Surveys consistently show that only four out of ten people in the UK have made a will, despite the problems and heartache that could cause for their loved ones. Even the Covid pandemic didn’t inspire people to put their affairs in order. There was barely a 1% increase in the number of wills drawn up.
A cross-party group of MPs has warned that cohabiting couples may have to wait for several years before legal reforms are implemented to better protect their rights. The MPs have urged the government to reconsider its timetable and speed things up. Unlike married couples, cohabitants have very few legal protections if their relationship breaks down.
UK house prices have risen slightly on a monthly basis, but the overall trend is still downwards, according to the latest figures from the Land Registry. The annual percentage change for average UK house prices was 3.5% in the 12 months to April 2023, compared with 4.1% in the 12 months to March 2023. The
What is the legal position regarding who can take a child abroad? Helpful tips to make the process as stress-free as possible: Please contact us if you would like more information about the issues raised in this article or any aspect of divorce and family law.
No one can predict what the future has in store so planning for unforeseen circumstances is an important aspect of personal and financial management. Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) can be a major part of securing your future and creating that all important peace of mind. Here are some of the key points you may
A new course and set of resources to help separating couples prioritise their children’s needs has been launched by Cafcass on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. Cafcass is the organisation that protects the rights of children in family disputes and court proceedings. It says that when couples separate, the risk of a deterioration in
The backlog for processing Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs) applications is beginning to ease, according to figures provided by a government minister. There have been concerns that processing by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has been taking too long, preventing families from being able to act on behalf of a vulnerable relative. A
Two leading experts in dementia research have been appointed to spearhead the national mission to tackle dementia, which was launched in memory of the late Dame Barbara Windsor. Hilary Evans is the Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the largest charitable funder of dementia research in Europe. Nadeem Sarwar is currently a senior leader at
Separating couples will be obliged to try mediation before being allowed to go to court to settle disputes over financial and child custody arrangements. The government announcement is part of a major shake-up of the family justice system. The proposals will see mediation become mandatory in all suitable low-level family court cases excluding those that
Hundreds of thousands of people register Lasting Powers of Attorney each year and it isn’t hard to see why. Life expectancy has increased dramatically over the last 50 years meaning most of us can expect to live into our eighties and beyond. While that is undoubtedly good news, it does raise issues about how we