The government says it’s committed to building a million new homes over the next five years with a greater emphasis being placed on quality and beauty. It wants tree-lined streets and zero-carbon ratings to become the norm as quickly as possible. Many of the ideas are contained in the report, Living in Beauty, by the
In recent months separated parents have found themselves in unprecedented times trying to navigate child arrangements whilst complying with COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. In March 2019 the President of the Family Court, Sir Andrew McFarlane, made it clear that where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their
A husband who was struggling financially has been denied permission to appeal against a financial remedies order because he was 15 months out of time. The case involved a couple who divorced in 2016. The husband was a managing director and shareholder of two companies. In July 2018, following a three-day hearing, the judge held
A buyer was entitled to pull out of an agreement to purchase a newly built flat which had not been completed and made ready to live in by the date specified in the contract. That was the decision of the High Court in a case involving Caledonian Management Services Ltd and Clivedale Properties Ltd. The
A woman who was misled by her cohabiting partner has won her legal fight to own 50% of the home they shared together. The case involved Natalie O’Neill and Shaun Holland, who had lived together for 12 years. Legal title to the property had been vested in the sole name of O’Neill’s father from its
A father has been granted a court order for his children to be vaccinated despite objections from their mother. The children were aged six and four. The parents had separated, and the children lived with the mother. The parents were involved in proceedings for a child arrangement order under the Children Act 1989. The mother
The government has provided brief but useful advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and how they can be used to help people who are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. An LPA is a legal document that you can draw up when you’re fit and healthy authorising someone you choose to make
All non-contentious probate applications where there is a will in place must now be made online. The service, known as MyHMCTS, was set up by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to streamline applications, enabling probate professionals to issue, pay for and manage applications within civil and family courts and tribunals. It went live on 2
First-time buyers interested in new-build homes can now apply for the new Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme. With a Help to Buy: Equity Loan, the government lends homebuyers up to 20% (40% in London) of the cost of a newly built home. Customers pay a deposit of 5% or more and arrange a mortgage
A husband has failed to persuade the court to overturn a divorce settlement he described a “grossly unfair”. The case involved a couple who had married in 1987 and divorced in 2010. The husband was a successful property developer and the wife was a homemaker. A consent order for financial remedies was made in 2010,