What Is Probate and How Does It Work?
When a person dies, their estate (i.e. money, property and possessions) needs to be dealt with before it can be passed on to their beneficiaries. Depending on the assets owned, this may involve a legal process known as probate. Not every estate requires this, however. Whether it’s needed will depend on any assets involved and […]
What Is a Lifetime Trust?
If you’re planning ahead for your family’s future, you’ve probably come across the term “lifetime trust” and wondered whether you actually need one. A lifetime trust (sometimes called an inter vivos trust) is a legal arrangement you set up while you’re still alive, rather than one created through your will after your death. You transfer […]
What is Litigation?
Litigation is a widely used legal term, although many people are often unsure what it actually means. In simple terms, it’s the process of resolving a legal dispute through the courts. A dispute can arise for many reasons, whether that’s a contract disagreement, unpaid debts, property issues, professional negligence, or a dispute between neighbours. When […]
Should I Apply for a Sole or Joint Divorce Application?
You may think that a divorce has to be filed jointly, but changes in recent years have made it easier to begin proceedings independently if needed. As part of these reforms, married couples can apply for divorce either as a sole applicant or jointly, while civil partners have equivalent options when applying for dissolution. In […]
Civil Partnership Dissolution And Divorce: What’s The Difference?
When a marriage breaks down, couples are often left with the option of divorce or legal separation, with divorce being the more common route. But what about if you’re in a civil partnership? In this case, the process is called a “dissolution”. This alone is enough to leave people confused about where they stand and […]
Challenging a Will: What You Need to Know
Losing a loved one is never easy, and dealing with the legal and financial matters that follow can make an already emotional time even harder. A will is meant to make things simpler, setting out how the deceased’s estate is to be distributed. But disagreements do happen from time to time. Sometimes these are about […]
What is a Non-Court Dispute Resolution?
Not all legal issues need to end up in court. In many situations, especially in family matters like divorce, child arrangements, or finances, it’s possible to reach an agreement without stepping into a courtroom. This approach is known as non-court dispute resolution, or NCDR. Changes to the Family Procedure Rules in April 2024 placed greater […]