Succession Regulation

Image February 12, 2016 admin

February 2016 Eu Succession pdf

Previous PostHonesty in the First Instance 18/01/16 Next PostBeing a Trustee 24/02/16

Southampton: 023 8063 3225

Segensworth: 01489 885788

Fareham: 01329 285 341
The Jasper Vincent Fareham office will be closed for redevelopment as from Friday 26 October 2018 until further notice.

Office hours: 09.00 – 17.00

(Out of hours appointments always available)

News

Taking a Child Abroad and Separated Parents

Aside January 18, 2019 moadmin

Taking a Child Abroad and Separated Parents

With the school holidays fast approaching, you may soon be planning to take your child abroad on holiday, therefore, if you are separated from the other parent, there are important factors to take into consideration before you travel, says Amanda Adamson, Head of Family Department.

Amanda often comes across situations when separated parents have not been consulted about a proposed holiday abroad or the arrangements cannot be agreed for numerous reasons. Understandably, in situations where arrangements are either not agreed or communicated properly between parents, this can cause unnecessary upset or could end up in court. So following are some commonly asked questions that Amanda has answered for you.

Do I need permission to take my child abroad?

Your legal position will depend upon whether or not you have parental responsibility or a court order giving you permission to take your child abroad on holiday.

Where both separated parents have parental responsibility, the consent from the other parent or anyone else with parental responsibility is required, failing which you must obtain a court order granting you permission. If you fail to abide by the law, you could be committing a criminal offence.

If there is a Child Arrangement’s Order specifying that a child should live with one parent (previously known as a residence order), then the parent whose favour the order has been made may take the child abroad for a maximum of 28 days without the other parent’s permission.

Who has parental responsibility?

Parental responsibility means ‘all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property’. Therefore, if you have parental responsibility, you have the right to be consulted in key decisions about a child’s upbringing such as medical treatment, education and holidays abroad.

The child’s mother will automatically have parental responsibility from birth. The father will also have parental responsibility if one of the following apply:

If the father was married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth;
If the father marries the mother after the child’s birth;
If the parents are not married but the father’s name is registered on the child’s birth certificate (from 1^st December 2003);
If the parents are not married but enter into a Parental Responsibility Agreement;
An application to the court for a Parental Responsibility Order;
If there is a Child Arrangement Order specifying that a child should live with the father;
Adopting a child.

Same-sex partners will both have parental responsibility if they were both civil partners at the time of the donor insemination or fertility treatment. If they are not civil partners, then the 2nd parent can obtain parental responsibility by entering into a Parental Responsibility Agreement or applying to the Court. N.B. The law regarding parental responsibility for same sex couples can be complex and it is not possible to cover every scenario in this article.

There is no legal requirement to obtain the consent of a parent without parental responsibility however, it is courteous and good practice to inform the other parent about the holiday and to provide details to avoid any possible conflicts.

What happens if the former spouse or partner refuses to give consent or needs to prevent the other parent from taking a child abroad?

If one parent refuses to give permission to take a child abroad, the parent wanting to take the child abroad must apply to the court for a specific issue order. The decision will then be down to a court to decide whether the holiday is in the best interest of the child. If a parent has concerns about a former spouse or partner taking a child abroad, e.g., perhaps no information has been provided or they are concerned there is a risk of child abduction, they should immediately apply to the court for a prohibited steps order to prevent the child being taken abroad.

Here are some useful guidelines on what to provide to the other parent:-

It is important that you provide as much information to the other parent as far in advance as you can so as to prevent last minute disagreements or potential court proceedings.

Proposed dates of your holiday and the Country you want you are planning to take your child;
Flight times (outbound and inbound);
The address of the accommodation you propose to stay at;
Emergency contact numbers whilst you are away;
Make sure you know of any changes to your child’s medical condition in case you need to take medicine abroad or if you require any vaccinations before you travel;
If you are proposing to travel during term time, make sure you have the permission of the Head Teacher or you could be fined;

The form of consent to take with you and other documents if you have a different surname.

Whilst written consent is not strictly required, it is always advisable to provide consent in the form of a letter or email from everyone with parental responsibility. It is also important to check the specific requirements of the country you are travelling to as each Country has its own requirements for children travelling without their parent(s), a full list can be found on the Home Office website www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. The Home Office website also provides a useful template letter of consent which can be verified by a Solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths.

If you have a different surname to the child, (perhaps due to changing your name after a divorce) or if a grandparent or other family member is taking the child on holiday, it is also important to take other evidence with you such as a copy of the birth/adoption certificate showing your relationship with the child; divorce or marriage certificate; and the written consent from all parties with parental responsibility. Without this evidence, a child maybe refused boarding. If you had to apply to the court to obtain permission to take your child on holiday, you will need to take the child arrangement order as evidence.

Is the same required for holidays in England and Wales?

No, the same situation does not apply for holidays in England and Wales, permission from the other parent with parental responsibility is not required, providing the holiday falls within any contact arrangement. If the holiday requires a change to any contact arrangements, it is important that parents agree to the change.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.

If you would like to discuss your matter, please contact Amanda Adamson by telephone on 01489 885788 or by email aadamson@jaspervincent.com

First Time Buyers Relief – does anyone actually know about it?

Aside August 8, 2018 moadmin

2.2M ENGLISH FIRST-TIME BUYERS IN THE DARK ABOUT RECENT STAMP DUTY CHANGES

RESEARCH FROM LEADING ONLINE BROKER L&C MORTGAGES HAS FOUND THAT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE IMPACT OF THE CHANGES TO STAMP DUTY FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS.

Almost a third (31%) don’t know if the stamp duty abolition will benefit them when they buy their first home.

Furthermore, a fifth (22%) have not changed their minds on the price of the house they want to buy, in light of these stamp duty changes – because they do not know the impact the new rules will have on their potential property.

When asked how much first-time buyers thought they would save if they bought their first home without having to pay stamp duty, the lack of education around the benefits of stamp duty relief were highlighted again, with more than one in 10 (13%) stating that they thought they would save over £5,000 – which is impossible under the new rules. On top of this almost two in five (38%) said that they didn’t know how much they would save if they bought their first home now.

The majority of English first-time buyers believe that the recent stamp duty cuts by the government did not go far enough – with six in 10 (62%) believing that stamp duty should be abolished for all first-time buyers. On top of this, almost two in five (38%) think the value of the properties excluded from stamp duty should rise in line with house prices, highlighting further the belief that the current measures won’t go far enough, and will need to be kept under close review.

DAVID HOLLINGWORTH, FROM L&C COMMENTED:

“More needs to be done in order to ensure that first-time buyers know what is available to them. The stamp duty relief is welcomed by many who are looking to buy their first home, but the new rules could be considered complicated to someone who hasn’t been through the process of purchasing property before. In fact, the lack of understanding uncovered through our research could mean that some first-time buyers think that owning their own home is one step further away than it actually is – when in reality, a saving of up to £5,000 could be the difference in getting the required deposit together or dropping to a lower LTV bracket.

“The number of first-time buyers who believe that the tax should be abolished for all those buying their first home, speaks of the need for clarity. Of course, abolishing stamp duty for all would mean financial savings for many, but it also highlights the desire for a more simple and transparent system. Going through the steps to buy your first home can feel like a daunting and complicated undertaking – so it’s really important you seek expert advice in order to make sure you are getting the best deal, and that you are aware of all your options.”

Just over half (52%) think they will benefit from the stamp duty abolition when they buy their first home. Of those aiming to buy a property priced between £125,000 and £500,000, two in five (42%) either thought that stamp duty relief would not benefit them or didn’t know if it would – demonstrating a further lack of knowledge about the new rules.

Kindly shared by L & C Mortgages

Re-shared from Inside Conveyancing

Why Trust and Estate Accounts should be prepared

Aside February 20, 2017 admin

Personal Representatives (PRs) and Trustees, when called upon by their Beneficiaries to do so, are under a legal obligation to give an account of their stewardship of the funds for which they are responsible. Continue reading Why Trust and Estate Accounts should be prepared →

Tweets by @JVSolicitors

your local solicitors

Home
Contact Us
Costs Information
Conveyancing Quote
News & Updates
Our People