Anthony King Solicitors

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Anthony King Solicitors

Our team of expert lawyers has provided the very best advice and help to our clients for over 40 years.

We offer you expertise in the legal issues that matter to you most – your family, your home and your welfare.

10/04/2026

AK Solicitors are pleased to announce that from 13th April 2026, we will be relocating our Southend office to Kingswood House, 58-64 Baxter Avenue, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS2 6BG. This move will allow us to better support our clients in Southend and create more opportunities for our growing team. Our new office is complete with excellent IT facilities and 2 new meeting rooms to provide a confidential and safe space for our clients.

Our phone number will remain the same and you can still contact us on 01702 413697 or [email protected] as well as still being able to contact us at our Basildon office at Church Walk House, Great Oaks, Basildon, SS14 1GJ and telephone number 01268 240400.

11/03/2026

The House of Commons has now released its research briefing on how the family courts make decisions regarding child arrangements, particularly in circumstances where domestic abuse has been alleged and/or found.

The briefing provides helpful information as to the following key aspects:

• Presumption of parental involvement – the legal principle which states that the court must start from the presumption that it is in the best interests of a child’s welfare for them to have involvement with both of their parents.

• Practice Direction 12J – the legal framework guiding the court on how to deal with child arrangement cases where domestic abuse is alleged.

• Parental alienation – where allegations are raised that a child has become estranged from one parent as a result of the actions of the other.

• Government reforms following completion of the Harms Report – where issues were highlighted regarding inadequate resources for parents and the failure to protect vulnerable individuals.

If you are currently a party to private law children proceedings, or are contemplating issuing an application, then this briefing may assist in your overall understanding of the process and how the courts make decisions regarding the arrangements for children.

The briefing can be accessed via the following link: Child arrangements: the family court and domestic abuse (England and Wales) - House of Commons Library
It is also important that you seek legal advice where possible and you can get in touch with us by calling 01268 240400.

This post was written by Elle MacDonald.

Elle Macdonald is a solicitor in the family department representing parents and extended family members in care proceedings and private law children proceedings. Elle also has experience with domestic abuse and divorce and finance matters. Elle is contactable on 01268 240400 and [email protected] .

31/12/2025

From all of us at AK Solicitors, we would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. Our offices will reopen at 09:00am on Friday, 2nd January 2026.

24/12/2025

Our offices are now closed. From all of us at AK Solicitors, we would like to wish our clients, colleagues, friends and family a very Merry Christmas. Our offices will reopen at 9:00am on Monday, 29th December.

12/11/2025

A recent survey conducted by The National Will Register of 2,004 people across the UK has revealed the following statistics:-

• Only 37% of adults have made a will;

• Of those who have made a will, 43% chose for this to be drafted by a solicitor;

• The primary reason given for making a will was to make sure the estate was distributed correctly;

• 56% of adults over the age of 55 have made a will;

• Only 20% of adults aged 18-24 have written a will;

• 25% of the people surveyed stated that they did not know how to make a will.

The percentage of people choosing for their will to be drafted by a solicitor emphasises a continued preference for professional guidance for such fundamental documents. This is particularly due to the complexity and importance of getting this right first time. The primary reason given for making a will highlights the desire for clarity and control over assets after death. Having a will is very important for everyone, regardless of age.

AK Solicitors can assist you in making or updating a will. For further information or for an appointment contact us by phone 01268 240400 or by email [email protected]

For full details of the report -https://www.nationalwillregister.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/09/The-National-Wills-Report-2025.pdf

05/11/2025

On 27th October, the Ministry of Justice announced that from November, survivors of violence and domestic abuse involved in debt proceedings will no longer have to pay the £318 fee to ensure their abuser cannot track them down via public records.

It is a statutory requirement that when someone applies for an insolvency debt solution, such as bankruptcy, a debt relief order, or an individual voluntary arrangement, their name and address are published on the Insolvency Register. A Persons at Risk of Violence (PARV) Order is the only legal route to prevent details from being published. Up until November 2025 the fee for this was £318.

The abolition of this unnecessary fee is the latest measure in the Government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade and a key part of the Plan for Change to protect victims and restore faith in the justice system.

For more information, please click the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/better-protection-for-victims-at-risk-of-violence-as-fee-scrapped

31/10/2025

Following a long campaign by Claire Throssell MBE, the Government has recently announced plans to repeal section 1(2A) of the Children Act 1989 that requires the court to make a presumption that it is in the child’s best interests to have involvement from both parents. This presumption has led to court orders being made for contact between children and perpetrators of domestic abuse.

This momentous decision will change the way family cases are dealt with by the court and is a substantial move towards changing the family justice system to place the children’s welfare and safety at the very top of the court’s consideration.

Unfortunately, this is only a plan to repeal the presumption of parental involvement, and it will take time for the legislation to be formally repealed. However, the Government’s acceptance that the existing legislation needs to be changed is a significant step forwards.

14/10/2025

On 2nd October 2025, the Ministry of Justice announced the biggest overhaul to marriage law since the 19th century.

Marrying couples will have more freedom over where and how they get married, allowing them to get married in a wider range of locations such as beaches and at heritage sites as well as making it more straightforward for couples to have legally binding religious ceremonies and allowing non-religious groups to conduct legally binding ceremonies for the first time.

The intended reforms hope to deliver a £535 million injection into the economy, creating up to 12,000 jobs as part of their Plan for Change to kickstart economic growth.

The government will undertake a consultation early next year.

For more information, please click on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-boost-to-economy-through-wedding-law-reform

09/10/2025

The charity, Will Aid - www.willaid.org.uk has conducted a survey of 2000 adults in which over half of the participants were unaware of the rule that marriage revokes a will.

The Law Commission report has recommended the removal of this rule, however, until such proposals may come into force, the existing law still remains. This means that, for example, a will written during a period of cohabitation with a partner will no longer be valid once the marriage to that partner has taken place.

AK Solicitors can assist you in making or updating a will. For further information or for an appointment contact us by phone 01268 240400 or by email [email protected]

25/09/2025

Sharenting is a term used for parents posting details about their children’s lives on social media. While often done with good intentions, such sharing of milestones and images carries the increased risk of cybercrimes and digital harm such as cyberbullying, online harassment, identify theft, identify fraud, privacy breaches and contact by a stranger.

Researchers at the University of Southampton have conducted the first study on the harms of sharenting which demonstrates a link between sharenting and children becoming victims of cybercrime. The team surveyed more than 1,000 UK parents and found that 45% actively share pictures and content regarding their children online and had experienced at least one form of digital harm. Through in-depth interviews with parents, researchers found that parents were largely unaware of the potential risks to children that sharenting poses.

Concerningly, despite parents believing profiles to be private, there is an ‘overestimation’ of the effectiveness of social media platforms to prevent images from being more widely shared. Most parents are not aware that social media features like tagging and resharing can override cybersecurity features such as privacy settings. Even if your profile is set to ‘private’ and posts are only visible to ‘friends’, if anyone is tagged then friends can see, copy and reshare the post.

The University is campaigning to raise awareness of the risks of sharenting, calling for intervention at government level. The University will present its findings to Parliament later this year. The University has created a checklist that provides safety information for parents to help gauge and understand their knowledge about the risks of sharentinghttps://www.protechthem.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/424/2025/08/110782-ESRC-Digital-checklist-WEB-3.pdf

For more information, please click on the following link: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/news/2025/09/researchers-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-sharenting-dangers.page

21/09/2025

World Alzheimer's Month takes place every September and World Alzheimer's Day is on 21 September each year. Its purpose is to raise awareness of dementia, removing stigma and educating others on the condition and to support people affected by the disease.

Our director, Jane Cowdrey, is a ‘Dementia Friend’. This is an initiative run by The Alzheimer’s Society and is an issue close to Jane’s interests both professionally and personally.

Each year the World Alzheimer’s campaign is based around a theme which aims to show just how vital it is to help end the devastation of dementia and the impact it has on those living with it and their families. This year the Alzheimer’s Society is focusing on conversations about dementia – moments of honesty, connection and courage. Talking openly about dementia helps break down stigma and build understanding. For someone with a diagnosis, being able to share their experiences and stay connected can bring comfort and confidence. For carers, having the chance to talk about the impact dementia is having on their life can help considerably.

A dementia diagnosis can leave you feeling scared or anxious but Dementia Advisers are there to support you every step of the way. You can call the Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 or find out more ways to get support at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/ to make sure no one faces dementia alone.

Dementia is the biggest killer in the UK. It is the largest health and social care issue of our time, yet it is not given the priority it needs. The impact of this is huge on the lives of those it affects, on the healthcare system and on the economy.

Families across the UK are struggling to get the care they desperately need. With no immediate cure for dementia, care is the only form of support people have. You can add your voice to Alzheimer's Society's campaigns, fighting for real change for people affected by dementia.

AK Solicitors is a dementia friendly company and we are here to offer our legal services and to support you and your family through the challenges faced by this condition. – https://anthonyking.co.uk/legal-services/wills-lpa-probate/

Address

Church Walk House, Great Oaks
Basildon
SS141GJ

Telephone

+441268240400

Website

http://www.anthonyking.co.uk/

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