Posts tagged Legal & Family Life
Separating: What You Need to Know Before You Do Anything

The quiet divorce often involves a long period of private deliberation before any legal process begins. That period carries real financial and legal risk, and most women navigate it without proper advice. This guide and checklist covers five areas: knowing where you stand financially, protecting yourself without overstepping, assembling the right team, understanding the legal process, and managing the conversation with children.

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What Happens to Your Home When You Divorce

Most people assume the family home is exempt from capital gains tax when they sell. In ordinary circumstances, Private Residence Relief makes that true. In a divorce, it depends on when one spouse moves out, whether a new property is bought and elected before the sale completes, and critically, whether the financial arrangement is captured in a court order. The 2023 reforms significantly improved the position for departing spouses, extending protection beyond the nine-month window and preserving relief on deferred sale arrangements. But those protections are conditional, and the conditions are not well known. This guide sets out what applies in each of the most common scenarios, in plain terms.

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What Divorce Actually Costs You in Tax

Separation changes your tax position in ways most people are not warned about. The timing of when you move assets, whether transfers are made under a court order, how your pension is treated in settlement, and what happens to your income tax filing as a single person, each of these has a direct financial consequence. This guide covers the key taxes that arise in divorce, including the CGT reforms introduced in April 2023, the stamp duty exemption most people do not know exists, and the pension inheritance tax changes coming in April 2027.

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Preparing for care transitions when your child has additional needs

Prompted by Colin Farrell’s recent reflections on securing future care for his son, we caught up with Caroline Foulger, Partner at Hunters Law, to share a practical and compassionate framework for families navigating uncertainty. It introduces the idea of a support roadmap, a living document that brings clarity around care, decision-making, aspirations, and contingency planning, while emphasising open communication and regular review.

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Marriage and the Revocation of Wills: Will the government say ‘I do’?

There is a long-standing rule in English succession law under which marriage automatically revokes an existing Will, which is increasingly out of step with modern life. We spoke with Hunters Law to explore how a provision originally intended to protect surviving spouses can, in practice, leave vulnerable individuals exposed, particularly in cases of predatory marriage, and reflect on the recent proposals for reform put forward by the Law Commission, while questioning whether changes to Wills law alone go far enough without wider safeguards.

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Family & Finances Report 2025 Overview and Takeaways

Money decisions shape family life long before they appear in legal documents. Yet many families still avoid talking about inheritance, care, and long-term planning until they are forced to. Drawing on findings from the Schroders Family and Finances Report 2025, we look at why financial conversations remain difficult, where the biggest gaps in preparation sit, and how earlier, clearer planning can reduce stress, protect relationships, and give families more choice over time.

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Financial Protection for Unmarried Couples and Families

Cohabiting couples are the fastest-growing family type in the UK, yet the law still treats them, on separation, as if they were strangers. In a forthright conversation with Olivia Piercy, Partner at Hunters Law LLP and a recognised advocate for victim-survivors of domestic abuse, we explored why the system fails families, what reform should look like, and the practical steps you can take today to protect yourself and your children.

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A Modern Guide to Divorce: Navigating Emotional, Financial, and Legal Transitions

Divorce is rarely a single moment; it’s a series of quiet recalibrations.
It begins in the spaces between certainty and fear, when what once felt secure now feels unsustainable, and the question shifts from “Can this be saved?” to “What does a healthy ending look like?”. This guide invites a more considered conversation: one that recognises divorce as both emotional and administrative, personal and procedural. It explores how to separate with intelligence, compassion, and stability: protecting not only wealth, but wellbeing.

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The Vulnerability of Sudden Wealth: Guidance for the Young & Newly Rich

For a rising generation, sudden wealth, whether born from viral success, entrepreneurial ventures, or unexpected opportunity, can transform lives overnight. Yet with rapid financial gain comes heightened exposure to risk: legal complexities, tax burdens, and personal vulnerability. Expert professional advice is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity, ensuring that fleeting fortune is carefully safeguarded, thoughtfully managed, and translated into lasting prosperity. We spoke with Hunters Law to explore what vulnerability looks like for those affected by sudden wealth.

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Pensions and Divorce: An Essential Guide

Dividing pensions on divorce is one of the most overlooked, yet most critical, aspects of financial settlement. While homes and savings often take centre stage, pensions can quietly hold more value than any other asset, shaping your security for decades to come. This guide distils the complexities into clear, practical steps, helping you understand your rights, the options available, and how to protect your future. Whether you are negotiating directly, working with a mediator, or preparing for court, this resource will equip you with the knowledge to make informed, confident decisions.

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What to Expect: The Divorce Timeline in England and Wales

Deciding to end a marriage or civil partnership is one of the most significant legal, financial and emotional transitions in life. While it is always an emotional journey, understanding the legal process can provide structure and clarity at a time that can otherwise feel overwhelming. Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which came into force in April 2022, the process has been simplified, removing the need to assign blame. Today, the only requirement is to confirm that the marriage or partnership has irretrievably broken down. Below, we set out the key stages of the legal process and what you can expect in terms of costs and timing.

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The Inheritance Tax Revolution: Regional Insights and What’s Next for UK Estates.

Last month, Irwin Mitchell’s Private Client Advisory team published a major new report: The Inheritance Tax Revolution: Regional Insights and What’s Next for UK Estates. Based on a Freedom of Information request to HMRC, the report analyses over 177,000 inheritance tax (IHT) estates across all 121 UK postcode areas. The findings are striking and point to a growing number of families who will be affected by IHT in the coming years. With thresholds frozen and property values rising, the landscape of inheritance is shifting fast. This report offers vital insight into who’s most at risk—and what steps families should be considering now.

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Navigating Legal Pathways to Parenthood in the UK and Beyond

As modern family structures evolve, the legal landscape struggles to keep pace. In this insightful exploration, family law Partner Amy Rowe of Hunters Law shares essential guidance on navigating the legal, emotional, and practical realities of alternative paths to parenthood—from co-parenting and donor conception to surrogacy in the UK and abroad. Drawing on both her professional expertise and her own IVF journey, Rowe offers clarity, compassion, and critical advice for anyone considering building a family outside traditional norms. A must-read for prospective parents, legal professionals, and anyone interested in the future of family.

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Preserving Legacy Through Art: The Taxation of Heritage Assets

In the realm of wealth stewardship, there are few concepts as elegant as the Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme — a little-known but powerful way to balance inheritance tax liabilities with cultural legacy. For those who hold or manage national heritage assets, AIL presents a unique opportunity: preserve something beautiful for the public good while also protecting your estate’s value. We spoke with Rebecca Bion of Forsters Law to find out how this works — and why it may be an inspired tool for those thinking about wealth, impact, and legacy through a more expansive lens.

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Pension Valuation Delays: A Growing Concern in Family Law

Delays in obtaining public sector pension valuations—particularly from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme—are causing significant challenges in divorce proceedings. With legal, financial, and emotional implications for separating couples, and especially for vulnerable individuals, the issue has reached a tipping point. As the NASUWT union launches legal action on behalf of its members, family lawyers and clients alike are watching closely. We spoke with Jo Carr-West, Family Partner at Hunters Law, about why this matters, and what can be done in the meantime.

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The Growing Role of the "Bank of Mum and Dad"

One of the biggest challenges facing young professionals today is saving for a home—despite earning well, many still struggle to afford that all-important deposit. As a result, financial support from family members is becoming increasingly common, with not just parents but also grandparents, great-aunts, and uncles stepping in to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder. In this guide, we explore the financial, legal, and tax implications of family-funded house deposits—offering essential guidance on how to structure financial support wisely and avoid common pitfalls.

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Changes To Tax Rules Relating To Domicile

In March 2024, the UK government announced that they intended to make changes to the way in which UK taxes apply to those who have a non-UK connection, such as non-UK domiciled people (non-doms). On 30 October 2024, the government confirmed that changes would go ahead and produced a detailed note and draft legislation that provide much more detail. This note, in partnership with Irwin Mitchell, summarises the changes. The new rules relate only to tax – domicile will continue to exist as a concept that will be important when looking at, for example, succession laws and family law matters.

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