Open from 9am - 5pm, Mon to Fri | info@bowcockpursaill.co.uk
Family and Matrimonial Solicitor, Lisa Cogger, of Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors, explains how the recently announced changes to UK divorce law by the Government will work in England and Wales. Why is UK divorce law changing? Existing divorce law in the UK has remained unaltered for nearly 50 years, and increasing demands for change came following the Tini Owens case in 2018. The Supreme Court ruled in July that she could not divorce her husband without her spouse’s consent until they have lived apart for a period of five years. Owens and her husband, Hugh Owens, had been living separate lives...
On May 17 the Supreme Court heard its first ever case on divorce itself rather than issues relating to finances or children. Tini Owens, aged 68, wanted the court to grant her a divorce from her husband of 40 years, who refused the split. The Supreme Court unanimously rejected the appeal, meaning she must remain married until 2020. Our family and matrimonial solicitor Lisa Cogger examines the case and what it means for the divorce process. Tini and Hugh Owens were married in 1978 and have two adult children, and Mrs Owens had been contemplating a divorce since 2012 but...
Staffordshire families and couples facing a relationship or marital breakdown are set to benefit from a new service from Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors which will allow them to resolve their issues outside of court. Our Associate Solicitor Lisa Cogger, has qualified as a Collaborative Family Lawyer, a process which offers a non-confrontational approach to dealing with divorce and other areas of family law without having to go to court. The whole process is led by the client and involves a series of four-way meetings where both solicitors and their clients are present and work together to find a fair and...
A re-designed Divorce Petition came into force as from 4 September this year. Here, Lisa Cogger our family and matrimonial specialist, looks at some of the changes which have been made and how those differences are viewed within the legal process. As from 4 September 2017, the Courts no longer accept ‘old’ Divorce Petitions, with solicitors having been using the new style forms as from 7 August 2017. Much of the new style Petition remains the same in terms of content. However, the design format has undergone a significant re-vamp in an attempt to make the divorce/dissolution process more user-friendly....
Grandparents’ Rights There can be many reasons why family relationships do not run smoothly. As grandparents, exactly what rights do you have if you have been denied access to your grandchildren? Here our Family and Matrimonial specialist, Caroline Gregg, answers your key questions. What legal rights do grandparents have to see their grandchildren? Sadly, grandparents do not have an automatic right to contact with their grandchildren. However, family courts will recognise the invaluable role which grandparents play in their grandchildren’s lives and it is very rare that a court would refuse access unless there is evidence of serious welfare concerns...
The long-awaited court judgment on June 13 2017 of Sharp v Sharp has changed the way the courts will divide up a divorcing couple’s assets where the marriage is short and childless. Lisa Cogger, Matrimonial Solicitor, at Bowcock & Pursaill, explains what the Sharp case means for future divorce cases. Lisa says: “Lord Justice McFarlane ruled that the combination of potentially relevant factors e.g. a short marriage, no children of the family, dual incomes and separate finances, was enough to justify a departure from the equal sharing principle, that has been long established, to achieve overall fairness between the two...
Farms are very specialised businesses and it is important to have the right quality of legal advice to ensure a fair outcome. This is an area where experience counts, as claims against farms can be damaging to both their short and long term viability. Farming families need to think about their divorce settlement in a very different way when it is the farm that is at stake rather than simply the family home. Agricultural divorce can therefore be uniquely complex. On divorce, the Courts are able to transfer or sell farmland, distribute business assets or transfer shares between the couple...
Cohabiting couples often assume that moving in together as a couple creates similar rights and responsibilities as marriage – so-called common law marriage – however this does not have any legal recognition. If you are moving in together you should know how cohabiting affects your legal position and how you can protect yourselves should your relationship end or one of you dies. Our family and matrimonial specialist Lisa Cogger here at Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors explains more and answers your most common questions… YOUR LEGAL STATUS Q. Is it true that if you live with someone for so many years then you have some...
Farming families need to think about their divorce settlement in a very different way when it is the farm that is at stake rather than simply the family home. Farms are very specialised businesses and it is important to have the right quality of legal advice. This will save you time and money in the long term. This is because: Farms are income light and capital heavy – the value of the land and property can be substantial compared with the income from them. Farms are often inherited, prior to a marriage, making them non-matrimonial assets that will not be subject to...
Founded in 1927, Bowcock & Pursaill has been our clients’ number one choice for solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire for almost 100 years. We also act on behalf of clients throughout the country.
The firm prides itself on its customer service, offering detailed and bespoke advice to clients thanks to our small and highly specialised team of partners, solicitors and legal executives based in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
Are you interested in joining Bowcock & Pursaill? We have a friendly and supportive atmosphere, where everyone knows everyone else and there’s a good team spirit.
Please fill in the form below and we will call you to discuss your needs.
