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At Machins we have three committees that welcome and encourage involvement from all members of staff, and I am lucky enough to be a member of all three. The Social Committee is responsible for planning, organising and overseeing social events and activities throughout the year, including our annual Christmas party. We also run a number
Machins Solicitors been recommended as a Top-Tier firm in one practice area for the fifth year running and has been recommended in seven practice areas in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2024 edition. Among the areas of expertise in which the firm is regarded includes family, corporate and commercial, employment as well as commercial litigation, private
Leading law groups have warned the government against making mediation compulsory in family disputes. The Ministry of Justice has just completed a consultation on compulsory mediation for all ‘suitable low-level’ family court cases. The Law Society says it supports government efforts to secure amicable resolutions in family disputes but believes mediation should only be voluntary, not
New regulations are being introduced to impose tougher sanctions on parents who fail to pay child maintenance. The government says the Child Support (Enforcement) Act will see families paid faster as it gives the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the power to use a liability order to reclaim unpaid child maintenance instead of applying
The unfortunate dispute that arose recently among Aretha Franklin’s sons illustrates what can happen when a person dies without having made a properly drafted will. The legendary soul singer died in 2018. At the time, it was thought she had not made a will, so her estate was divided equally between her four sons. However,
Usually, in financial remedy proceedings, the decision about whether or not to sell the family home (or any other property) will not be made until the final hearing. However, there could be very good reasons for a party wanting to do so prior to the final hearing. This could be, for example, if the parties
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
There has been a surge in the number of renters seeking assistance with no-fault evictions, suggesting that landlords are rushing to move people out before new legislation comes into effect. According to Citizens Advice, nearly 2,000 individuals sought help with section 21 evictions in May, the highest number recorded in a single month and a