MJP Law

28/05/2026

Separated: But We Still Live Together

More couples these days choose a 'soft separation.'

This means ending the relationship but continuing to live in the same home for some time.

It can be the most practical choice when children, finances, or housing make moving out right away impossible.
But without clear boundaries, it can lead to problems that could be avoided.

Our latest blog covers what to look out for and how to protect yourself and your family, including:
• Considering the financial responsibilities
• How living together affects divorce under the no-fault system
• How to reduce confusion for children
• Practical steps to prevent resentment and disputes
• Why early advice can save stress later

If this sounds familiar, or you think it could be your situation soon, be sure to have a look.

Read the full blog here:

Not every separation means someone moves out immediately. More couples are choosing what we call a “soft separation” deciding to end the relationship but staying under the same roof for a while. It can make practical sense, especially when children, finances, or housing come into play.

26/05/2026

A few things that are easy to keep meaning to sort and never quite do.

With Bank Holiday at the end of the week why not start getting things done.

Here are 6 things that are worth a quiet five minutes:

1. Your Will - Do you have one? Is it up to date? Marriage, divorce, a new child, a new property, any of these can affect what your current will does (or doesn't) do.

2. Lasting Powers of Attorney - There are two types: financial and health & welfare. Both matter. Neither takes long to set up. Most people don't have either in place.

3. Your mortgage - When does your current deal end? If it's within the next 12 months, it's worth knowing your options before you slip onto a standard variable rate.

4. Your property - If you co-own a home, do you know whether you hold it as joint tenants or tenants in common? It affects what happens to your share upon your death.

5. Beneficiaries and executors - Do the people you'd want to handle things know that? Have you told them where your documents are?

6. A conversation you've been putting off - Sometimes the most useful thing on a life-admin list isn't a form or a document. It's a conversation with a partner, a parent, or a sibling.

Knowing where you stand is a good place to start.

If any of these have raised a question, our team will help you identify the right person for a straightforward chat.

21/05/2026

Family Matters!

Our Family Law team can assist you in the following areas:

 Relationship breakdown - including divorce, separation agreements, and financial arrangements

 Child maintenance and arrangements following separation/divorce

 Protective orders - such as non-molestation and occupation

 Protecting your future - including pre-nuptial, post-nuptial, and cohabitation agreements

We also offer a free, no-obligation, 30-minute phone consultation for all new clients.

19/05/2026

Want to make probate easier?

You may think probate is just paperwork, but the reality is that it surprises even the most organised executors.

After years of helping families with probate, we’ve learned it’s rarely as straightforward as people hope.
Executors often start out thinking it’s a simple checklist, but quickly run into property valuations, HMRC forms, asset collection, and debt settlement. When property needs to be sold, there’s even more to coordinate.

Add in the possibility of missing beneficiaries or family disagreements, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

We offer support at any stage, whether you want one-off advice or someone to handle the whole process.

Our goal is to make things clear, organised, and less stressful for families.

14/05/2026

Great time had by all at the BBQ on the Green in Sturminster Marshall! 🌭☀️

We were delighted to sponsor such a fantastic community event and see so many people enjoying the day.

13/05/2026

Completion Day Is One of the Biggest Days of Your Life. Here Is What Is Actually Happening Behind the Scenes.

Getting the keys feels like the finish line. But for your solicitor, completion day is one of the most tightly coordinated moments in the entire process, and the one where the smallest delay can cause the biggest stress.

At MJP Law, we genuinely care about making one of the most significant days of your life go smoothly. That means being on the phone, chasing funds, and communicating clearly throughout the day, not just sending emails into the void.

Here is what is happening on completion day while you are waiting for that call.

Your solicitor is coordinating the transfer of funds through the CHAPS banking system, confirming the mortgage redemption figures, preparing the final completion statement, and ensuring the money reaches the right places at the right time. That statement typically covers sale proceeds, fees and disbursements, mortgage redemption, and estate agent fees. It does not include removals, so that is one to plan separately.

The keys cannot be released until the seller has received all completion monies. In a chain, that means waiting for every transaction below yours to complete first. One delay anywhere in the chain ripples upward.

And delays are increasingly common. Conveyancing now routinely takes longer than it once did. Property chains are longer and more fragile, lenders are applying more stringent compliance checks, and anti-money laundering requirements add layers that simply did not exist a decade ago

Understanding what your solicitor is doing and why things sometimes take time goes a long way to reducing last-minute stress. We keep you informed at every stage so that nothing comes as a surprise.

Read our blog or get in touch to talk through your move.
https://www.mjplaw.co.uk/blog/conveyancing-completion

We are local. We keep things clear. And we are with you every step of the way.

13/05/2026

First house purchase

"I am a first time buyer and instructed MJP to do the conveyancing. Both Lucy Norris and Quinton Jordan were excellent throughout the process and made sure I was aware at all times what was occurring. I would definitely recommend going with MJP!"

24 March 2026

07/05/2026

Clean Break Orders: Divorce Doesn’t Always End the Financial Link

Your divorce can be final, and your finances still unfinished. That is a problem many people do not discover until years later, when it is far harder to fix.

A clean break order is a court-approved financial order that permanently ends all financial claims between you and your former spouse. Once it is in place, neither party can return to make a new claim, regardless of how circumstances change.

Many people assume that once the divorce is finalised, the financial ties are cut automatically. That is not correct. Without a clean break order, your ex could legally claim against future assets, an inheritance, or even a business you build years down the line. There are reported cases where ex-spouses have made successful financial claims decades after divorce, simply because no formal order was ever put in place.

It matters even when you think there is not much to split. It matters even if you have already agreed on things informally. An informal agreement has no legal weight until it is approved by the court.

The good news is that when both parties agree, this is often handled without a court hearing and is more straightforward than many expect. We keep the process clear, the language plain, and the focus on getting you the certainty you deserve so you can move forward without looking over your shoulder.

At MJP Law, we see what happens when the right plans are not in place, and we want to make sure that does not happen to the people around us.

Read our full guide on clean break orders on the blog or get in touch directly to talk through your situation.

https://www.mjplaw.co.uk/blog/clean-break-orders-ending-financial-ties-after-divorce

04/05/2026

May the 4th Be with You. When Life Gets Complicated, You Need More Than the Force.

In Star Wars, the difference between chaos and a clean outcome is usually the same thing: a clear pathway and the right guide. The same is true in real life.

May the 4th is a bit of fun, but it is also a reminder that when life changes quickly, you want your family and estate planning to be clear, not left to chance.

For many families, the legal pathway becomes confusing at the exact moment they need it to be simple: separation, illness, loss, or a major life change. That is why having the right building blocks in place matters.

Think of it as your Jedi Master Plan. Three areas. All connected. All essential.

1. Family and Estate Planning
A will that reflects your real wishes. Lasting Powers of Attorney so that trusted people can act if you cannot. These are not just documents for older people. Life is unpredictable at any age, and having these in place gives your family clarity when they need it most.

2. When Relationships Break Down
Separation is hard enough without legal uncertainty adding to the pressure. Court-approved financial orders, including a clean break order, draw a clear line under finances so neither party can come back years later with a new claim. Without one, you are never truly free from the financial ties of a past relationship, no matter how long ago it ended. We handle this with care, keeping things as straightforward and cost-effective as possible for local families.

3. Conveyancing
Whether you are buying, selling, or transferring a property, the paperwork matters more than most people realise. Missed searches, unclear titles, or delays in exchange can unravel a move at the worst possible moment. Our conveyancing team keeps things moving, communicates clearly, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.

All three areas of law can overlap in real life. A separation often triggers a property transfer. A new home purchase is a good time to write a will. An LPA protects your ability to manage a mortgage if something unexpected happens.

That is why having one local firm across all three makes sense.

Good planning is not dramatic. It is practical. It replaces uncertainty with clear steps, clear responsibilities, and fewer surprises for the people you care about.

Get in touch for help with guidance on your next steps.

And may the Force be with you.

📧 [email protected]
📞 01202 842 929

30/04/2026

Most People in the UK Still Do Not Have a Will. Does That Include You?

Writing a will is not about being pessimistic. It is about making sure the people you love are protected when they need it most.

At MJP Law, we are a local firm rooted in this community. We see firsthand the stress and heartache that can follow when someone passes away without a will in place, and we want to help local families avoid that.

A properly drafted will makes life easier for the people you leave behind. It sets out who inherits, who manages your estate, and what happens if circumstances change. We keep it in plain English, explain each clause, and make sure it reflects your real life, not a generic template.

The numbers tell their own story. The National Wills Report 2025 found that only 37% of UK adults currently have a valid will, leaving nearly two-thirds of the population exposed to the consequences of intestacy. And the rules of intestacy are rigid. Unmarried partners receive nothing, regardless of how long they have lived together. Stepchildren are excluded unless legally adopted. The people you would choose to benefit may not inherit at all.

Demand for wills is at record levels in 2026, driven by growing awareness around inheritance tax changes, family protection, and the very real consequences of dying without one. If you have been putting it off, now is the time to act.

Book a will appointment today. It is one of the most practical things you can do for the people you love.

[email protected]

28/04/2026

Inheritance Tax is Changing in April 2026. Are Farmers and Family Business Owners Ready?

If you own a farm, land, or a family business, you have probably seen the headlines. The rules around inheritance tax are changing from April 2026, and the window to plan is closing fast.

From 6 April 2026, the rules around Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) changed. These reliefs have historically helped farms and family businesses pass to the next generation without forcing a sale to pay an inheritance tax bill. That protection is now being capped.

Here is what has changed, in plain English:
• Unlimited 100% relief is ending.
• You’ll have a £2.5m cap per person for 100% APR/BPR (combined)
• Above that, qualifying assets get 50% relief (so the excess may face an effective 20% IHT)
• Unused allowance can be transferred between spouses/civil partners, meaning many couples could pass up to £5.65m tax-free (with nil-rate bands, if available)

Why it matters right now:
If you are asset-rich in land or business value but cash-light, these changes could create an inheritance tax bill where you were not expecting one. Plans that worked under the old rules may no longer deliver the outcome you want.

And the stakes are real. Industry research found that, following the original announcement, nearly a quarter of family businesses had already cut jobs or paused recruitment in response to the proposed changes. The threshold has since been raised to £2.5 million, which is welcome news, but it does not remove the need to plan.

Our latest blog sets out practical steps to take now, including reviewing wills, trusts, and succession plans, obtaining up-to-date valuations, and putting safeguards such as Lasting Powers of Attorney in place.

At MJP Law, we care about the families and businesses in our community. When changes like this land, we want to make sure the people around us understand what is coming and have time to act.

We are local. We are approachable. And we are here to help you protect what you have built.

Read the full guide here: https://www.mjplaw.co.uk/blog/inheritance-tax-changes-2026-essential-guide-for-farmers-amp-business-owners

Or get in touch directly to talk through your situation.