An Emergency Protection Order (EPO) is an order under section 44 of the Children Act 1989. An EPO may be necessary when the applicant, usually a Local Authority, has grounds to believe that a child is at risk of significant harm due to neglect or abuse. The Order may be made without notice, although this is very unusual. A Guardian will always be appointed for the child on an application for an EPO. When would the Court grant an Emergency Protection Order? The Court may make an EPO if it has reasonable cause to believe that a child is likely to suffer significant harm if: They are not removed ..read more

In this series, we introduce our B Corp Champions. Spread across all teams and sectors these dedicated individuals share their knowledge on B Corp, to not only improve practices in our own firm, but to help others implement their own changes. For this edition we introduce Victoria Wells, solicitor in our Property Litigation team. Can you tell us why you wanted to become a B Corp Champion and how it fits in with your role at Stephens Scown? The values held by a B Corp certified business align with my own personal values. I wanted to become a B Corp Champion to assist with embedding and promotin ..read more

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a pivotal tool for creators and influencers. As AI technologies advance, they offer unprecedented opportunities for enhancing content creation and distribution – as well as impersonating another person. Deepfakes are incredibly realistic, making it difficult to distinguish between real and manipulated media. These advancements are accompanied by complex legal considerations, particularly concerning image rights in the laws of England and Wales. Image Rights Image rights refer to the right of an individual to control the commercial use of their identity ..read more

What is Collaborative Family Law? Collaborative law is a process by which separating spouses reach agreements together by way of a series of face to face round table meetings. Parties can deal with issues such as how and when they will separate, their divorce, how they will divide their finances, communication issues, parenting and arrangements for their children. Each party retains their own lawyer, and takes their own advice throughout the process, but there is a collaborative rather than combative approach. Each party gets a chance to have their say and work together with their spouse in th ..read more

At Stephens Scown, we have a large and dedicated family team, that are expertly trained to help you, no matter the complexity. Over the following months, we would like to introduce you to members of our team, so you can get to know us just that little bit better. Today, we meet Andy Barton, Lizzie Smith and Tamsin Best, solicitors from our Exeter, Taunton and Cornwall offices. Andy Barton Andy Barton is Partner and Head of the Family Team at Stephens Scown, having joined the firm as a Trainee Solicitor in 2001. Andy, who is based primarily in our Exeter office, specialises in matrimonial finan ..read more

Benitia Knowles-Wright, associate in the Family team, loves to go walking when the sun is shining and she has written about some of her favourite routes to take across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. If you want to get out of the house this Spring, take a note of the walks below. We all know of the benefits of getting out into the fresh air. As we move into Spring, with the dark evenings and endless rainstorms passing (the latter being a hope – it is Britain after all), there is even more opportunity to do that. There are many ways of getting out and about, but we’re fans of the basic walk; no e ..read more

Divorce can bring with it some unexpected changes: emotionally, physically and socially. Resilience, patience and self-compassion are incredibly important at this time. Clients may need guidance through these experiences, helping not only with the emotional aspects but the physical and social changes that so often run alongside the breakdown of a relationship. Emotionally, divorce can trigger a rollercoaster of feelings, from grief and anger to relief and acceptance. I encourage individuals to acknowledge and process these emotions, rather than supress them, creating a safe, non-judgemental sp ..read more

Chris Duffield, Paralegal in the Family Team, has been sharing his tips for surfing in Devon and Cornwall. Chris grew up surfing in Zimbabwe and since moving to Exeter 4 years ago he has been exploring the best surfing beaches in the Southwest. Surfing is an amazing way to enjoy the fantastic scenery of the southwest coast and to have an adventure outdoors. It may feel like an intense hobby to begin out of the blue, it could be easier to get involved than you think. Benefits to surfing Surfing is a great way to stay fit because it works many muscle groups. You will use your arms for paddling ..read more

The first question that should be asked before initiating court proceedings against a debtor is whether obtaining payment from the debtor is realistic. A court judgement or enforcement proceedings will likely to be not worthwhile if the debtor lacks assets. Even if the debtor does have assets, they may still not be worth pursing if they are further depleted by incurring legal costs. On the other hand, if the debtor does have assets, the best enforcement method can be considered by learning as much as possible about those assets. The Debt Landscape The Money Charity statistics help to provide a ..read more

Leaving employment can be overwhelming in any event, but particularly if you are not leaving on amicable terms with your employer and certain events have led to departure. This can often make ex-employees feel deflated. However, you are not powerless to do anything about it and may be able to bring a claim against your employer. If you feel as though the steps taken by your employer were unfair, unreasonable and may be unlawful then you can take legal advice and consider if you wish to bring a claim against your employer. If you are wondering how exactly to bring a claim and don’t know where t ..read more