Giles Dobson

Agreeing shared contact for children can be difficult for divorced or separated parents. Here we break down your options to help this Christmas. When any relationship breaks down, it can be difficult for parties to agree on the best way forward to separate,...

More often than not, if a tenant does not leave a property voluntarily, then, to evict them lawfully the landlord will usually have to follow the following key stages to obtain possession lawfully: Serve the relevant notice(s) and...

Cohabitation has become increasingly common, with more and more couples choosing to live together without getting married or entering into a civil partnership. However, it is important to note that cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights and...

When it comes to travelling abroad with a child, parents often have questions about the legal implications, especially if the child has a different surname. In England and Wales, parental rights and responsibilities are primarily governed by the Children Act...

Getting divorced is never easy, and not something people plan for long into the future. Similarly, when spouses go into business together, they rarely consider making a commercial agreement. As a result, divorce can be even more challenging where you and...

It is important as a landlord to know your rights and responsibilities. Generally, when managing residential property, your role involves maintenance and ensuring any repair work is completed, as the property cannot have any hazards or breach any health and...

Going through divorce or separation is challenging, particularly if you have children. If your children are old enough, they may also express worry, concern, or preferences about what they would like to happen. However, should your children become formally...

National Pet Month runs from April 1 - May 1 2023, and aims to promote responsible pet ownership. As a nation, we love our pets, and with more than half of households in the UK owning at least one pet, pets are a huge part of our lives for many of...

The ongoing pandemic has placed many pressures on our personal lives, with one in five relationships struggling to survive according to research by University College London. It’s a further regrettable statistic from the past two years, but if...

If you are renting your home, it is your landlord’s responsibility to provide heating and hot water. When the heating or boiler fails through no fault of your own, your landlord must repair or replace the boiler or other equipment. Of course, how long...

If you are renting accommodation as a student, you should fully understand your rights - and your obligations. When things go wrong in your flat or house, you have the right to get them fixed. In this article, we look at your rights when renting and how to...

Martin Tolhurst Solicitors 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...

October will see a major milestone in notice periods for residential tenancies where landlords are seeking possession, as they revert to pre-pandemic requirements. But with fears of a tough winter, as gas prices soar and furlough support ends, landlords...

Residential landlords are under pressure to keep on top of a raft of new legislation and guidelines this year, including many protections for tenants extended by the government during the pandemic. They include a continuing hold on evictions, the new...

Carrying the weight of unpaid invoices can make doing business challenging. The coronavirus pandemic has caused financial difficulties for many and could be making the problem of late payments worse for both small businesses, the self-employed and...

By the end of 2021, a quarter of UK households will rent privately. That’s approximately 5.8 million households renting, due to the combination of soaring house prices and salaries remaining relatively static. Anyone who has been a serial renter...

On 1st June this year, a new act came into force that has a profound effect on the rental market. It's relevant not just for landlords and tenants, but for agencies that, to date, have made a very nice little living out of charging tenancy fees and...

In these uncertain times, no matter how big or small your business is, managing cash flow can be challenging. One particular difficulty for many firms is dealing with debt collection. Maximising debt collection should be a priority for your business to...

Can a Landlord successfully evict a Tenant during the Coronavirus Outbreak and Lockdown? The Government has recognised that the Coronavirus emergency in the UK means that greater protection from eviction is necessary for both individuals and families as...

If you are attending mediation to resolve disagreements about some decisions relating to relationship breakdown, separation or divorce, you might be wondering what this involves. What to expect during mediation following separation A mediator is...

Talking and teamwork to tackle Christmas break-ups Divorce rates have fallen to their lowest level since the 1970s but marriage breakdowns continue to spike after the festive season, and professionals are encouraging couples with rocky...

The Justice Secretary, David Gauke, has today announced new legislation to overhaul divorce law and reduce family conflict. Divorcing couples will no longer have to blame each other for the breakdown of their marriage. The announcement follows a public...

Congratulations to Hannah who has recently qualified as a Solicitor within our Dispute Resolution team! Hannah joined the firm in August 2013 working as an administrator during her holidays from University before successfully securing a...

Landlords could face penalties if they are not up to date with the latest legislation designed to protect tenants. New requirements from October 2018 centre around changes to Section 21 eviction notices for tenancies that were created before October...

Being in debt and being owed a debt can place significant stress on a person’s personal relationships, professional life and even their health. However, the situation can be worsened if relevant protocols are not followed by the person owed a...

It’s every landlord’s nightmare. For whatever reason, your tenants have stopped paying the rent and are now in arrears. If you rely on their rent to cover the mortgage costs of the property, this can be a worrying time. Even if the property is...

Relationship breakdown can be difficult and highly emotional experience. However it can be ten times worse if there are children involved. Every situation will be different and depend on the unique circumstances of the family unit. Whatever happens, it is...

If you are a recently divorced step-parent and are wondering what rights you have with regard to seeing your step-children, there are a number of things you need to know. Here, we take a look at what happens after a divorce, what measures a step-parent can...