Going through a divorce can be a very turbulent time, with difficulties appearing at every twist and turn. Finding a lawyer doesn’t have to be a challenge to overcome, but it is important that you pick a divorce solicitor who is right for you.

A good solicitor will help you to exit your marriage with as little legal fuss as possible, securing your financial future and helping to you come to a workable settlement with any children. There are thousands of solicitors across England and Wales, so how can you be sure you’re choosing the right one?

How to Find a Divorce Lawyer

There are many different aspects of law, so it is important that you find someone who is experienced and well-practiced in handling divorce cases. They will know the best ways to handle things and can save you a lot of time and heartache by dealing with your case as efficiently as possible.More...

Due to the way that the economy and society has changed over the years, the majority of houses are no longer bought by married couples. There are a variety of ways that property can be bought, including between partners, friends and with assistance from parents.

This change to the way in which property is purchased has seen more and more couples using a Declaration of Trust. Here is what they are, how they help and what needs to be included:

What is a Declaration of Trust (DoT)?

A DoT is a legally binding document which can be used to set out and define each individual’s contribution to the price of purchase. Typically, this will also include any additional costs and contributions to the property – such as who paid for furniture or solicitors fees and what the mortgage split will be.

Why is this used?

A DoT makes it much easier to figure out how much each party should receive if the property is sold and legally holds them to fairly sharing the equity. This is especially important if the parties have not split the cost of the property equally, as it stops either party from taking advantage of the situation.More...

An IT specialist with a proven track record of writing and implementing new software and systems for law firms has joined Howells Solicitors.

Sarah Pomeroy will be joining the law firm to manage a large IT investment upgrade programme across Howells’ network of six offices.

The programme includes:

•    Implementing a new practice management system
•    A new IT and phone infrastructure
•    Developing systems to enable the law firm to move towards a paperless environment
•    Maximising opportunities presented by cloud software.

Utilising her previous teaching qualification, her new role will also include training all of the staff on the new systems.More...

A Cafcass Officer (also known as a Family Court Advisor) is a specialist social worker whose role is (where possible) to help you agree the arrangements for your children, carry out safeguarding enquiries, and, if asked by the judge, to write a more detailed report for the Court about your children’s needs and/or wishes.

When you make an Application to Court for a Child Arrangement Order, The Children and Family Court and Advisory Service (CAFCASS) is sent a copy of your Application. They will then carry out safeguarding enquiries to make sure your child is safe and not at risk of any harm.
 
A Cafcass Officer will carry out the following enquiries:

1.    Check your Application to Court to see if you have ticked any of the boxes to say that you are concerned about the risk of harm to your child or children. Sometimes even if you haven’t ticked any of these boxes, there may be something in your overview that suggests there could be a risk. So, for example, if you mention that your children’s father is about to be released from prison, they will probably look into this further.More...

Times are tough enough in today’s economic climate without facing concerns about your current employment. From unfair dismissals to bullying and harassment at work, the issues surrounding employment can be extremely complex. Standing up to your employer can often seem daunting, confusing and ultimately futile, but this shouldn’t be the case.

A Guide to Employment Law

At Howells Solicitors we want to ensure that employers and employees alike feel confident in pursuing a fair outcome in any situation involving employment law. It’s for this reason that we created this video guide to offer basic advice on common legal issues surrounding employment.

In this short feature, we disucss the various actions employees can take if they feel they have been treated unfairly in the workplace.

The video covers issues such as:More...