answer frequently asked questions to help you understand your child custody rights. What is child custody? Child custody, or residency, is dealt with by the family courts under child arrangements orders. […]
Right to Work Documents List
Every worker in the UK has to provide proof to their employer that they have the right to work. This requirement applies regardless of the worker’s nationality, residency status, age or race. UK employers are required by law to carry out right to work document checks prior to any candidate starting employment. To carry out […]
Codicil: Changing Your Will
If you decide to make small changes to your existing will, adding a codicil to your will may prove to be a cheaper and more straightforward option than having a completely new will drawn up. What is a codicil? A codicil is a legal document which states any changes you wish to make […]
The Legal Market Place
The UK’s legal market place can be complex to navigate. Different advisers offer different services at different prices. While greater choice can be a good thing, it can also make it difficult for buyers of legal services to know what kind of help they need, to compare advisers and prices and to decide who to choose. […]
Form D81 & Consent Orders
Form D81 is used to provide information about divorcing parties’ financial situation in support of an application for a consent order. If you and your former spouse are able to agree on how to split your money and assets on divorce or civil partnership dissolution, you can avoid a contested hearing and the acrimony and […]
Government Doubles Mediation Scheme for Separating Families
An additional £5.4 million in funding is being made available to separating families under the Government’s mediation voucher scheme. Under the scheme, divorcing couples receive £500 of vouchers to access mediation services to assist in resolving legal issues outside of court, such as child contact arrangements. The funding announced on 3 June 2022 more than […]
What is a Decree Absolute & Do You Need One?
Getting divorced can be a stressful time for separated spouses, not least because the legal process for filing for divorce can often be acrimonious, typically requiring one party to attribute some form of blame against the other to establish grounds for divorce. However, with the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (DDSA) 2020 is coming into […]
What is Family Law?
Family law is an area of law that relates to family matters and involves a host of authorities, agencies and groups which participate in or influence the outcome of private disputes or social decisions involving family law. Such a view of family law may be regarded as assisting the understanding of the context in which […]
Asset Protection (A Useful Guide!)
Asset protection is essentially about planning now to protect for later. Without planning, your assets are likely to be at risk of exposure to a number of financial predators. This could be as a result of commercial creditors, bankruptcy, divorce or the tax man. So while the value of your assets will always be subject […]
Family Trusts Explained
The family trust can be an effective way of making financial provision for your loved ones, both during your lifetime and after you die. This type of trust can be used for all sorts of different reasons, from helping to fund a child’s education to mitigating the cost of care home fees or inheritance tax. […]
Family Trust Disadvantages
The family trust, when used for the right reasons at the right time, can be an effective way of preserving and protecting personal assets for the benefit of loved ones, both during your lifetime and after you die. That said, as with any type of trust, there can also be a number of drawbacks to […]
Using Bare Trusts for Grandchildren
Trusts are not simply the preserve of the wealthy, but are also commonly used by families of relatively modest means looking to make provision for their loved ones, either now or in the future. In particular, the trust can be a useful mechanism for a grandparent to invest money on behalf of their grandchildren, typically […]
New Stamp Duty Land Tax Rules in Force
The time period in which to submit Stamp Duty Land Tax returns and pay the tax due on commercial and residential property transactions in England has been shortened to 14 days, under new rules that take effect today. SDLT is a self-assessed tax and liability lies with the property buyer, as such, the change in […]
Cohabitants Warned Not to Fall Foul of Common Law Marriage Myth
A recent survey has revealed common law marriage remains a commonly held myth. 46% of the public believe that cohabiting couples form a common law marriage, according to the British Social Attitudes Survey 2019, conducted by The National Centre for Social Research. This figure increases to 55% among those with children, whereas 41% of households […]
What is the Difference Between a Lawyer and Solicitor?
What is the difference between a lawyer and solicitor? ‘Lawyer’ is generally understood to be an umbrella term for a qualified legal practitioner, and can include both a solicitor and a barrister. A solicitor is qualified to provide legal advice and representation directly to members of the public. Below we look at the different roles […]
Grounds for Civil Partnership Dissolution
To apply for a civil partnership dissolution, you must provide the court with relevant legal grounds for the partnership to be brought to an end. Grounds for civil partnership dissolution In England and Wales, as with divorce, there is no system of no-fault dissolution. You cannot simply state that you have fallen out of love […]