As part of its Spring Budget, the government has formally announced changes to the Capital Gains Tax treatment for separating spouses, which will come into effect on 6 April 2023. The changes were previously hinted at in a government update published in July 2022. The previous rules allowed spouses to transfer assets between them on a ‘no gain no loss’ basis, but only during the tax year of their separation. Any gains or losses from the transfer would then be deferred until the asset is later disposed of by the receiving party. Transfers outside of the tax year of separation incurred Capital G ..read more

Silk Family Law is delighted to announce that we will be hosting a Spring Celebration event featuring an art exhibition by local artist Annie Kennerley. The event will take place on Thursday 30th March and will be a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some beautiful artwork, while also supporting a great cause. Annie Kennerley is a talented artist based in the North East and her work is highly sought after. The exhibition will showcase a range of her paintings and drawings, including some pieces that have never been seen before. In addition to the art exhibition, Silk Family Law will be running ..read more

Name? Jill Clattenburg Job title? Operational and Facilities Manager What does your role at Silk Family Law involve? I am responsible for all aspects of day-to-day operations at the firm including IT support, FM and HR operations. I also assist Joanne with Finance and Administrative support across the firm and organise all staff events. What did you do before you joined the team? When I first left school I did an apprenticeship in hairdressing but since then I have always worked in a finance background for various organisations. What is your favourite part of the job? I love how diverse ..read more

In recent months, we have continued to expand and develop our team. At Silk Family Law, we pride ourselves on recruiting individuals who share our passion and positive attitude to delivering a high level of client care. In September, we welcomed Hannah Craven, a Solicitor based at our Richmond office. Hannah joins the team at Silk Family Law following several years at a previous Solicitors . We feel that it is important for you to get to know our team and the Solicitor who may be progressing your case so please find below some key information about Hannah – enjoy! Name? Hannah Craven Job title ..read more

Name? Elliot Anderson Job title? Legal Assistant What does your role at Silk Family Law involve? In my role, my primary function is to assist the other Solicitors in the team with work as and when they require it. This can consist of writing letters to clients, and drafting case documents alongside scheduling other crucial case administration such as booking counsel for court hearings. At present I operate primarily as Katie Machin’s Legal Assistant, assisting with any tasks Katie requires, and working alongside her to ensure the best possible result for the client. What did you do before yo ..read more

Meet the Team – Ellie Lowes We pride ourselves on providing excellent client service and we can only do that with the support of the whole team. In this blog, we introduce you to one of the solicitors who works in our Newcastle office. Meet Ellie. Name? Ellie Lowes Job title? Solicitor What does your role at Silk Family Law involve? I advise clients on all areas of family law, including financial arrangements on divorce, child arrangements, cohabitation disputes and nuptial agreements. I often work alongside Margaret Simpson and Ian Kennerley, two of the partners in our team. What did you do ..read more

The seasons play a surprisingly strong role when it comes to major decisions around family life and relationships. I have found that the festive period is a peak time for couples getting married or deciding to divorce. Indeed, recent wedding surveys show that up to 40% of all engagements take place between December and February, with Christmas Day being the most popular day to propose, followed by Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day. It is easy to see why couples use this time of celebration to pop the question, with the focus then turning to the wedding plans. There are endless ..read more

The Legal Rights Of Grandparents I had a close relationship with my paternal grandmother and many other grandparents are also very involved in the day-to-day lives of their grandchildren – stepping in when parents have to work, taking them to appointments and playdates and looking after them during school holidays. In my practice as a solicitor though, I’ve seen relationships break down between parents and this affects grandparents. It is quite common for them to become isolated and prevented from seeing their grandchildren, or to become embroiled in the conflict. If this happens, grandparent ..read more

In our final daily blog for Good Divorce Week this week, and as part of our ‘5 steps to a good divorce’, Katie Machin highlights the importance of using a Resolution accredited member… FRIDAY Use A Resolution Accredited Member As an independent body, Resolution is a community of family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way. Resolution was founded in 1982 by a group of family lawyers who believed that a non-confrontational approach to family law issues would produce better outcomes for separating families and their children. Over th ..read more

In the fourth of our daily blogs for Good Divorce Week this week, and as part of our ‘5 steps to a good divorce’, Katie Machin reviews the importance of communication in a separation… THURSDAY Consider Communication Decide at the outset what method of communication is going to be most effective to achieve the outcome sought in your case. There are circumstances where separating parties may both be comfortable in taking advice from their respective solicitors and then meeting to address matters between them directly. Alternatively, some parties may prefer to have those discussions in the presen ..read more