Blog Articles

This week commenced with International Women's Day. A day that should be celebrated by all and an opportunity to recognise their incredible achievements in a male-dominated society.   However, this message was quickly lost, in a week that has left women up and down the country tired and frustrated.   Firstly, we had Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah, which should have been an opportunity for people to empathise with her situation.   This was not the case, the bravery that Meghan showed to discuss her feelings in what would be a blockbuster interview was met with contempt from an established television presenter, who stated that he did not believe her when she discussed her suicidal thoughts through some difficult moments.   What does that message send to people up and down the country who are also struggling in an incredibly challenging time? Whether you believe her or not, support should be the only appropriate response to such a claim.   This week also coincided with 'Say No More' week, an opportunity to raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence.   Especially in a time where one...

Hi Everyone,   We've decided that every week, we're going to answer your most burning legal questions about several topics that you can see in the graphic. We're calling it #ASKPICASSO (we know, imaginative right) anyway, this week we're focussing on Care proceedings, so see our answers to your most common queries below!   Q1) What are Care   A)    Care proceedings are when Children’s Services address the court regarding your child/children’s living situation and safety in your home. This will be carried out by your child’s social worker if they are concerned about your child’s safety.   Q2) What will trigger a concern for the local authority and Children’s Services to consider moving forward with Care proceedings?   A)    The two main triggers are abuse or neglect. Abusing a child includes physical abuse, sexual abuse or emotional abuse. Neglect of a child includes not giving a child enough food or drink, not keeping your child clean or not taking your child to the doctor when necessary.   Q3) How long do Care proceedings last?   A)    Care proceedings typically take...

Hi Everyone,   We've decided that every week, we're going to answer your most burning legal questions about several topics that you can see in the graphic. We're calling it #ASKPICASSO (we know, imaginative right) anyway, this week we're focussing on Severance of Tenancy, so see our answers to your most common queries below!   Q1) What is Severance of Tenancy?  A)    A severance of tenancy is essentially splitting your joint-owned property into clearly defined portions (50/50), so that should you pass on, your property is not automatically transferred to the other joint owner, but instead is transferred to the beneficiaries that you select. This is particularly important for a couple who are recently divorced, as it allows you to select your children as the natural recipients of your half of the property (or whoever else you would like to select), rather than having to rely on your former spouse to provide for them or give them the responsibility to do so.   Q2) How do I Sever the Joint Tenancy?  A)    A Notice of Severance must be signed by the party who wishes to sever the tenancy, and this will then need to be served upon the...

Hi Everyone,   We've decided that every week, we're going to answer your most burning legal questions about several topics that you can see in the graphic. We're calling it #ASKPICASSO (we know, imaginative right) anyway, this week we're focussing on divorce proceedings, so see our answers to your queries below!   Q1) What do you need to get divorced? A) You'll need a £550 Court fee OR proof of low income, the original marriage certificate, contact details, an idea of what led to the breakdown of the marriage and at least one of you living in England or Wales.   Q2) How long does a divorce take to finalise? A) Usually, a divorce takes between four and six months to finalise, however, this is more like a year during a global pandemic.   Q3) How much does a divorce cost? A) This depends on whether you consider a DIY divorce or other options. On average, divorce at the moment in the UK costs around £14,000 from start to finish to finalise, but that figure is also dependant on whether the divorce is contested or not, living arrangements and legal costs. Payment plans may be available to support...

Hi Everyone,   We've decided that every week, we're going to answer your most burning legal questions about several topics that you can see in the graphic. We're calling it #ASKPICASSO (we know, imaginative right) anyway, this week we're focussing on Will writing, so see our answers to your most common queries below!   Q1) How will writing a Will help me in the future? A) If you have a Will, you are able to make sure that your possessions go to the people who are most likely to appreciate them. Not everyone will receive your complete collection of Star Trek DVDs with the gratitude and respect they merit! This gives you complete control over your assets (property, money, possessions) and provides you with an opportunity to distribute them accordingly. Having a Will, also ensures the financial security of your children should one or both parents/guardians are to pass.   Q2) What are the different types of Wills that exist? A) There are four different types, these are Simple Wills, Testamentary Trust Wills, Joint Wills and Living Wills.   Simple Wills allow you to decide who will receive your assets and...

Interview with “Jenny” To maintain important General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), this interview will discuss a client’s case and experience with Picasso Legal under the pseudonym of “Jenny” to ensure their anonymity and protection. Sam: So Jenny how did Picasso Legal help you and what did your case involve? Jenny: My case involved a non-molestation order, divorce and Picasso Legal are also assisting me in fighting for custody of my kids. Sam: Interesting, so how long was it until you decided to reach out to Picasso Legal? Jenny: I had suffered about a month of constant abuse, it was becoming too much, then I decided to reach out. At first, I got myself into a women’s refuge for my safety, the police got in touch and I made a statement, following that the NCDV referred me to Picasso Legal who has been handling my case ever since. I’ve been waiting for divorce proceedings to take place, but my partner has not cooperated with the process. What I will say is, he thought he had control of me, and he did for a short while, but he no longer does. I am starting to gain more control of my life again. Sam:...

To be completely honest, going through a divorce is incredibly challenging because the entire process becomes a rollercoaster of powerful emotions that you don’t have complete control of. For me, there was a gradual feeling of inevitability that divorce was the only logical outcome that made sense for me, my partner and the kids. It was a rollercoaster of extreme emotions. Yes, it is horrible, sad and difficult to bear, then you accept the situation for what it is and try to be amicable, then fall back into feeling sad, assigning blame and getting angry about the situation all over again. It’s tough. With children, it’s particularly difficult, you have to let them know what’s going on without giving them too much information because you know that they shouldn’t be involved in adult issues. You are trying to help them to understand that it’s not their fault, you have to try and keep them out of the recriminations that start flying around, but also not confuse them when everything is amicable and they think you’re going to get back together again, it’s a balancing act throughout and very difficult to manage....

Here at Picasso Legal, we want to support you. We understand that sometimes life isn't always easy, that's why we're here to help. If you require our assistance, we are here to support you. We don't want to riddle you with debt, and we don't want to intimidate you. That's why we offer one free consultation meeting, as well as fixed fees so you know what you're getting right from the start. This means that you can easily calculate the cost of our service to you with no additional concerns regarding your finances, giving you the opportunity to fully focus on your case or situation and get the best outcome for you. We have your best interests at heart and we'll always offer the most practical solutions that suit your needs best. If you need any support or assistance, we're here for you. Please get in touch today.

2020 has been a tough year for everyone. We have all had to adapt to the challenges and ever-changing circumstances of the pandemic, impacting our professional and personal lives significantly. The legal profession has not been an exception to the rule, clients and solicitors have also had to adapt quickly based on government Since March the industry has had a shakeup of how court hearings have been dealt with, whilst courts deal with some in person, I am to set foot in a courtroom, everything has been conducted over the telephone and occasionally over Skype. The legal industry, just as many industries, has become reliant on technology. It has made things more efficient, but some clients have found it difficult without the face to face interaction and support.  Some clients have had to endure complicated family matters play out in court as they watch on through Skype or listen in through the telephone, some of these matters involve children which makes it even more heartbreaking for families The announcement of a second lockdown has brought about different rules to the first, with courts exempt from the new restrictions,...

Okay, so I know what you're Making a Will is something people only whisper about, its doom and gloom and causes premature death. It’s about what happens after you die and nobody wants to think about that. We all know that after-death experiences include embarrassed silences and soggy triangle sandwiches. Not fun at all.  But actually, choosing presents for your family is fun! (Think Christmas without cutthroat shopping in overcrowded shops!) And giving to charity creates a warm fuzzy glow inside, don't leave it to chance it's time to act So why should you make a Will? 1) Firstly, if you have a Will, you are able to make sure that your possessions go to the people who are most likely to appreciate them. Not everyone will receive your complete collection of Star Trek DVDs with the gratitude and respect they merit! This gives you complete control over your assets (property, money, possessions) and provides you with an opportunity to distribute them accordingly. 2) A common-law husband or wife is not recognised because there is no such relationship in law. You have a stronger legal relationship with your lodger than your...

"There must be a better way" This week in a blockbuster interview, we sat down with director and solicitor of Picasso Legal, Lisa Pickering, to find out more about how the local law firm launched back in 2014. Sam: So Lisa, what were you doing prior to launching your own independent family law Lisa: Before launching Picasso Legal I was working in a different law firm and to be honest I enjoyed the role, for the most part, I liked interacting with clients and the workload was manageable too, it was a relatively nice job. Sam: Interesting, so why did you end up leaving and starting up all on your own if everything seemed to be running so smoothly for you? Lisa: Well, after a short while, I became unhappy at work because my boss was pushing me to increase my fees and generate more money out of the clients, which generally meant that he wanted me to take more cases to court for the increased financial payment that the business would receive. This wasn’t really something that I believed in personally because operating in this way wouldn’t always benefit the client and sometimes would be detrimental to the client’s...

A new series of interviews with those that work in the domestic abuse sector. Getting an inside feel for what its really like in their job role and sharing it with all of you.  A new interview will go live on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm GMT*  This is the second interview in the series and an important one at that, watch as I speak with Lisa Pickering who is a solicitor from Picasso Legal.  We cover thoughts and opinions as well as how to apply for legal aid, how to handle difficult situations and more. Lisa is the main sponsor for the Abuse Talk forum which is FREE to join, you can ask her questions for free over there.  Find out more about the Abuse Talk forum here: https://jennifergilmour.com/abuse-talk-twitter/

A small independent Telford family law firm has won a Legal Aid contract which could be worth up to £500,000 over the next 12 months. Picasso Legal is now able to take on clients who qualify for legal aid in family matters, meaning they can assist where disputes over finances or children have occurred following a relationship breakdown. Lisa Pickering, director of Picasso Legal said the contract win from the Legal Aid Agency was a huge boost to the small firm based within Meeting Point House in Telford town centre. Ms Pickering launched her firm in 2014 specialising in family law but her services have expanded along with her team which also helps organisations which support victims of domestic abuse. Ms Pickering launched her business with the aim of offering affordable legal advice at a time when families may already be feeling the financial strain of a break-up. The launch came a year after changes in the law which affected who was eligible for legal aid - which is normally given in cases of domestic violence or where a child is at risk of abuse. Ms Pickering offers free 30-minute consultations and is also a Resolution advanced specialist, with particular...

When you get married, you become financially linked to your spouse. Those links relate to income, property, pensions, debt, everything. When you get divorced, those links remain. In Dudley in the West Midlands, a few years back, somebody won the lottery. They'd been divorced for 10 years but they still faced a claim from their ex. Ok, they'd just won the lottery so she gave him money to go away, end of story. But it would generally have been better for them if they didn't face a claim at all. If one of the parties remarries, then they have a new spouse to look after them financially. This means they can't make a claim against their ex. But they are still vulnerable to a claim FROM their ex, unless their ex has remarried as well. Imagine you've got your divorce and you remarry. Your financial circumstances take a dive (perhaps you've lost your job) and your ex has plenty of money and still lives in the old matrimonial home. You can't claim any of it. You've remarried.  Now imagine you've remarried but your ex hasn't. Your ex loses their job and is struggling financially. You could still recieve a claim for some of the money in the matrimonial home. Yes you've...

In the UK there is only one ground for the divorce - that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, can't be fixed, ever. Within a divorce petition you have to give a fact that proves that the marriage has broken down so irretrievably and you have five facts to choose from. You may find that more than one applies but your petition needs to be based on just one. They are: 1. That your spouse has behaved in such a way that you can't be reasonably expected to continue living with them.  This covers a pretty broad set of circumstances because it is specificially about what YOU have found unbearable - not what your next door neighbour, mother, spouse thinks - YOU.  This can be almost anything but there is a sliding scale of unreasonableness. There are some things that we all would consider unreasonable - domestic abuse, having relationships with other men/women - and there other things that may only be unreasonable for you.  If your spouse has been coming in from work and putting their feet on the coffee table without first taking off their shoes, AND YOU GET UPSET BY THAT, then doing it repeatedly is unreasonable.  But you're going to need more examples at the...