Austin & Carnley

Austin & Carnley Austin and Carnley Solicitors Ltd trading as Austin and Carnley We pride ourselves in our personal service and that you will always receive our best attention.

Austin & Carnley is one of the oldest established firms in Bedfordshire and was founded in Luton in approximately 1884. During the 1950s the firm expanded, incorporating a number of offices, and we have been in Leighton Buzzard ever since. The firm has evolved over the years and we now have a number of thriving practice areas, including Conveyancing, Employment, Family, Wills & Trusts, Probate and

Dispute Resolution. If you are facing employment or matrimonial problems, are moving house, leasing a shop, buying a business, wish to make a will or need help with a loved one’s estate, you need help as quickly but with as little fuss as possible. We aim for proactivity on all our matters, pushing them forward to a speedy conclusion whist maintaining a high quality of service. We also have a large and expanding criminal practice which encompasses both private and legally aided clients. Our criminal lawyers are on both Police Station and Court Duty Solicitor Schemes at Milton Keynes, Luton and Dunstable, and Bedford and are available on rota all day every day throughout the year. We are all qualified lawyers and believe that the best lawyers are those who listen to their clients. You can contact us by telephone, email or in person and we will tell you what we can do to help, and will always let you have an idea of the time scale of the particular matter you are enquiring about with an estimate of the likely costs involved. We serve many clients, including those working in the city and residents of Toddington, Ampthill, Woburn, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes and the surrounding villages.

Testimonial Tuesday. 🏡This one means a lot to our property team — because speed matters when you're going through a move...
02/06/2026

Testimonial Tuesday. 🏡

This one means a lot to our property team — because speed matters when you're going through a move, and we know how stressful the waiting can be.

A huge thank you to this client of Katie Johnson in our Property team for sharing their experience. This is exactly why we do what we do.

Thinking about buying, selling, or transferring a property? Get in touch.

📞 01525 372140
🌐 https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/conveyancing

Today marks the start of Pride Month - and we wanted to mark it in the way that feels most honest to us: by talking abou...
01/06/2026

Today marks the start of Pride Month - and we wanted to mark it in the way that feels most honest to us: by talking about something that actually matters in people's working lives.

LGBTQ+ employees are legally protected from discrimination and harassment in the workplace under the Equality Act 2010. That protection covers recruitment, promotion, working conditions, and dismissal. It applies regardless of the size of the employer.

Those protections exist, but knowing they exist and knowing how to act on them are two different things.

If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination at work, we're here to have a straightforward conversation about where you stand.

This post contains general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Austin & Carnley Solicitors | https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/

Did you know that even after a divorce is finalised, your ex-spouse could still make a financial claim against you, year...
01/06/2026

Did you know that even after a divorce is finalised, your ex-spouse could still make a financial claim against you, years later?

This surprises a lot of people. A divorce legally ends a marriage, but it does not automatically sever financial ties. Without a court-approved financial consent order, either party may retain the right to make financial claims, even long after the divorce.

This includes claims on:

→ Property acquired after separation
→ Pension entitlements
→ Inheritances received later
→ Business interests

A clean break order, made by the court, can close this door for good.

At Austin & Carnley, our family law team handles these matters with care and without unnecessary delay. We understand that separation is one of the most difficult things a person can go through, and we're here to make the legal side as straightforward as possible.

If you're going through a divorce or have recently finalised one, it's worth a conversation.

📞 01525 372140
https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/

*This post is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Sunday 31 May is the last day to comply with a legal requirement that carries a £7,000 fine. Have you done it?If you're ...
30/05/2026

Sunday 31 May is the last day to comply with a legal requirement that carries a £7,000 fine. Have you done it?

If you're a private landlord with an existing tenancy, you must provide every named tenant with the government's official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. That's this Sunday.

Don't leave it until Monday.

What you need to know:
→ The Information Sheet must be the exact PDF downloaded from GOV.UK , a link to it is not valid.

→ It must be given to every tenant named on the tenancy agreement.

→ If a letting agent manages the property, they are responsible, but you remain accountable.

→ Verbal tenancies have a separate process, written tenancy terms must be provided instead.

If you're unsure whether you've complied, or need advice on your obligations under the new rules, our team at Austin & Carnley Solicitors is here to help, quickly and without fuss.

📞 01525 372140
https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/

*This post is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Legal Clarity Series: Unfair dismissal vs wrongful dismissalMost people use these words interchangeably. In law, they me...
29/05/2026

Legal Clarity Series: Unfair dismissal vs wrongful dismissal

Most people use these words interchangeably. In law, they mean completely different things, and the difference could be worth thousands.

Wrongful dismissal is about your contract. It happens when an employer ends your employment in breach of contract, for example, by failing to give you the correct notice period.

Unfair dismissal is about the reason and process. It happens when an employer dismisses you without a fair reason, or without following a fair procedure, regardless of whether they gave you notice.

Key distinctions:
→ Wrongful dismissal, no qualifying period required. You can claim from day one.

→ Unfair dismissal, you generally need two years' continuous employment to bring a claim, with some exceptions.

→ Both can apply at the same time.

→ Compensation in unfair dismissal claims can be substantially higher.

If you've been dismissed and aren't sure which applies to you, or whether you have a claim at all,the right first step is a conversation with a solicitor.

At Austin & Carnley Solicitors, we give you a clear, honest assessment of your position. No pressure, no jargon.

Call us: 01525 372140
Visit our website: https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/

If you died tomorrow, who would make decisions about your home, your children, and your money?It's a question most of us...
28/05/2026

If you died tomorrow, who would make decisions about your home, your children, and your money?

It's a question most of us avoid. But dying without a will, known as dying intestate, means the law decides, not you. And the law's answer may not be the one your family would choose.

A few things people often get wrong:

→ If you're not married, your partner has no automatic legal right to your estate, regardless of how long you've been together.

→ If you have children but no will, a court decides who cares for them if both parents die.

→ Your estate could take significantly longer to administer without a will, adding stress for those left behind.

→ Making a will doesn't have to be expensive or complicated.

At Austin & Carnley Solicitors, we've been helping Bedfordshire families protect what matters most since 1884. Making a will is one of the most straightforward things we can help you with, and one of the most important.

Why wait for a rainy day to start thinking about an umbrella?

📞 01525 372140
https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/

You're available whenever they need you. But what are they obligated to give you back?Zero-hours contracts have long bee...
27/05/2026

You're available whenever they need you. But what are they obligated to give you back?

Zero-hours contracts have long been a source of uncertainty for workers,flexibility on paper, but insecurity in practice. New legislation is starting to change that.

Under recent changes to employment law, workers on zero-hours or low-guaranteed-hours contracts may now have the right to request a contract that better reflects their actual working pattern. Further protections are coming in 2026 and 2027.

Here's what this means in plain terms:

→ If you've been regularly working consistent hours, you may be entitled to a more stable arrangement.
→ Employers face new obligations around how they engage with such requests.
→ These rights are still evolving,. more detail will follow in secondary legislation.

If you're on a zero-hours contract and unsure where you stand, we'd encourage you to get advice sooner rather than later. At Austin & Carnley, we give you a clear picture of your options, without the delay.

📞01525 372140
https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/

What a week! 👋Last week we were delighted to welcome a Year 10 student from the Royal Latin School for their work experi...
26/05/2026

What a week! 👋

Last week we were delighted to welcome a Year 10 student from the Royal Latin School for their work experience placement at Austin & Carnley Solicitors. They threw themselves into everything, researching different areas of Law, working through real files, and getting a proper taste of life in the profession.

The biggest surprise? Discovering just how broad Law really is. "It really is crazy how there's something for everyone," they told us, and we couldn't agree more!

They summed up their week as "eye-opening and really fun," and have already set their sights on a career in Law. We have absolutely no doubt they'll be brilliant at it.

It was a joy having them with us. Best of luck with everything ahead! 🌟

Enjoy the long weekend from all of us at Austin & Carnley! 🌞Just a reminder that our offices will be closed on Monday 25...
24/05/2026

Enjoy the long weekend from all of us at Austin & Carnley! 🌞

Just a reminder that our offices will be closed on Monday 25th May for the Bank Holiday, but we'll be back bright and early on Tuesday 26th May, ready to help.

If you have an urgent matter, please leave us a message and we'll get back to you first thing Tuesday morning.

Wishing everyone a restful break 🎉

Most law firms say they care. We've been proving it in the same community since 1884.Over 140 years ago, Austin & Carnle...
23/05/2026

Most law firms say they care. We've been proving it in the same community since 1884.

Over 140 years ago, Austin & Carnley opened its doors in Bedfordshire. Since then, we've helped generations of local families buy homes, protect their estates, resolve disputes, and navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

We haven't lasted this long by being complicated about it. We listen, we act quickly, and we tell you plainly what we can do and what it's likely to cost. No fuss.

Today we have offices in Leighton Buzzard and Ampthill, and we're proud to serve clients across Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, and the surrounding villages.

Whether you need help with a will, a property purchase, an employment matter, or something more urgent, we're here.

A firm that's been part of this community for over a century. That means something to us. We hope it means something to you too.

https://www.austinandcarnley.co.uk/

Address

Bridge House, Bridge Street
Leighton Buzzard
LU71AH

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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