Harold Stock & Co. Solicitors

Rooted in the community

News

We’re planting trees for new cases at Harold Stock and Co.

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We’re really proud to announce that, from the 1st of July, we started planting trees via Treeapp for every new case at Harold Stock and Co. solicitors.

As around 70% of carbon emissions worldwide come from businesses, we believe we should be doing our bit to help combat climate change. So, we will be planting a new tree for every client we take on and can’t wait to start making a positive impact.

Why we chose Treeapp

We’ve chosen Treeapp because they plant the right trees in the right places. Native, non-invasive species on land that is owned by the community for the next 15 years, at least. The care Treeapp takes in choosing the right areas means the land won’t be taken over and used for something else before the trees have matured, and the local community won’t be negatively impacted.

Treeapp also has both afforestation and reforestation efforts. This means they plant trees in areas where there weren’t any before, as well as in areas where deforestation is happening. They also work closely with farmers and experts to ensure their impact is maximised.

One of the things that stands out about Treeapp is they don’t just ‘throw a seed into the ground and just forget about it’ (their words). Instead, they monitor and care for the trees after they’ve been planted. This means we feel confident our efforts will be maximised.

Afforestation is planting trees in a new place where there weren’t any before, creating a forest. Reforestation is planting trees in places where the number of trees has been declining.

Join us in doing something good for the planet

You can plant trees too with Treeapp – either as an individual, where you can plant one tree every day for free, or as a business for only £1 per tree. Why not join us in saving the planet?

Find out more and start planting now by visiting the Treeapp website.

About Harold Stock and Co.

We pride ourselves on being friendly and approachable solicitors, rooted in our local communities. Our offices are in Tameside, Manchester, and Stockport but we help people across the UK online or over the phone. You can either pop in to see us or give us a call.

We help our clients with the following:

  • Personal injury
  • Medical negligence
  • Serious injury
  • Wills, probate, and the elderly
  • Commercial and company
  • Property

Get in touch

Call us on 01457 835597 or send us an email if you’re looking for fair, friendly legal advice with the added bonus of planting a tree.

Send us an email

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.