Gomer Williams and Co

13/10/2026

To be adopted, a child must:

✔ Be under the age of 18 when the adoption application is made
✔ Not be (or have never been) married or in a civil partnership

This guidance applies to England and Wales.

Both birth parents normally have to agree (consent) to the adoption, unless:

▫️They cannot be found
▫️ They’re incapable of giving consent, for example due to a mental disability
▫️ The child would be put at risk if they were not adopted

You may be able to adopt a child if you’re aged 21 or over (there’s no upper age limit) and either:

▫️ Single
▫️ Married
▫️ In a civil partnership
▫️ An unmarried couple (same s*x and opposite s*x)
▫️ The partner of the child’s parent

There are different rules for private adoptions and adoptions of looked-after children.

You do not have to be a British citizen to adopt a child, but:

▫️ You (or your partner, if you’re a couple) must have a fixed and permanent home in the UK, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
▫️ You (and your partner, if you’re a couple) must have lived in the UK for at least 1 year before you begin the application process
▫️ You may be able to get funding from the Adoption Support Fund. It provides money for therapy for children and families to help improve relationships, confidence and behaviour. Your social worker can apply for you.
▫️ If you’re not happy with how the social worker has handled the application, complain to the council. If you’re not happy with the council’s response, contact the Adoption Support Fund team.

09/10/2026

We’re delighted to have received such wonderful feedback for Luke, who was praised for his professionalism, extensive legal knowledge and confident approach throughout his client’s proceedings.

A fantastic reflection of Luke’s dedication and a wonderful recognition of the contribution he makes to our team. We’re incredibly proud to have him as part of Gomer Williams Solicitors. 👏

06/10/2026

Making your Will is a very important step in putting your affairs in order and ensuring that your loved ones are provided for after your death. However, a simple Will is not the best option where you want to provide for a child with a learning disability.

It is much better to set up a Trust in your Will. A Will Trust allows Trustees (people you choose, possibly family members or close friends) to hold and manage assets for the benefit of your child. These Trustees have control over your assets and can make payments to or for your child as required. They can ensure that your child’s needs are met and that they are not subject to abuse.

Benefits of a Will Trust over a Simple Will:

✔️A direct inheritance payment in a Simple Will can affect your child’s means-tested benefit entitlements and, in some cases, make them ineligible for the additional support they are already receiving, causing disruption to routines.

✔️Will Trusts avoid the need to apply to the Court of Protection to appoint a Deputy if your child isn’t able to manage their inheritance.

✔️A direct inheritance payment in a Simple Will may leave your child vulnerable to financial abuse from others. A Will Trust gives power to Trustees to make decisions taking this pressure away from your child.

Each child is unique, and each family is different so it is important to discuss your specific circumstances with a qualified solicitor who has experience in Trusts for children with learning disabilities. If you would like more information please contact Allison Kent TEP* a Consultant Solicitor at Gomer Williams who specialises in this area on 01554 755101

*Member of STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)

02/10/2026

29/09/2026

Self-defence is the most well-known/widely used defence when someone is accused of a violent crime. However, few people know what this means in legal terms. It entails the use of force to defend property, prevent crime or to defend yourself and/or others. Although it can apply to many offences the main offences in which it is used are offences against the person and homicides.

For there to be a successful defence of self-defence it must be shown that the actions taken to defend yourself were reasonable and proportionate given the circumstances.

S76 of the Criminal and Justice Act 2008 sets out how to test for self-defence. For the court to be satisfied that a use of force was lawful self-defence they must answer two questions:

1) Was the use of force necessary in the circumstances as the defendant believed them to be?

2) Was the force used reasonable in the circumstances?

The courts have indicated that both questions are to be answered on the basis of the facts as the accused honestly believed them to be.

These questions are a subjective test asking what the offender truly believed at the time. There is also an objective part of the test. S76 goes on to say that if the offender was mistaken in their belief they will they assess whether the wrong belief was genuine and honest, they will then decide how reasonable the mistaken belief was. The more reasonable the mistaken belief the more likely the court will believe it was an honestly held belief.

It is for the prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the force was used not carried out in self-defence

If you would like to find out more or have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

25/09/2026

We’re delighted to share some wonderful feedback recently received for Lucy and her team

Our client praised them for the way they support and empower people, highlighting the positive difference they make throughout the process.

It’s fantastic to see Lucy’s commitment to providing a supportive and client-focused service recognised. 💙

Well done, Lucy and the team! 👏

22/09/2026

If my landlord won’t fix my disrepair in my rented home, can I withhold rent?

You don’t have the right to withhold your rent. If you do, your landlord might take action to evict you. It is not recommended. You should only use your rent money to pay for the repairs if you follow the correct procedure and understand the risks involved. If you do decide to stop paying your rent, keep the money in a separate bank account so you can pay off the arrears immediately if you have to.

Will my landlord evict me if I stop paying rent because of disrepair?

Yes, it is possible that the landlord might try to evict you for rent arrears. The exception is where you have used the money to pay for repairs, but only if you use the correct procedure.

How quickly should repairs be done?

The time taken to carry out repairs must be reasonable and will depend on the type of repair needed. Urgent repairs (such as a blocked drain) should be carried out within a day, whilst repairs needing building works may take much longer. In some situations, temporary repairs may be required.

Do I have to allow the landlord access to do repairs?

You must allow the landlord or agent access to see what repairs are needed and to carry out the work. They should give you reasonable notice – usually 24 hours unless it’s an emergency.

What should I do if I have disrepairs?

If you need to take further action, you should gather evidence of the disrepair, the damage that it has caused and the steps you have taken to try and get your landlord to carry out repairs. That could include taking photos of the disrepair, keeping receipts of items that have been damaged, keeping copies of all letters, emails and text messages between you and your landlord and keeping receipts of any expenditure related to remedying the disrepair. If the disrepairs have affected your health, inform your GP and obtain a copy of your medical records.

If you find yourself in this situation, please don’t hesitate to contact our Dispute Resolution team on 01554 755101.

17/09/2026

Gomer Williams Solicitors has been proudly supporting individuals, families and businesses since 1919.

Our approach combines over 100 years of legal expertise with a modern, client-focused service. We are committed to providing professional, approachable and compassionate support, helping our clients navigate their legal matters with confidence.

Whether you need advice for yourself, your family or your business, our experienced team is here to help.

17/09/2026

This weekend, Emma had the pleasure of attending both the Women’s Institute and BarkFest hosted by West Wales Poundies

Emma was there to chat with members of the community and provide information on Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, helping people understand the importance of planning ahead and putting arrangements in place for the future.

It was lovely to meet so many people throughout the weekend – and we’re always pleased to support and engage with our local community. 💙

Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with Emma!