The 10 Biggest Causes of Conveyancing Delays Waiting for the keys to your new home can feel like an eternity. So, what's causing the hold-up? Buying or selling a home is often one of the biggest financial commitments you'll ever make. Yet, after...
"I've Been Meaning to Make a Will…" It's one of the most common phrases we hear. Whether it's because life gets busy, people believe they're too young, or they simply don't know where to start, thousands of people...
For many people, buying or selling a property is one of the biggest financial decisions they will ever make. Whether you're a first-time buyer, moving up the property ladder or selling an investment property, the process can be exciting - but it can also...
For many people, the family home is their most valuable asset—financially and emotionally. It is where children are raised, memories are made and futures are planned. Yet one of the most common assumptions we hear is: "If something happens to...
(That Have Nothing to Do with the Seating Plan) The venue is booked. The cake has been tasted. You've finally agreed on whether Aunt Margaret can bring her new boyfriend. Congratulations! 🎉 Planning a wedding is exciting, emotional and...
Why More Families Are Choosing Mediation in 2026 When a relationship breaks down, it can feel as though everything is changing at once. Questions about children, finances, housing and the future often arise at the very moment emotions are running...
The Biggest Review of Family Law in More Than 50 Years Could Change Everything If you've ever assumed that divorce law in England and Wales was largely settled, think again. In what many legal professionals are calling the most significant review of...
... Why Planning Ahead Matters More couples than ever before are choosing to live together without getting married. According to the Office for National Statistics, cohabiting couple s are now the fastest-growing family type in the UK, with millions of...
...What Families Need to Know For many survivors of domestic abuse, the end of a relationship is not the end of the abuse. Whilst physical injuries may heal, the psychological impact of coercive and controlling behaviour can continue long after a...
Is the “Silent Separation” Trend Really a Peaceful Solution?, The terms “quiet divorce” and “silent divorce” have become increasingly common in recent years, particularly across social media , celebrity news and...
Mediation in 2026: Rising Demand, Changing Dynamics and Why It Matters More Than Ever The landscape of family mediation in 2026 is evolving rapidly. Following the traditional post-Christmas surge in relationship breakdowns - often referred to as...
The True Cost of Saying Goodbye: Why Making a Will Matters More Than Ever A recent report highlighted by The Independent has revealed a striking reality: the cost of death is not just emotional - it is increasingly financial. According to new research,...
Growth, Global Pressures and What It Means for Buyers and Sellers The Chesire and North West property market entered Spring 2026 with renewed momentum. Following the traditional post-Christmas slowdown, March and April have brought a noticeable rebound in...
A recent High Court decision, widely reported by The Times , has brought renewed focus to an evolving and often controversial area of family law: the role of domestic abuse and coercive control in financial remedy proceedings . In this case, a...
When someone passes away, their loved ones are often left not only with grief, but also with the practical responsibility of managing their estate. Without clear legal instructions in place, this process can become lengthy, stressful, and in some cases,...
On the 3rd March episode of the The Martin Lewis Money Show Live , consumer expert Martin Lewis tackled a topic many people avoid: the uncomfortable but essential financial conversations around death, incapacity and planning ahead . While it’s easy...
Divorce after Valentine’s Day... ...is a topic that quietly trends every year. When the flowers fade and the pressure to perform romance lifts, many couples are left confronting questions they’ve been avoiding. If you’re searching for...
The early months of 2026 have already seen the finalisation of several high-profile divorces, including those of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban and Jessica Alba and Cash Warren each after almost two decades of marriage and including...
Pancakes, Preparation and Separation Every year on Shrove Tuesday - also known as Pancake Day - people across the UK flip pancakes, raid the cupboards and enjoy one last treat before the start of Lent. Traditionally observed the day before Ash...
New Homes Week 2026: What Homebuyers Need to Know About Conveyancing in Today's Market Every year, New Homes Week — delivered and supported by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) — shines a spotlight on the importance of new build...
Family Mediation Week 2026 takes place this week, from 26–30 January 2026 and offers an important opportunity to highlight a constructive, child-focused way of resolving family disputes. At a time when many families feel overwhelmed by separation,...
With the festive season in the rear-view mirror and the new year ahead, many couples find themselves reflecting on their relationships. For some, the ever-mounting pressure during the holidays serves as a trigger point in an already fragile and struggling...
Christmas is meant to be a time of joy, family, and celebration — but for some children, the festive season can bring increased risk rather than comfort. Recent research from the NSPCC reveals that two thirds of UK adults believe the risk of child...
As a specialist Wills, Trust & Probate solicitor , I regularly see how unexpected tax changes can affect families — often years after plans were first put in place. One upcoming change in particular is something every business owner should be...
On 21st October 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his intention to “ take presumption of contact out of law. ” At SH&Co. Family Law, Director Nicola Deakin explains what this potential change could mean for parents,...
The What – What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)? A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a vital legal document that lets you choose a person (or several people) you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so yourself in...
When couples separate, it’s often an emotional and stressful time. Trust and communication can easily break down, making it much harder to reach an agreement about the children — and that’s where legal guidance can make a real difference. ...
Once you have reached an agreement about your finances and property during your divorce you should consider making this legally binding. To do this you will need to draft a consent order with the help of a solicitor and ask the court to approve it. If your...
A freezing order, also known as a freezing injunction, is a temporary injunction issued by the court to prevent one party from disposing or dealing with their assets. In divorce or dissolution cases, it is often used by the applicant to prevent the...
This week is Good Divorce Week – a time to spotlight the need for better support for families going through separation. For some couples, litigation may well be the only way for them to resolve their dispute, but far too many families going through...
If you are considering getting a divorce you may be wondering whether your business will be factored into divorce proceedings. As a starting point, a business is treated as an asset when you get a divorce. If you have an interest in a business, then it will...
If you are considering getting a divorce, you may be looking to understand more about the process, especially as it has changed in recent years. The law on divorce changed in April 2022, when no-fault divorce replaced the old divorce process. No-fault...
Financial disclosure during divorce or separation involves providing detailed information about your financial situation, including your assets, resources, and future financial requirements. Typically, this information is exchanged between you and your...
When a relationship ends, the hardest part is often working out what happens with the children. As parents, naturally you’ll both want the very best for them — but things can become especially worrying if one parent wants to move away, whether...
Selling your home can be an emotional process. For some, it’s the excitement of moving on to a new chapter; for others, it’s saying goodbye to a place full of memories. Whatever your reason, one thing’s for sure — you want the process...
Buying a home is one of life’s biggest milestones. It’s exciting — but let’s be honest, it can also feel a little overwhelming. There are contracts to read, forms to fill in, and deadlines to meet. For most people, it’s the...
Divorce is rarely easy... ... but recent updates to divorce laws in England aim to make the process smoother, clearer, and fairer - especially for children. With no-fault divorce now fixed in place, 2025 brings even more changes that focus on...
Bezos: Third Wealthiest, Second Marriage, First Prenup As the world’s third richest man (behind Elon and Mark Zuckerberg, natch) recently married for the second time, the media has been full of complex ‘airtight’ prenup details. ...
Question: What does the loch ness monster, quickie divorces , bulls getting angry when seeing red and common law marriage have in common? (it’s not a joke!) Answer*: They all hail from the land of poppycock! At Susan Howarth...
As kids are lining up for A Minecraft Movie this Easter, many families are making the most of fun days out together in the sun. But if you've recently gone through a separation or divorce, co-parenting might feel like a bit of a challenge—almost...
The good times and the bad times Life is a funny old business, full of ups and downs and with many a curveball thrown in when you least expect it. You might be planning your wedding, buying your dream home or making a will to provide for your children....
What is Stamp Duty Land Tax? Stamp Duty Land Tax, commonly known as SDLT, is a tax on property and land purchases in England. This is a tax is levied by H M Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You pay the tax when you: buy a...
Now you can give the Conveyancing Process the green light You’ve finally found it. The perfect house, the next chapter, the one… so what happens next? It’s time to get serious. Buying and/or selling a house is one of the biggest...
Domestic abuse can affect anyone... ... even the rich and famous – there are countless examples of celebrities, actors, rappers, musicians and sports stars arrested for domestic violence. The widely publicised cases of Chris Brown, Mel Gibson,...
It has never been more important to consider our digital assets when planning for the future. In a world where we are increasingly reliant on cloud accounts to store our data and information and where our transactions and interactions are increasingly...
In her words: Lisa's Survivor Story* It’s a love story: Girl meets boy, they fall in love, they live happily ever after. Except it doesn’t always happen that way, does it? Yes, I met a man and fell in love. We got married and we had three...
Holidays are no excuse for Domestic Abuse Each year both national and local domestic abuse charities, police forces and counsels run campaigns warning of the sadly predictable rise in instances of domestic abuse during the Christmas break. News outlets...
Gaslighting and Mental Health For those of us who are old enough, we will remember watching the movie Gaslight as a child with our parents/grandparents, the movie was a psychological thriller about a young woman whose husband slowly manipulates her...
LPAs are more important than a will In an episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show earlier this year, the MoneySavingExpert.com founder himself stressed the importance of having a Lasting Power of Attorney. Having had his POA since his thirties, Martin...
With the shops starting to fill up with Christmas chocolate, mulled wine and bucks fizz, we cannot miss the fact that Christmas is fast approaching. For children whose parents are no longer living together, it is important to think ahead and begin...
