New Bill to protect homeowners and end ‘feudal system of leasehold’
July 31st 2024The UK government has announced a transformative new bill aimed at abolishing the ‘feudal system of leasehold’ and offering homeowners enhanced protection and a fairer deal. Elizabeth Crouch Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of Residential Property provides an update. Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill Unveiled As revealed in the King’s Speech, these significant changes will be introduced through the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill. The government’s guidance notes outline several key…
Father who showed no interest in his child loses parental responsibility
July 4th 2024A father with serious criminal convictions who showed no interest in his daughter has lost parental responsibility for her. Sarah Tweedie, Associate Solicitor in our Family Law team, reports on this recent case. The father had parental responsibility for the two-year-old girl, referred to as A because he was her biological father and was named as such on the birth certificate. The issue arose when the girl’s mother applied to…
Tenants to get new rights to help them hold landlords to account
June 25th 2024Social housing tenants are to get new rights to help them hold their landlords to account and drive up the quality and safety of their homes. Laura Murphy, Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. The government has begun a consultation on new rules that will allow social housing tenants or a representative, such as a lawyer, to request information for free about the management of their homes.…
No-fault divorce hailed a success after two years in practice
May 30th 2024No-fault divorce has been hailed as a welcome success, two years after it was introduced in 2022. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our Family Law team reports. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 was designed to reduce the potential for conflict among divorcing couples by removing the ability to make allegations about the conduct of a spouse and allowing couples to end their marriage jointly. Under previous law, one…
Legal dispute specialists shortlisted in prestigious regional awards
May 28th 2024The Dispute Resolution team at a Cumbrian legal firm has been named as a finalist in the Northern Law Awards. The team from Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has been shortlisted in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution category of the prestigious regional awards. It is the only entry with its head office in Cumbria to make the final. The specialist legal team supports clients across Cartmell Shepherd’s offices in Cumbria and Northumberland,…
Family disputes over Wills and probate continue to rise
May 20th 2024The number of family disputes over Wills and probate rose by just over 5% in 2023, according to the latest family court statistics. Selina Gonzalez Associate Solicitor in our dispute resolution team reports. There are several reasons why this might happen. The increase in the number of second and even third marriages make life more complicated these days. People making a Will may have to weigh up the conflicting interests of their children…
Government decides against increasing divorce fee by 10%
May 13th 2024The Government has decided against increasing divorce fees by 10% as initially proposed. Sarah Hinett, Paralegal in our Family Law Team provides an update. The decision comes after a public consultation in which concerns were expressed that higher fees could lead to some couples being trapped in an unhappy or abusive marriage. Divorce application fees will now remain at £593. In its response to the consultation, the Ministry of Justice said: “Consultation…
High Court upholds decision not to impose deposit penalty on landlord
May 7th 2024The High Court has upheld a judge’s decision not to impose penalties on a landlord after a tenant complained that he had not been provided with information about his tenancy deposit as required under the Housing Act. Laura Murphy, Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution team reports on this recent case. The case involved Mr Lowe and the Governors of Sutton’s Hospital in Charterhouse. The issue involved confusion over clauses in…
Summer holiday myths: advice for ex-partners travelling with children
May 1st 2024Summer is coming and families are starting to get excited about trips to warmer climes. Sadly, the summer months are often a time when hostilities between ex-partners peak and we get an increase in enquiries from parents who are unaware of what they can and cannot do when wanting to book time away with their kids. There are plenty of misconceptions around holidays, so let’s bust some myths around taking…
Rate for unfair dismissal and redundancy pay awards rise by nearly 9%
April 22nd 2024The maximum limit for unfair dismissal awards and statutory redundancy pay has risen by nearly 9%. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment provides an update. The increase takes into account the high rate of inflation over the last year. The new rate is effective from 6 April. The statutory cap for a week’s pay when assessing compensation for unfair dismissal is now £700, up from £643 during the previous 12 months.…
