Harold Stock & Co. Solicitors

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Parenting Through Separation: New Free Parenting Guide

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Available to separating families in Stockport, Failsworth and Mossley.

• Chris Bowen from Harold Stock & Co Solicitors is one of many resolution solicitors promoting the free guide to local families who are divorcing or separating
• The Parenting Through Separation Guide is written by family professionals and advises parents of how to put their children first during a separation
• The guide is launched during Good Divorce Week which runs from 29 Nov – 3 Dec, run by national family justice organisation Resolution
• This year the focus of Good Divorce Week is parenting through separation

This week (29 November – 3 December) Resolution is holding Good Divorce Week which aims to promote a national conversation about how parents can embrace a child-focused approach to separation. 

The week-long programme will focus on a number of tools and initiatives that can help family practitioners and their clients navigate the challenging experience of divorce, placing the best interests of children at the centre of discussions. One such initiative is the free guide which is available as a download here:- Parenting Through Separation Guide

Resolution is offering parents in Stockport, Failsworth and Mossley a free guide that contains advice and information to help them put children first during a separation or divorce.

Chris joins with thousands of family professionals to launch the Parenting Through Separation Guide during Good Divorce Week, an annual initiative by the family justice organisation Resolution to raise awareness of how families can separate amicably.

Darren McGuinness, Director of Harold Stock Solicitor & Co said:

“We know that the pandemic has put huge pressure on families and even more so on those who are separating. Every parent wants to put their children’s interests front and centre, but all too often they don’t know where to turn for help and aren’t given the support they need in order to do this.

“It’s important for parents to have access to good, authoritative and professional advice that helps them to parent responsibly through their separation. We hope all local separating parents will use the Parenting Through Separation Guide, to help them find a better way forward for them, and for their children.”

The free guide is available to any parent seeking help during their separation. It contains advice about how to co-parent with a former partner, background on the common disputes that arise between separating parents, and how to talk to children about the painful topic of divorce or separation, plus much more.

Juliet Harvey, national chair of Resolution, said:

“I’m really pleased to have Chris’ support during Good Divorce Week. Resolution members like him do really important work in their community to help families separate in a constructive and amicable way. The more families who know about and use the free Parenting Through Separation Guide, the better equipped they will be to navigate the challenges divorce and separation brings, particularly when it comes to putting children first.”

Here’s an extract of advice contained within the guide:

Top tips for discussing divorce with your children

• If your situation allows, try to have a joint conversation when all of your children are present. Keep this age appropriate.
• Plan a series of conversations, including different follow up conversations, if your children are different ages. Be mindful that their reactions will depend on their age, developmental stage and their individual personality.
• Reassure your children that it is okay to feel sad or scared and showing emotion is good. They can always talk to either of you and ask questions.
• Remember you are a role model and your children are watching how you manage this situation. If they see that you are still their parents, making decisions together about them, then they will cope better.

Image and video credit: Resolution.

Divorce fee to increase in England and Wales

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It is reported that following consultations in the Spring of 2021, and despite the majority of respondents opposing court fee increase, the government is set to increase some court fees for the first time since 2016. As a result, later this year the cost of divorce application in England and Wales is expected to rise from £550.00 to £593.00 as of September 30th 2021, representing a 7% increase.

“We at Harold Stock & Co intent to offer a competitive fixed fee service for undefended divorce cases”, said family law solicitor Chris Bowen. “However if you are planning to divorce in the near future, we advise you to issue your divorce application promptly to avoid the price rise caused by the £42.00 increase in the Court fee.”

If you have questions about our family law practice or think you might need help with your divorce, we offer a free of charge, untimed initial meeting with a family law solicitor. There is no obligation to instruct us following this meeting. We will outline the options available to you and also discuss the costs involved in the matter. We are able to offer confidential meetings over the phone, by video call or at a location to suit you.

Can I make a Will during lockdown?

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Our specialist Wills and Probate team have always taken instructions from clients wishing to make a Will or make amendments to their Will via telephone, video calling and email and during lockdown is no different. However, a key factor in making a valid Will is how the Will is ‘executed’. In other words, how it is signed in front of witnesses.

New rules, implemented due to the pandemic, now allow for Wills to be witnessed via video. Previously, witnessing a Will to ensure it is valid has always included the need for physical presence and a line of sight, so that the Will maker and the two witness can all see each other sign the document. Clearly these requirements pose a problem with lockdown and social distancing.

Whilst this change is welcome to those shielding, and video witnessing is a service we can offer our clients, the video witnessing of Wills should be very much a last resort. The reason for this is that the person making the Will and the witnesses must all sign the same document and therefore when the same document has to be transported between the location of the Will maker and the two witnesses of the Will, this can cause delay and should anything happen to any one of the three people signing the Will during this delay, the Will would not be validly executed. There is also the possibility of a Will maker being influenced by someone behind the scenes (which is much harder to detect remotely) and, the novelty and potential ambiguity of the new rules mean that Wills signed by video are more likely to be challenged by disgruntled family members. Therefore, a Will that has been video witnessed should only be treated as a holding Will, until you are able to physically execute a further Will in person.

For many it is possible to sign their Wills at home with their neighbours witnessing from a safe distance over the garden fence (don’t worry they don’t have to read the Will), having colleagues witness their Wills at work and our team have witnessed countless Wills on ‘doorsteps’ since last March (whilst maintaining a safe distance).

Our team understand that we are in uncertain times and therefore they are happy to chat without obligation to anyone who is unsure of whether they should amend or make a new Will.

We also understand that not everyone is able to attend, or virtually attend, appointments during the usual 9-5 hours and as a result we have continued to offer our clients the flexibility of “out of hours” appointments where required.

For an appointment with one of the team click here https://www.haroldstock.com/contact/

if you prefer call 0330 400 4040 or email info@haroldstock.com

Couples feeling the strain?

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During the COVID pandemic there has been a lot of focus on effects of lockdown and restrictions upon mental health but it seems clear that relationships have also felt the strain. Couples who had been managing to get along in normal times have struggled to cope with extended periods of confinement with each other, or perhaps the pandemic has made them re-evaluate priorities and to consider whether they want move on from an unsatisfactory relationship. Whatever the catalyst, in these changed times it still remains the case that getting proper advice is as vital as ever.

If you have decided to end your marriage or Civil Partnership, do not just concentrate on the legal process to dissolve it. Any decent family law solicitor will tell you that the divorce is just the tip of the iceberg. It is far more important to consider the other consequences of leaving the relationship, particularly the future arrangements for your children if you have them. After that, sorting out the money is hugely important – what should happen about the house, dividing assets, pensions – should there be maintenance?  Getting all that right is crucial, especially in these uncertain times.  We see many self–negotiated settlements where people sell themselves short or have agreed to schemes which fail because they are unworkable.

If you get advice from a family law solicitor, you will probably be able to negotiate an agreement without having to spend lots of time energy and money on a dispute which has to be resolved by a Court. The cost will be modest compared to what you might lose if you go ahead without advice and settle for less than the law would consider fair and reasonable or agree to a deal which falls down and needs to be revisited later.

Our family team are on hand to offer the appropriate advice on these sensitive matters in a proactive and courteous manner.

National Lockdown – Can I move house?

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The short answer is “Yes you can!”

In the current climate, we appreciate that moving house may be more difficult than it would normally be, but whilst the lockdown rules have changed, house moves are still permitted to go ahead.

Our offices may be closed but we continue to work and are still available to assist you with all your conveyancing needs. In some cases, this may be from a laptop on our dining room tables and we may or may not be wearing slippers, but you can rest assured that the commitment to client service will still remain!

We are here for you (and sometimes we have a little help!)

Whilst Guidance issued by the UK Government states people can still move home, anyone outside of your household or support bubble should not help with moving, unless absolutely necessary.

Estate and letting agents and removal firms can continue to work with property viewings still also allowed if anyone is looking to move.

It has been stressed the importance of following the national guidance on moving home safely, which includes advice on social distancing, letting fresh air in, and wearing a face covering.

If you require any assistance with your home move or have enquiries prior to committing to new sale or purchase please do not hesitate to contact us and we would be happy to help on 0330 400 4040 or info@haroldstock.com

We know that you may be juggling more than you are used to at the moment and that 9-5 does not always suit you. We get it. Our staff are working flexibly around child care, homeschooling and other responsibilities too. It means that should you need it, we can schedule an appointment at a time to suit you, just let us know.

Welcome Back!

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As the second national lockdown comes to an end tomorrow, we look forward to welcoming clients back to our Failsworth, Mossley and Stockport offices for face to face meetings.

Whilst we can’t wait to meet you at whichever office is the easiest for you, please help us to keep everyone safe by only attending if you have called first to arrange an appointment.

It is hard to believe that we have been advised to work with you remotely for so long, but so much has happened at Harold Stock & Co in 2020 that we are excited to share with you.

Ashley Singer joined us just before the pandemic and has helped us to grow the work coming in to the firm, and specifically in to the litigation departments. Ashley has a wealth of experience in resolving court disputes, for businesses and individuals, and in personal injury and clinical negligence claims, and whilst based at our Stockport office can see clients wherever is most convenient .

Our property team was boosted by the arrival of Sarah Major as Head of Department in September. Sarah’s expertise in all aspects of residential conveyancing work is a welcome addition to our busy team working across all of our offices.

Also in September, Chris Bowen joined our family team. Chris has substantial family law experience and is a member of Resolution and a trained Collaborative Family Lawyer. Maureen Judge joined the team this week as Family Law Executive. Our family law team have a combined experience of around 60 years and, as with all our lawyers, are happy to talk through any issues you have before you decide whether we can help you.

In October, we moved “down the road” from our home on Pole Lane, Failsworth to modern offices based at Ivy Mill, Crown Street, Failsworth. Our new offices give us the space and facilities to support our clients, offering welcoming meeting rooms and client parking. We can’t wait to start meeting clients there as well as in our offices in Mossley and Stockport, or, if you  still prefer to avoid face to face meetings we can still advise by telephone, video conferencing or in any other way that suits you.

Ivy Business Centre, Failsworth

To make an appointment to see or speak to one of our legal experts, please call us on 0330 400 4040 or email info@haroldstock.com