The articles here relate to every day family life.
Dutton Gregory Solicitors is welcoming two prestigious new faces to its Private Client Team. Emily Taylor and Alex O’Sullivan arrive at Dutton Gregory with extensive expertise and established reputations in Hampshire as specialist lawyers in all...
New Highway Code Paving the Way for Pedestrians The Highway Code was updated earlier this year and brought in new rules aiming to improve the safety of vulnerable road users; pedestrians and cyclists. The changes see the introduction of a new hierarchy...
‘Closing the Door on Post Divorce Claims’ The importance of a final financial order Glastonbury Festival is taking place this week, and, for Jonathan Whettingsteel, it is always a reminder of the case of Dale Vince, Wyatt & Vince...
“Shameful, disgusting and wrong” The Law Society Gazette has reported an increasing number of people who say they were pressured by solicitors into taking out high interest loans to fund legal costs for family cases. After recovering...
Family Expert joins Campaign for Grandparents Family law specialist and Partner of Dutton Gregory Solicitors, Jonathan Whettingsteel, has accepted the invitation to join a national working group that is seeking to introduce legal rights for grandparents...
Today, ‘No Fault Divorce’ becomes legal. Whilst arguably the biggest change to Matrimonial Law in our lifetime, the big question is ‘What’s going to change?’ Partner and Family Law Specialist, Jonathan...
“ Marriage: a hopeful, generous, infinitely kind gamble taken by two people who don’t yet know who they are or who the other might be, binding themselves to a future they cannot conceive of and have carefully omitted to investigate ”...
The introduction of ‘No-Fault Divorce’ legislation on the 6 th April 2022 brings with it a seismic change in the tone of divorce law in England and Wales. Since the early 1970s separating spouses have often had no option but to place the...
On 6 th April, the biggest change in divorce laws for almost 50 years comes in to force; ‘The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act’ and with it, the introduction of ‘No-Fault Divorce’ . Under current divorce law (which has been...
No-Fault Divorce is coming! From 6 th April, a couple will be able to divorce (or dissolve their civil partnership) without having to blame each other for the breakdown of the relationship. Most say that this change is long overdue, how did we get to this...
After years of campaigning by many of those involved in the legal profession, including The Law Society and Resolution, next month ‘No-Fault Divorce’ becomes law. Having been sought for many years it was not until the case of Tini Owens came...
Sometimes you fall in love and sometimes you fall out of love, it can be as simple as that. However, at present, it is not possible to get a divorce simply because you no longer love each other. Currently, for couples that jointly decide to divorce they...
As society evolves, it has becoming increasingly common for those with issues surrounding fertility or conception to turn to surrogacy as the path to parenthood. What is Surrogacy? Surrogacy is where a woman (the surrogate) carries a baby on behalf of a...
On 1 st September, it was announced that the Ministry of Justice had made a further £800,000 available for the Family Mediation Council (FMC) to distribute as vouchers to families who could benefit from mediation services. The FMC has...
Back in April 2021, we helped raise awareness of a new Government Scheme where separating couples could claim up to £500 towards their mediation costs . It was anticipated up to 2,000 families would be able to claim these ‘Mediation...
The Team Leader of Dutton Gregory’s Clinical Negligence Department, Carol Maunder, is voicing her support for the growing number of medical professionals expressing concern over the intention for GPs to hand over confidential patient records to...
We know that modern families come in all different shapes and sizes, but to mark Pride Month, Family Law Specialist, Jon Whettingsteel considers whether the law does enough to support and protect LGBTQ+ families. When a child is born to a heterosexual...
June is international Pride month, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ communities all over the world that not only remembers those who have fought for equality, but continues to highlight the injustice and damage caused by discrimination based on sexual orientation...
Cervical cancer is the most common form of cancer in women under 35 with two women in the UK per day dying from the disease. In this article, specialist solicitor Claire Henderson explains her support for and work involving those facing the disease. From...
The majority of people see their dentist twice a year as part of a normal routine and think nothing else about it. But what happens if a recommended treatment goes wrong? And what if it was avoidable? Chloe Hayter from Dutton Gregory’s Clinical...
The Government’s Whiplash Reform programme came into force on 31 May 2021. In this article Personal Injury Specialist, Alice Robson explains what this will mean for Claimants. What’s changing? Previously, those who suffered a whiplash injury...
Suffering from lower back pain? Problems in your legs? Dealing with incontinence? The collection of nerves at the end of the spinal cord is known as the ‘cauda equina’, due to its resemblance to a horses tail. Their primary function is...
There are many different causes of a baby being born with cerebral palsy ; a difficult labour resulting in lack of oxygen to the brain, head trauma, or meningitis. Whilst these are not always caused by medical negligence, Associate Anne Martin explains...
Mesh implants are a, usually synthetic, device used during surgery to strengthen damaged or weakened muscle or tissue to treat prolapse, incontinence and hernias. Used widely across the UK, there have been considerable reports in recent years of patient...
Huge congratulations have been in order this month as three members of Dutton Gregory’s Residential Property team have been shortlisted in categories at this year’s British Conveyancing Awards. Proving excellence in every area of our busy...
If you and your partner are thinking of renting or buying a property together before getting married, you won’t be surprised to learn you are not alone. In the 10 years from 2009, the proportion of families containing a cohabiting couple increased from...
Having practiced in Family Law for over a decade I have found that there are a number of false beliefs that people say to me time and time again, so in this article I am going to clear up some of the most popular ‘myths’ surrounding separation...
Under a new Government scheme separating couples can claim up to £500 towards mediation. This is in order to assist and encourage parties to reach an out of court settlement, although some have suggested it is also to take the strain off of the family...
The House of Lords have recently voted on the Fire Safety Bill that was drafted by Parliament in response to the Grenfell tragedy. The House of Lords voted 326 to 248 in favour of a motion put forward by the Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, to insert into...
Local law firm Dutton Gregory celebrates the appointment of new Residential Property Partner, Amanda Watts , based in their new and modern Bournemouth office. Heading up Bournemouth’s Residential Property offering, Amanda brings a wealth of...
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) , the number of cohabiting couples in the UK reached five million in 2020. However, without the proper forethought, many of these couples find themselves dealing with complicated legal battles when their...
"Never give up - to get something you never had, you need to do something you never did." These women in history listed below all failed, persevered and consistently pushed for better. If you have a spare...
During the Budget announcement yesterday, the Government revealed another £65 billion worth of spending has been added to the 2021 budget to support the UK as it eases through the Covid restrictions from the past 12 months. In this article, we outline...
Dealing with a family law matter can be a difficult and emotional time for many. However, it’s important to obtain the advice of a solicitor as early as possible to avoid complications. I have recently been consulted by Bob* who had separated from his...
The costs of legal proceedings can be daunting for many, especially those seeking divorce or other family law matters. While there are resources and support out there to assist eligible individuals, it can often be difficult to know exactly how these...
Strokes can sometimes seriously impact an individual’s quality of life. If you believe it could have been prevented with better medical care, you may wish to make a compensation claim. What is a stroke? A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that...
‘Vaccination’ is a word that we are hearing on an almost daily basis at the moment, and whilst the current Government guidance suggests that children under 16 should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, this may change as more is known about the...
Today brings a close to 2021’s Family Mediation Week . Mediation is one of the Alternative Dispute Resolution options, rather than going to court. COVID-19 has impacted on us all, in one way or another, including how we conduct...
Today, is the start of the Family Mediation Week campaign by the Family Mediation Council to raise awareness about mediation. Family mediation is a voluntary and confidential process designed to resolve personal disputes using a neutral...
Last Updated: 3rd March 2021 As the current deadline on the government’s Stamp Duty Holiday draws closer, Dutton Gregory look to radical and innovative new ways to help their clients’ complete on their property purchase in time for the...
The latest leasehold reform announcement doesn’t quite provide the clarity the industry were hoping for… The Government has announced a new set of reforms that it hopes will make it “easier and cheaper” for leaseholders to buy their...
For most of us, 2020 has been one of the most unusual times in our lives. Yes, there are negatives but there are also lots of positives. One of my favourite positives from 2020 was the Thursday NHS clap at 8pm. I absolutely adored the solidarity from...
It goes without saying that separation and divorce can be one of the most challenging events that a person can face, both emotionally and financially. This FAQ will seek to offer some clarity in terms of the process for divorce, including an estimate of...
The property market is facing unprecedented change . Many businesses are looking to reduce or repurpose their commercial office space, and the residential market is growing at an exponential rate, with added measures such as the Stamp Duty Holiday...
The Stamp Duty holiday ( explained here ) is due to end in March 2021 - just 5 months from now. Estate agents and conveyancers around the country are working overtime to meet the surge in demand, with the biggest rise here in the South East. There...
As a Trainee Solicitor in our Family team, Taylor Devenport shares his insights into what to expect in court hearings and what they’re really like to attend. My first memory of a courtroom is at The London Dungeon. I was 7 years...
You may have been advised when you purchased your property that a restrictive covenant is contained within your title. You may also have wrongly assumed that it cannot be removed and you just have to live with it. Fortunately, this may not necessarily be the...
The needs of families and their composition continues to change, as does the technology to support them. As a result, the law supporting these families also needs to change. There has been a continued and steady increase in the number of applications being...
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all our lives and the government has introduced emergency legislation to try and limit that impact for many of us. However, in the private rental sector, there have been a number of issues which have left landlords feeling...
The Coronavirus pandemic has had a dramatic impact on all of our lives, not least on the difficulty of signing a legal document where a witness is required to be present. This raises special difficulties with Wills where the law, which goes back to 1837,...
Last week preparations were being made by landlords, agents and their legal representatives to finalise reactivation notices to file at court and serve on tenants from the 24th August, to re-start possession claims. Little government guidance was...
Have you ever wondered what equity release really means and whether it's the right option for you? We've answered some of the most common questions around equity release... What is equity release? More people are finding themselves in need of...
The division of pensions during divorce proceedings can be a complicated and emotive topics for many. In order to offer clarifications and recommendations on the matter, the Pension Advisory Group (PAG) filed their ‘A Guide to the Treatment of...
On 21 st July 2020 the Government announced new planning classes in an attempt to change the way that planning is handled. Will it be successful or is this just political “smoke and mirrors”? Probably a bit of...
This week, the Law Commission published its report on buying freeholds and extending leases. The report has been awaited since 2017, when the Law Commission announced it was given the task of promoting transparency and fairness in the residential...
Today (Wednesday 8 th July), the Chancellor has announced a temporary Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”) holiday on residential properties as part of a number of measures that aim to kick start the economy following the impact of COVID-19. The...
No Furlough for the fellow on furlough The traditional meaning of furlough is a ‘leave of absence’, especially that granted to a member of the services, missionaries or prisoners. These days though, we are all familiar with the term as...
This week, the government has announced that all planning permissions due to lapse between 23 March 2020 and 31 December 2020 that have not been implemented are automatically extended until 1 April 2021 . For many builders, this will be a welcome decision...
Although an extreme example based on the court’s findings, a recent Judgement delivered by Mr Justice Moor in the case of Neil & Neil [2019] EWHC 3330 (fam) serves as an example as to how the courts will set aside a financial order, even in part...
We are all in need of a good news story at the moment. So it was welcome news when, earlier this week, it was revealed that the mural created by street artist Banksy on a door of the Bataclan concert hall in Paris where, tragically, 90 people...
Many people dealing with or contemplating a divorce or separation may be confused and concerned by recent events, and the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on any ongoing (or anticipated) family law proceedings. When the crisis first struck, we had...
Many people dealing with or contemplating a divorce or separation may be confused and concerned by recent events, and the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on any ongoing (or anticipated) family law proceedings. When the crisis first struck, we had...
The COVID-19 pandemic is going to have long lasting implications on the economy and, as such, one of the questions that my clients are repeatedly asking me is whether they should change their course of action during the pandemic. Should they separate but...
The COVID-19 lockdown has had an effect on us all. However, for those in separated families, going through a breakdown of a relationship or even hoping to start married life, the challenges faced have been particularly difficult. We’ve looked at some...
It all seems rather surreal at the moment with the current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Personally, I am trying to work from home while juggling trying to homeschool and entertain a preschooler at the same time! The majority of people...
Having dug out a copy of your lease from your ever growing pile of paperwork at home, you can often find yourself faced with the problem of how to decode it! The good news is that we’ve put together this general guide to a standard residential...
Local law firm Dutton Gregory celebrates the appointment of two new Equity Partners, Head of Litigation, Andrew Witt , and Head of Residential Property, Paul Sams. With both Partners joining the firm in recent years, staff, clients and friends...
As much as we have been operating ‘business as usual’ during lockdown, the need for social distancing has, naturally, impacted the process for signing and returning original legal documents to solicitors. Without signed original legal documents,...
Whilst the battle with COVID-19 rages on outside and activity within the housing market is quiet, now is a good time for leaseholders to use this opportunity to get their current lease in a good and marketable condition ready for when the market springs back...
The housing market is vital to the economy and I think we can all agree that the sooner it can safely be back on its feet, the better. I’ve had many conversations with colleagues, clients and contacts the past few weeks and I remain confident that the...
Dutton Gregory's Head of Conveyancing Paul Sams hosts " 5 Lockdown Questions With "! In light of recent events, Paul speaks to industry experts across the South to find out how they are handling the lockdown, both...
Dutton Gregory's Head of Conveyancing Paul Sams hosts " 5 Lockdown Questions With "! In light of recent events, Paul speaks to industry experts across the South to find out how they are handling the lockdown, both personally and...
Common Law in England and Wales has always been flexible in recognising a variety of different signatures, including that of merely a mark, initials or a printed name. The law even accommodates signing on behalf of someone where a person is physically...
The government introduced measures on 26 March 2020 to prevent tenants in the private rental sector (PRS) from being evicted during the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, the measures are not extensive enough. Is this the case for our student population? With...
The coronavirus pandemic has had a drastic impact on the lives of everyone, with enforced changes effecting peoples' work and social life across the country. In particular, the necessity to remain at home is taking a toll on...
It’s safe to say that the lockdown restrictions have been challenging for us all. We’re all wondering what day it is, adjust to a new way of living and working, and many of us have experienced the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our work....
Transfers of certain types of property, to anyone other than a spouse, will generally mean you have to pay capital gains tax as if you had sold the property at its market value. Adding to that pain, any taxable capital gain arising for disposals...
On Monday 23 rd March 2020 the Prime Minister gave a historic announcement, putting the UK into lockdown. This was largely expected, but few had time to prepare, including many families with child arrangements. The government have since...
Legal advice for Equity Release has been given the green light by the Equity Release Council (ERC) to happen remotely due to Covid-19 . Head of Conveyancing Paul Sams , author of a book on the topic, comments on the latest update. In the...
Furloughing is the latest focal point in employment law but what is it and what does it mean for both employers and employees? Partner and Head of Employment Mark Broad answers some of the most common questions around this topic. UPDATE...
Although mediation is normally conducted in person, due to the current covid-19 lockdown, this cannot happen. However, we are still able to offer our clients mediation services via several different video conferencing options. Initial Mediation...
With more and more people being furloughed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, charities are reporting a rapid increase in volunteers as people look to keep themselves busy. Back in January 2020, the Fundraising Regulator published its ‘Good Practice...
On Tuesday 24 th March, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 came into force, bringing into effect the Government’s announcement that restaurants and drinking establishments may temporarily...
It’s been another challenging week for agents, landlords and just about everyone in the lettings industry . Late on Wednesday, the government’s emergency legislation passed into law, when the royal assent was given to the Coronavirus Act...
The Government have stated their intention to protect tenants during the coronavirus outbreak by stopping any new possession claims from being issued at court. At the time of writing (Monday 23 rd March), the final wording of this legislation has not been...
We are now over a week into the official coronavirus pandemic and the pressure on managing agents is increasing exponentially from all quarters. Last updated: 20/03/2020 Despite the pronouncements by Boris in recent days, there is still no clear...
In light of recent events, there has never been a more crucial time for communities to join together and offer help and support to those affected. As such, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with award-winning digital enterprise aDoddle ...
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivered the first Budget in more than 18 months earlier this week. Today we examine some of the key aspects of the UK’s first Budget as a non-EC/EU state for nearly 50 years, as well as look at some of the quirkier...
Although mediation is normally conducted in person, due to the current lockdown situation caused by Covid-19, this cannot happen. However, we are able to offer our clients mediation services via several diferent video conferenncing options, enabling the...
Last week was Justice Week, a week-long series of events run by the Bar Council, the Law Society and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. Although the aim of Justice Week is to highlight and promote the work of legal organisations and professionals...
Last year, we published an article focussing on five curious English laws. Here are five more unusual and often cited unusual ‘laws’ which might or might not really exist. 1. It is illegal to stand within 100 yards of the reigning monarch...
Roses are red Violets are blue Five Valentine’s Day facts For people to view 1. “Under loves heavy burden…” February 24 th was officially declared the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day by Henry VII in 1537 through a Royal...
The second series of BBC’s The Split is out today, and as a family lawyer you think I’d want to avoid a programme on divorce! Yet I was intrigued to see how dramatically my profession would be portrayed... For those of you who did not...
It’s Children’s Mental Health Week at the moment (3 rd – 9 th Feb), and we looks at the mental impact of divorce on children, and how to best support them. Divorces can be difficult, especially when there are children...
This weekend marks 60 years since Queen Elizabeth II issued an Order-in-Council stating that she and her family would be known as the House of Windsor and that her descendants would take the name “Mountbatten-Windsor”. Inspired by HRH, here...
We are thrilled to announce the recent move of Residential Conveyancing expert Helen Phillips to our Poole office, adding to our strong reputation in the property market. Helen is a Senior Associate & Chartered Legal Executive, with a wealth...
So today is the day that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland exits the European Union. What does this mean? How will this affect you? What exactly are WTO rules? These are all questions that we are looking to answer...
2020 heralds a new decade, and unfortunately continues to bring a rise in clinical negligence cases . With the NHS paying out £2.4 billion worth of claims in 2018, it's important to understand what clinical negligence is, and the...
This week is Mediation Week ! Family solicitor shares her experiences of mediation, and how it can help. Today's blog reviews our content over Mediation Week, and what we’ve learned. What is Mediation? Mediation is a ...
Next week will see the 200 th anniversary of what is commonly believed to be the ‘discovery’ of Antarctica by Russian explorers Fabian Gottlieb von Bellinghausen and Mikhail Lazarev. To celebrate this, and also remind ourselves that there...
The team works extremely hard for its clients, is friendly and easy to work with, and operates in a very professional manner.Legal 500 2019
I have always found the property team at Dutton Gregory to be very efficient and conscientious; they are a pleasure to work with.Legal 500 2019
The team at Dutton Gregory stands out for its ability to assist clients with 'understanding any technical issues which arise and helping to resolve the legal problems all the way to a conclusion'.Legal 500 2018
Dutton Gregory LLP provides ‘a very good service’ and ‘enjoys a warm and friendly relationship with clients’.Legal 500 2018
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