The first working Monday back after the Christmas break is dubbed “Divorce Day” by lawyers who typically see an increase in couples considering divorce. This year Divorce Day fell on Monday, January 7. Support service Amicable says that more than 40,500 people will search “divorce” online in January, which is almost 25% higher than at any
Official figures reveal there were 102,703 sales received by the Land Registry in November last year. Of these, 77,369 were freehold, a 2% decrease on November 2017 and 14,866 were newly built, a 13.5% increase over the same period. Of the 102,703 sales received for registration, some 31,721 took place in November 2018 of which
Official figures reveal more than 400 people filed for divorce over the festive period. Thirteen people filed for divorce on Christmas Day. HM Courts & Tribunals Service received 455 online divorce applications from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. Spouses seeking to end their marriage are now able to complete the entire process online by
A woman has been found guilty of dishonestly claiming almost £10,000. Jane Prentice, 50, who claimed to be a single parent on a low income, with three children, was prosecuted after falsely claiming Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support from Swale council between August 2016 and December 2017. However, an investigation by the Department for
A woman who dishonestly claimed more than £18,000 of employment support allowance has avoided jail. Sharron Ensor from Rawmarsh admitted fraud by false representation and was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court. Ensor claimed she was single and received £18,462 in employment support allowance from Barnsley Benefit Centre. Judge Robert Kelson sentenced Ensor to three months
A millionaire has lost a court battle over the family’s 230-year-old estate. William Reeve, 38, says the future of the 3,000-acre Leadenham Estate, in Lincolnshire, is at risk due to his parents’ divorce. He claimed the estate had been promised to him by his father and it was ‘unconscionable’ to split it up in the
Following pressure from MPs and campaigning groups, Justice Minister Lucy Frazer QC has agreed to look at rules allowing grandchildren to maintain contact with grandparents after parental separation. An amendment to the Children Act is being asked to be considered, which would include a child’s right to have a close relationship with members of their
A man broke down in court after accusing his father’s best friend of stealing his inheritance. The court heard that Richard Elliott had discovered his father had signed over the family home to his best friend, Graeme Prance, on the day he died. Prance, 53, is charged with fraudulently helping himself to £60,000 of his friend’s savings
A family of landlords has been ordered to pay almost £250,000 after “cramming” 31 tenants into a four-bedroom house. Council officers found the tenants were forced to sleep in shifts as night workers would swap with those who had daytime working hours at the property in Wembley. Four beds were found in the front room
A man who is a carer for his 37-year-old son is being forced to sell his home or face jail because he wrongly received benefits that cost the taxpayer less than £110. George Henderson, 59, has cared all his life without payment for his son who has mental health problems and is addicted to heroin.