Posted on 17/05/12, filed under News | No Comments
After lengthy negotiations between HSBC Bank and the Law Society (the representative body for solicitors in England and Wales), it has now been announced that all law firms that are members of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), will be automatically entered onto HSBC’s panel of firms no later than 1 August 2012.
This is great news for buyers with HSBC mortgage offers who want to instruct Bennett Griffin LLP as we were one of the first firms in the area to become members of CQS. The result is that we will be able to advise both a client purchasing a property and HSBC where they are providing the client with mortgage finance. This will save such clients the costs of having to pay HSBC’s separate lawyers’ fees and will save time – which is an extremely important commodity in the house buying and selling process!
If you would like further information about our Conveyancing services please contact Patrick Kilby on 01903 777687 or pki@bennett-griffin.co.uk.
Posted on 14/05/12, filed under Family Law | No Comments
2012 is full of exceptional events and Bank Holidays, all of which should provide families with additional enjoyable time together.
However, the Family team at Bennett Griffin are aware of the pressures experienced by some parents (and some children) when trying to organise the regular holiday times, such as the summer break, and so the arrival of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the Olympics, may sadly intensify the process.
That agreed three nights staying contact may now be presumed by one parent to be a five night stay, inclusive of the Bank Holiday Monday and Tuesday in June.
Mum is looking forward to taking the children to see GB play football at Wembley, even though the children may be going away with Dad that week. Whereas, equally, Dad has tickets to take them to see the basketball final, and the date falls on the weekend when they are due to be with Mum.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Would you like to try to avoid the usual arguments and upsets, and ensure your children have certainty as to where they will be, and when, this summer, so that they can simply be excited about the summer of 2012?
Our Jackie Gifford, a trained and highly experienced Mediator, is here to help. Please call Jackie Gifford on 01903 229903 for a confidential and informal initial discussion as to how we can help you and your family have a summer which will be memorable for all the right reasons.
Posted on 14/05/12, filed under Family Law | No Comments
The Queen’s 2012 Speech included reference to a consultation of legal options to strengthen the law to ensure that, “where it is safe and in the child’s best interests”, both parents are able to have a relationship with their child after the parents split up.
Sussex MP, Tim Loughton, is Minister for Children, and has told The Daily Telegraph (1st Feb 2012) that the consultation will start “shortly”. Parents will be encouraged to attend Mediation where possible, as Mr Loughton believes that “the Courts are rarely the best place for resolving private disputes about the care of children.” A £10 million funding programme for Mediation will be unveiled.
The consultation is part of the Children and Families Bill.
Additionally, the Bill looks at other areas where the rights of children must be promoted and protected.
It will endeavour to impose a six month time limit for family Courts in England and Wales, to reach final decisions as to whether children should be taken into care in Child Care proceedings.
In England, the Bill will stop local authorities delaying adoptions when there are suitable prospective adopters waiting. Placing the child swiftly will come first, and the ethnic background of the adopters will come second.
More choice and control will be given to families who need support for children with special needs. The SEN (Statementing process) for children will be overhauled and made simpler. It will provide statutory protection for young people below 25 years of age, rather than the current cut off of 16 years.
Keep on top of the changes which are relevant to you and your family by contacting Bennett Griffin’s Family team on 01903 229938 today.
