Personal Law

RESIDENTIAL property sales are on the move again across Cumbria and Northumberland, prompting conveyancing services to bounce back. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors conveyancing department reports that activity has returned much quicker than many expected. “While it was quiet during the initial stages of lockdown, now that estate agents are open again activities have picked up significantly” said Elizabeth Crouch Head of Residential Property at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors. Several estate agents are…

Sam Bulman Conveyancer in our Residential Property team provides some useful advice for Help to Buy customers. Homes England has issued advice for Help to Buy: Equity Loan customers on how they can proceed with purchasing a home during the Covid-19 outbreak. It says that many people are worried because the situation seems so uncertain. In response, it has published a document containing the answers to some frequently asked questions.…

Amy Fallows Associate Solicitor in our Family Law team provides some helpful advice. The lockdown has challenged many parents.  Home schooling and home working are difficult to combine successfully.  Not least for separating parents who are already balancing childcare between two homes. The government made it clear:  Children can pass between parents despite the current restrictions.  It is equally clear that younger children are least vulnerable to Covid-19.  However, it…

Amy Fallows Associate Solicitor in our Family Law Department provides some helpful advice. The coronavirus has significantly affected the court system but it hasn’t closed it completely. Court staff have been working round the clock to maintain access to justice. This means that it is still possible to make a court application in the family court and many court hearings are still going ahead. The use of technology Court applications…

Today saw the launch of the UK HMRC Furlough scheme. Lake District Radio had a Q&A session live on the radio with Joanne Stronach who joined by telephone. The show was broadcast on Lake District Radio on the 20th April 2020 and is available below.

A DEPUTY District Judge who specialises in family law has landed a top job with a leading legal firm. Amy Fallows has joined Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors as an associate solicitor specialising in family law. Amy, 44, a part-time Deputy District Juge in the county court and family court in Manchester, Liverpool and across the North-West, is well known for her family law expertise. She advises on all aspects of family…

Amy Fallows Associate Solicitor in our family law team provides some advice to those who find themselves in this situation. Recent statistics show that reports of domestic violence and killings have doubled since the COVID-19 lockdown, this is the highest it has been in the last 11 years and is of great concern. Even for healthy relationships, the lockdown poses a challenge. For those relationships that are already toxic, or…

COVID19 has seen an upsurge in people making wills, wanting to make sure their wishes are down on paper for their family and friends. With people wanting to put their affairs in order quickly, expert solicitors have adapted the way they work, so they can comply with COVID-19 social distancing regulations and yet still provide a full professional and personal service which gives customers peace of mind. Zoe Calway Director…

Taylor Chanter Solicitor in our Family team sets out some points to consider when moving in together. Covid-19 has presented a lot of those partners in a non-cohabiting relationship with a big decision to make in respect of whether or not they should move in together.  With the current lockdown measures that are in place and the corresponding rules around social distancing, a lot of couples faced the prospect of…

Jonathan Carroll, Director and Head of Property & Agriculture helpfully explains the potential effects of #COVID19 on property transactions. For those buying or selling property, or who are already committed to a move, the COVID19 pandemic has brought some challenges.  Fortunately, with good legal advice and a bit of common sense from the parties most of those challenges can be managed. “It’s important to stress that you need to follow…