Fairhurst Menuhin & Co Solicitors

10/06/2026

Parental responsibility is one of the most commonly misunderstood concepts in family law. Many people assume that having parental responsibility gives a parent an automatic right to see a child or to have contact with them, however, this is not correct.

Read our article below written by our Family Solicitor Tanya Norley... 👇

The Legal Definition

Under section 3(1) of the Children Act 1989, parental responsibility means:
"all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his/her property."

In practice, parental responsibility gives a person the legal authority to make, or participate in making, important decisions about a child's upbringing and welfare.

What Parental Responsibility Does Not Mean

Parental responsibility does not create an automatic right to spend time with a child.

The law distinguishes between parental responsibility and arrangements for a child to spend time with, communicate with, or live with a parent. A parent may have parental responsibility yet have limited contact, supervised contact, indirect contact, or in some circumstances no direct contact at all.

Responsibility Rather Than Entitlement

The language of "parental rights" can sometimes obscure the true purpose of parental responsibility. While parental responsibility includes legal powers and authority, those powers exist so that adults can fulfil their responsibilities towards a child.

The concept is therefore better understood as a framework of responsibility and decision-making rather than a guarantee of contact or involvement.

Having parental responsibility means being legally recognised as someone who can make important decisions for a child. It does not mean that a child must live with that person, spend time with that person, or have contact with that person.

Parental Responsibility is not an automatic right to see a child, nor does it guarantee contact. Decisions about where a child lives and who a child spends time with are separate matters that are determined according to the child's welfare and best interests.

11/05/2026

Cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights as married couples or those in a civil partnership. There is no such thing as “common law marriage,” despite the widespread misconception. Regardless of how long you have lived together, the law may treat you as legal strangers.

This remains the case even if you have children, although certain applications can be made for their benefit. These, however, are generally less generous than financial claims available on divorce.

Outcomes often depend on the specific circumstances, but the financially weaker party is frequently left in a more vulnerable position than if they had been married. There is no automatic right to make financial claims against a partner. Where property is involved, a claim may be possible under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA), particularly if you have contributed financially. If you are investing in a property, whether jointly owned or in your partner’s sole name, it is important to protect your position.

A Cohabitation Agreement can help provide clarity by setting out what should happen if you separate, including how expenses are shared.

At Fairhurst Menuhin, our experts can advise on cohabitation disputes and help you move forward with confidence. Please get in touch to discuss your options.

Author: Tanya Norley, Family Solicitor
Tel: 01638 561133
Email: [email protected]

05/05/2026

Grandparents do not have an automatic right to see their grandchildren. Contact can be arranged informally with the parents or, if necessary, through a court order

A family mediator should usually be the first step, helping families reach an agreement. If this is not possible, an application can be made for a Child Arrangements Order, which sets out where a child lives and who they spend time with. The court’s primary concern is the child’s welfare, guided by the welfare checklist.

In most cases, grandparents must obtain the court’s permission before applying for a Child Arrangements Order, unless an exemption applies - for example, where the child has lived with them for at least one year. When deciding whether to grant permission, the court will consider factors such as the nature of the application, the applicant’s connection with the child, and any potential impact on the child’s wellbeing.

Once an application is made, the court will involve those with parental responsibility and assess the existing relationship with the child before deciding on contact arrangements. Where contact has been limited, the court is more likely to introduce it gradually rather than order immediate, regular contact.

If you need help applying to see your grandchild, please get in touch with our experts. We can guide you through your options and provide reassurance at every stage.

Author: Tanya Norley, Family Solicitor
Tel: 01638 561133
Email: [email protected]

30/03/2026

Inheritance Tax is on the rise.

HM Treasury recently released their spring forecast which estimates inheritance tax paid will rise by 4.6% to £9 billion in 2025/26.

With the inclusion of pensions as of 6th April 2027, the rising house prices, changes to agricultural and business property relief and the frozen inheritance tax thresholds, it is predicted that inheritance tax receipts will increase by £300 million on average every year during the next five years.

If you haven’t already, now is the time to plan for your future and how your estate can be as efficient as possible to protect your beneficiaries from large inheritance tax bills.

If this is you, please contact us to speak to one of our specialists at [email protected]

27/03/2026

Jana Matejkova, one of our solicitors in Saffron Walden, is highly respected and her team often gets lovely feedback from clients. This card was received recently, and it is nice to note the client will be recommending Fairhurst Menuhin Solicitors.

26/03/2026

Our colleague Claire Roper received a lovely card from a grateful client recently.

Claire was thanked for her assistance in a Will and LPA during a difficult period in their life. This demonstrates how approachable Claire is, and the help that you receive when you deal with a professional!

16/03/2026

Our colleague Rute Tavares in our Newmarket office had her day made when she received this beautiful bunch of flowers. These were from a client who was very nervous about going through a house purchase and wanted to thank Rute for ‘holding her hand’ and supporting her through the process.

12/03/2026

Congratulations to Ben! 🎉

We’re delighted to share that Ben Roper has successfully passed the SQE 1 exams. A fantastic achievement and an important milestone.

Passing SQE 1 means Ben is now one step closer to becoming a qualified solicitor, and we couldn’t be prouder. His dedication, hard work, and commitment to the profession have truly paid off. 👏

We look forward to supporting him as he continues the next stage of his legal career! ⚖️

10/03/2026

Tanya Norley, our family solicitor based in the Newmarket office received this positive feedback from one of her clients recently!

If you or anyone you know has any family law issues, please get in touch with us. We have five offices in Newmarket, Cambridge, Sudbury, Haverhill and Saffron Walden.

19/09/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BajWLLKHH/

This weeks feature presentation was given by our own vice President (soon to be our new President), Claire Roper
Claire is a private client solicitor, focussing on wills, trusts, probate, LPA's and administration of estates.

The message Claire gave us was, sort these things out now, and review when you have a major life event. Just because you may not be here to benefit from Claire's professional advice, doesn't mean that those left behind have to take on paperwork and bureaucracy. Putting you affairs in order doesn't mean your about to fall off you perch, but setting out wishes, instructions, trusts etc for your loved ones, will minimise the headache of dealing with these things.

You might think that a solicitor will be expensive, and will writers a cheaper option, but Claire reminded us that this is often not the case. A basic will is £300 in this case drawn up by a highly qualified and experienced professional, who will create a tailored will, not an off the shelf, any everyone's requirement is different.
For sound, considered advise, Claire is a breath of fresh air in dealing with the stuff we really don't want to deal with and makes the whole process a breeze rather than a chore.
Great presentation Claire