Fulford Legal Services

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Fulford Legal Services

Fulford Legal Services is your specialist family law solicitor based in York.

We are committed to getting the best results for you with exceptional client service and straight-forward, pragmatic advice. Fulford Legal Services specialise in family law; advising clients on the broad spectrum of legal issues arising from relationship breakdown including divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, separation, children arrangements, cohabitation, and domestic violence. Andrew Smith (Partner), has particular interest in the financial aspects of divorce, and also advises on complex issues such as pre-nuptial agreements, and property ownership disputes between non-married couples. We are a member of North and West Yorkshire Resolution, a group of family law solicitors with a focus on facilitating non-contentious family law agreements.

19/10/2026

Business owners: what happens to your company during divorce?

If you've built a business during your marriage - whether it's a limited company, partnership, or sole trader operation - you need to understand how courts treat these assets in divorce proceedings.

Your business may feel personal (because it is), but in financial remedy proceedings, courts view it as a matrimonial asset - available for division alongside property, pensions, and investments.

This doesn't mean automatic 50/50 splits or forced business sales. But it does mean your company sits squarely on the table from the outset.

I've written a comprehensive guide explaining: • The matrimonial asset principle • How courts value businesses • When business assets must be divided • Recent case law (LE v EL [2024]) • What you should consider now

Read the full article on our website: https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/how-courts-treat-business-assets-divorce/

Understanding how courts approach business assets isn't something to leave until separation is imminent. By then, your options have narrowed considerably.

25/09/2026

"Does the 12-week timeline compromise safety?"

A common concern about Child Focused Courts is whether compressed timescales overlook safeguarding issues.

The model has been designed to identify risks - particularly domestic abuse - earlier, not later. The Family Court Adviser conducts thorough checks with police and Local Authorities before the first substantive hearing.

If concerns are identified, your case can be diverted into a different pathway that provides appropriate protection and fact-finding hearings where necessary.

The process is intended to be more trauma-aware and less adversarial for those who have experienced domestic abuse, with the court retaining full ability to make protective arrangements before determining final child arrangements.

Learn what to expect from the Child Focused Courts safeguarding process: https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/child-focused-courts-what-parents-should-expect/

24/09/2026

The Decision Hearing isn't what you might expect.

Child Focused Courts replace adversarial position-arguing with problem-solving discussion.

When you attend the Decision Hearing (typically 10-12 weeks after your application), the judge has already reviewed the Child Impact Report. They know the background, the concerns, and what your child has said.

Rather than asking you to present competing arguments about arrangements, the judge focuses discussion on what your child needs and what must change to provide it.

This can feel unfamiliar if you've prepared to explain your position or counter the other parent's claims. The emphasis is on solutions, not problems - on your child's welfare, not parental grievances.

Understanding how this hearing operates helps you prepare effectively.

Read the full procedure breakdown: https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/child-focused-courts-what-parents-should-expect/

23/09/2026

Your child's voice reaches the judge before you enter the courtroom.

One of the most significant changes in Child Focused Courts is when and how children are heard.

Where appropriate for their age and understanding, your child will be spoken to directly by a Family Court Adviser early in the process. What they say about their daily life, what worries them, and what they need forms part of the Child Impact Report the judge reviews before making any decisions.

This isn't about forcing children to choose between parents - it's about ensuring their lived experience informs the court's decision-making from the outset rather than emerging late in proceedings after positions have hardened.

Understand how Child Focused Courts prioritise children's welfare: https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/child-focused-courts-what-parents-should-expect/

22/09/2026

"When will CAFCASS contact me?"

Under Child Focused Courts, the answer is: within days of your application, not months into proceedings.

A Family Court Adviser will meet with you separately, with the other parent separately, and with your child where safe to do so. They'll prepare a Child Impact Report within 8 weeks - before you attend a substantive court hearing.

This early information gathering is designed to give the judge a comprehensive picture of your child's situation upfront, including: → Your child's daily life and wishes → Safeguarding concerns → School and professional input → Police and Local Authority checks

The timeline is compressed, which means being prepared for early contact matters.

Learn more about the Child Focused Courts procedure: https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/child-focused-courts-what-parents-should-expect/

21/09/2026

The family court system for child arrangements has changed.

Child Focused Courts - now operating across England and Wales - replace multiple court hearings with a 12-week process that prioritises your child's voice from the start.

If you're navigating child arrangements following separation, understanding the new procedure helps you prepare for what's ahead.

CAFCASS will contact you within days of your application to gather information for a Child Impact Report. Your child will be spoken to directly where appropriate. The judge will review this comprehensive report before your first substantive hearing.

The process looks completely different from what you might have heard about from friends who went through the old system.

Read what parents should expect from Child Focused Courts: https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/child-focused-courts-what-parents-should-expect/

11/09/2026

"We'll sort out the legal stuff later. We trust each other."

Trust isn't the issue. Life is.

Relationships end. People die unexpectedly. Circumstances change. Disagreements arise about what was promised years ago.

Without proper legal documentation:
• Property disputes become expensive litigation
• Contributions can't be proven
• Intentions are impossible to establish
• Children's security is compromised

Cohabitation agreements, declarations of trust, and properly structured wills aren't about mistrust. They're about protecting both of you.

After 16 years in family law, I've never met anyone who regretted putting protections in place. I've met hundreds who regretted waiting.

Read our complete guide to cohabitation rights and the protections you need 👇

https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/cohabitation-rights-government-consultation-reform/

10/09/2026

Your partner dies without a will. You've lived together for 20 years and raised children together.

Under current law, you inherit... nothing.

The property passes to their relatives. The savings, the pension, the possessions - distributed according to intestacy rules that don't recognise your relationship.

This harsh reality affects thousands of cohabiting couples every year.

The government's consultation proposes reform. But those changes won't help families facing this situation today.

A properly drafted will and the right legal structures make the difference between security and devastation. Understand your legal position and the protections available 👇

https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/cohabitation-rights-government-consultation-reform/

09/09/2026

3.5 million couples in the UK are cohabiting.

Most don't realise they have virtually no legal protection if their relationship ends.

❌ No automatic property rights
❌ No maintenance claims
❌ No pension sharing
❌ No inheritance without a will

The government's recent consultation proposes significant changes - but legislation is years away.

If you're living together, waiting for future reform isn't a strategy. It's a risk.

Find out what protections you can put in place now 👇

https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/cohabitation-rights-government-consultation-reform/

08/09/2026

"We've been together 15 years. Surely I have some rights to the house?"

This is one of the most heartbreaking conversations in family law - because the answer is often no.

Unless your name is on the property deeds, or you can prove specific financial contributions and an agreement to share ownership, you may have no claim. Even after 15 years. Even if you've raised children there.

The government is considering reform. But that won't help relationships ending today.

Protection exists - but it requires proper legal documentation before problems arise.

Understand your position and how to protect yourself 👇

https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/cohabitation-rights-government-consultation-reform/

Address

Eco Business Centre, Amy Johnson Way
York
YO34AG

Website

https://fulfordlegalservices.co.uk/

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