Blanchards Bailey LLP Solicitors

03/06/2026

Our Managing Partner Paul Dunlop is heading to The Langton Arms on Thursday 4 June for the Love Local Trust Local judging kick-off, where the criteria for this year's awards will begin to take shape. But before he walks through the door, he wants to hear from you.
If you're a Dorset business owner, producer, supplier, or supporter: which criterion do YOU think deserves recognition this year? Drop it in the comments 👇

02/06/2026

When parents separate, children need one thing above everything else: to feel safe.
Clear child arrangements - where they'll live, when they'll see each parent, how birthdays and holidays will work - give children that security.

This week is Child Safety Week, and we've been thinking about how the law can help protect children's emotional wellbeing during some of life's most difficult moments.

Our Head of Family Law (and accredited mediator) Laura Martin has written a guide to child arrangements and how mediation can help families find a way forward without going to Court.

Whether you're at the beginning of this process or stuck somewhere in the middle, it's worth a read. 👇
https://blanchardsbailey.co.uk/insights/child-arrangements-mediation-divorce-england-wales?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=childsafetyweek2026_FL&utm_term=familylaw&utm_content=familylaw

27/05/2026

We put one question to our Contentious Probate team: "What's your proudest or most standout career moment?" The answers speak for themselves.

26/05/2026

New week, new desk.

Brook and Meggie kicked off Monday at the launch of Air 107.2's brand new studios, and let's just say Brook looked very at home behind the mic.

As a sponsor of AIR 107.2 - Weymouth & Portland (listen out for us at the top of the news!) it was a brilliant trip to celebrate a local station investing in its future. And who knows, when the next big piece of legislation hits the headlines, you might just hear a familiar voice breaking it down on air.

Watch this space. 👀

21/05/2026

A dementia diagnosis doesn't mean it's too late to make a Will.

Most people assume it does, and that assumption stops families from seeking advice at exactly the moment they need it most.

A diagnosis doesn't automatically remove someone's legal capacity. What matters is whether the person understands what they're doing at the time the Will is made. With the right legal support, that can be properly assessed, recorded, and protected.

If someone you love has recently been diagnosed, don't assume the window has closed.

Our senior associate Charlotte Parsons has answered the questions families ask us most about dementia and Wills - head to our blog to read them: https://blanchardsbailey.co.uk/insights/insights-can-you-make-a-will-after-dementia-diagnosis?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=dementia-wills-may26

If this could help someone you know, please share it. 💙

20/05/2026

The Dorset Spring Show did not disappoint.
As proud headline sponsors, we had the best time soaking up the atmosphere, meeting familiar faces, and discovering everything this brilliant county has to offer.
Here are just a few highlights from a great weekend.

Thank you to Dorset Spring Show for sharing with us some of their photos from the event.

19/05/2026

We're happy to share that our Managing Partner, Paul Dunlop, has been appointed as a judge for the Love Local Trust Local Awards 2026.

From farm visits to factory tours, Paul will be getting up close with the food, the producers, and the passion behind it all, before casting his verdict on taste and the love that goes into making it.

Good luck to everyone taking part. Paul can't wait to discover the very best of Dorset's local produce.

Who's your favourite Dorset producer? Tag them in the comments.

15/05/2026

Raising a child who isn't legally yours comes with huge responsibility, but without a Special Guardianship Order (SGO), you may not have the overriding authority on day-to-day matters and larger decisions. That gap matters most when birth parents remain involved and conflict continues.

Our Family Law team explains what an SGO actually gives you, and why it matters.

Find out more 👇

Learn how Special Guardianship Orders work with this article from [email protected], who covers Blandford, Dorchester & Weymouth.

14/05/2026

Say hello to the team who help clients through some of life's trickier legal challenges.

Disputes over wills and estates are on the rise, and when they happen, having the right people in your corner makes all the difference.

Our Contentious Trusts and Probate team works with individuals, families and executors through disputes involving wills, estates and trusts. And right now, things are going from strength-to-strength for the team:

We were pleased to recently welcome Nicola Mitchell-Rodd as Senior Associate, a highly experienced contentious probate specialist and full member of both ACTAPS and ConTra. And a huge well done to Brook Carter, who has just qualified as a solicitor into our team after two years of fantastic work across our private client and litigation departments.

We're proud to be rated in The Legal 500 2026 rankings for Contentious Trusts and Probate, with individual accolades for Paul Dunlop, Lucy Mignot and Wingwai T.

If you're facing a will dispute, an Inheritance Act claim, or have concerns about how an estate is being administered, it's always worth getting advice early. We're here whenever you need us.

You can reach out to Lucy Mignot, Head of Contentious Trusts and Probate, to start a conversation ✉️ [email protected]

12/05/2026

88% of employees are feeling more stressed.
73% more anxious.
1 in 5 have taken time off due to stress-related poor mental health.

Mental Health Awareness Week is a good moment to pause and ask: is our workplace actually set up to support people, or just ticking boxes?

There's a difference. And increasingly, employment law recognises that difference too.

Our latest blog by Sophia Radford, Solicitor, Employment Law, and Jane Cordner, Head of HR Services, covers what employers are legally required to do, what good practice looks like in 2026, and where many organisations are still falling short.

Worth a read if you're responsible for staff. https://blanchardsbailey.co.uk/insights/mental-health-at-work-employer-guide?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=mentalhealthatwork2026