Thank you to one of our Conveyancing Clients for arranging delivery of this beautiful bouquet of flowers and chocolates. Moving house is often a very stressful time, it can be made more stressful by instructing a slow and unfriendly lawyer. Sarah and Natalie take the time and effort to get to know their clients and no question is too silly to ask. It is always nice to be appreciated - so well done team Sarah.
Divorce laws in England and Wales are set to be overhauled under government plans seeking to allow couples to split up more quickly and with less acrimony.
This will be the biggest shake up to Family laws in 50 years. With the campaign for no fault divorce gathering momentum and making front page news in The Times on Saturday 8th September 2018.
The current system means a person seeking a divorce has to provide their marriage has irretrievably broken down by proving their spouse partner has committed adultery, behaved unreasonably, deserted them for two years, lived apart for two years with their consent or you have lived apart for 5 years.
This can cause acrimony or a period where your live is in limbo . The Owens case featuring in the news means a wife has to remain married until 2020 as the court didn’t accept she had sufficient grounds to proceed with her unreasonable behaviour divorce petition which was defended by her husband. Under the current law without a spouses consent the only way to get divorced is to live apart for 5 years.
The ministry of justice will seek to end the right of spouses to contest a divorce and consult on how long the parties need to wait before being entitled to one.
Read the full story here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45452146
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2018-09-08/news/fault-based-divorce-to-be-scrapped-in-family-law-overhaul-k5l9t96cx
An unmarried mother has won a landmark court case over which could allow her to claim a Widowed Parent's Allowance.
The allowance can only be claimed by a surviving partner if that partner was either married to, or in a civil partnership with the deceased.
This case questioned whether that restriction unjustifiably discriminates against the surviving partner and/or their children, and breaches their human rights. The Supreme Court has decided that it does, and that has significant implications.
Read the full story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45355028
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Housing benefits have not been increased in line with local rents since April 2013 and they remain frozen until April 2020, which campaigners say has left many people stuck in 'desperate' situations
The government is now being called upon to review the policy and end the freeze immediately.
Read the full story here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lowincome-tenants-face-heat-eat-or-pay-rent-choices-a8512486.html
To be kept up to date speak to us about our newsletters, or keep reading our blogs, follow us on Facebook, or attend one of our training events. Speak to Kirsty for further information.
#VentYourRent is trending on social media; if you are one of the 1.85 million households having to wait longer than you should for your landlord to fix a problem contact our Housing Department on 0330 123 1131.
Read the full story here: https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/7065503/renters-post-pictures-of-damp-mould-filled-flats-as-campaigners-call-for-fairer-terms-for-tenants/