“…a third party is expected to do more than rely upon a bold assurance by another party regarding his or her marital status” (quoted in judgment below) If you are taking advantage of our current low interest rates and reduced selling prices to buy a property, make sure that you establish the seller’s marital status […]
Buying a Property: Check the Seller’s Marital Status! Read More »
“Death knocks at all doors alike” (John Dunton 1692) Sooner or later we must leave our families to face life without us, and of course these are particularly dangerous times for us all. Make sure that your own affairs are in order now – A valid will is the only sure way to protect your loved ones
A recent High Court decision has been widely viewed as an important victory for the rights of unmarried opposite-sex life partners. Until now, if one such partner died intestate (without making a will), the other could not inherit on the same basis as could a married spouse. Nor could the surviving life partner claim maintenance
Life Partners – You Still Need a Will and a Cohabitation Agreement! Read More »
“An inability on the part of the parents to maintain a child must be established before a grandparent will be legally liable to do so” (extract from judgment below) One wonders how many grandparents are aware of (let alone plan for) the possibility that they may have a legal duty to support their grandchildren in
“Compliance with court orders is always important. There is a particular scourge in this country of spouses, particularly husbands, failing to pay judicially ordered maintenance” (extract from second judgment below) Getting money out of serial maintenance defaulters is a notoriously difficult exercise, but even the most recalcitrant and cunning dodger will baulk at the prospect
Collecting Maintenance in Hard Times – Threaten Jail Time Read More »
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be” (Shakespeare) This is a case of a “love relationship” gone wrong but the principles of vehicle ownership apply to any situation in which you lend a motor vehicle to anyone else. A widely-held misconception is that if you are the registered owner of a car, it is yours
Friends and Lovers: Before You Lend Out Your Car… Read More »
“Preamble to the Domestic Violence Act: “To afford the victims of domestic violence the maximum protection from domestic abuse that the law can provide” There is great concern that the COVID-19 crisis, particularly the mandatory “stay at home” lockdown phase, will see both an increase in the levels of domestic violence, and a decrease in
Domestic Violence and the Lockdown: Your Personalised Safety Plan Read More »
Note: If, as we hope, you personally have no need for an article on divorce, please think of passing this on to anyone you know who may find it relevant and useful. The National Lockdown has thrown together many couples not used to spending “24/7” time in each other’s company. Relationships will have strengthened for
Divorce in a Time of Lockdown – What Grounds Can You Rely On? Read More »
“In our law cohabitation does not have special legal consequences. Generally the proprietary consequences and rights flowing from a marriage are not available to unmarried couples, regardless of the length of their cohabitation” (extract from judgment below) If you live as a couple, avoid the trap of believing the myth of the “common law marriage”.
January is “Divorce Month”: Beware the Dangers of DIY “What’s the only thing divorce proves? Whose mother was right in the first place” (Anon) The festivities are over, the bills are coming in and everyone is returning to reality. Couples who for most of the year only have to live with each other after work
January is “Divorce Month”: Beware the Dangers of DIY Read More »
