Under the current divorce laws, couples wishing to start divorce proceedings with two years of separation have to rely on what are known as ‘fault-based’ facts, i.e. adultery or unreasonable behaviour.  This can cause unnecessary animosity and upset for couples that have simply grown apart and no longer love each other.

A bill removing fault from the divorce process has now been passed through Parliament which is a significant step after years of campaigning.

Buying your first home can be exciting but also daunting, especially if you are unsure of the processes or what you need to arrange. In this blog, we are going to cover the crucial factors that first-time buyers need to consider when looking to buy their first home. Following this advice will help make the situation seem less overwhelming and daunting.

Whilst issuing divorce proceedings online may appear to be considered a cheaper option, by not seeking advice from a solicitor you may unknowingly be putting your long term financial position at risk.

Many people write their will and then forget about it, they don’t update it after major life or financial changes. Having an inaccurate will, or a will that is not up to date, could cause issues for your loved ones. But how often should you update my will? Even if you have had any major life changes, it is recommended that you review or update your will at least every five years.

Going through the process of a divorce or separation is often a difficult time, especially if children are affected. Making arrangements for a child to spend time with their non-resident parent can be challenging and, in some cases, a supervised contact order may be issued by the family courts.

The purpose of supervised contact is to protect the child’s wellbeing, in terms of their physical and emotional safety. If a court deems that supervised contact is necessary, the court will define the contact arrangements.

At Hill and Company, we specialise in putting Deputyship Orders in place. These are complex legal documents that need careful explanation. We have put together this guide to help you understand the purpose of a Deputyship.

Civil partnerships were originally introduced in 2004 as a way for same-sex couples to join in a union like marriage.
Originally only same-sex couples were able to enter into a civil partnership and heterosexual couples could get married. This changed in 2014 when the legislation came into force which allowed same-sex couples to get married rather than getting a civil partnership.

However, heterosexual couples were not able to get a civil partnership until 2018, when the supreme court ruled that civil partnerships should be available for both heterosexual and same-sex couples after petitioning.

According to research¹, a quarter of house sales fell through in 2019, showing just how common this problem is for sellers.

The top reason that sales fell through was due to the buyer changing their mind, which can be down to a number of factors such as their own house sale falling through.

After separation, organising child contact for the parent who has left the family home is important for both the child and parents. Parental separation can be upsetting and confusing for children so ensuring that they are still able to have a relationship with each parent will help with processing the separation.

Organising contact can be difficult, especially if the separation has not been amicable. To help, we have compiled some FAQs to give you a better understanding of child contact.

Having a Lasting Power or Attorney,(LPA), and a will written is vitally important no matter what age you are.

Whilst making plans for if you become incapable of making decisions or passing away is not a pleasant thought, ensuring these plans are in place will help protect you and most importantly, it will help protect your family. Without having a will or an LPA in place, your family will have to go through many lengthy government processes in order to carry out your wishes, which sometimes costs thousands. In order to save your family from going through this process, you will need to appoint an LPA and set up a will whilst you are declared to have sound body and mind. 

Buying a house for the first time has a number of different costs but if you are moving house, i.e. selling one property and buying another one, there are even more factors to consider. Research shared by Barclays¹ shows that the average cost of moving.

If you are looking to move to a bigger property or a different area then the only solution is to move home, so here is a breakdown of the costs involved to help you plan for a house move.

It was really shocking to read in the newspapers recently about a lady that had fallen at home and had been lying on the floor for almost a week unable to call for help and surviving only on “warmth from the cooker” and “drips from the fridge”. In today’s hectic modern society it is often difficult to look out for our family, friends and neighbours.

A Lasting Power of Attorney, (LPA), is a legal document with which you can nominate somebody to look after your finances and welfare should you ever lose mental capacity following an accident or as a result of a debilitating illness such as dementia.

Here are 5 things that you should know about the Lasting Powers of Attorney, (LPAs).

When you are going through a legal process, whether that is buying a house, writing a will or even working through a divorce, legal advice will help you to understand the process better and do everything necessary according to the law. Seeking legal advice can also help you to resolve complicated scenarios, finding the best solutions for families or drawing up legal agreements related to large investments such as properties.