MJP Law

04/06/2026

What does “Good Service” Looks Like?

Good legal service is not loud. It is clear, steady, and reliable.

Clients often tell us the hardest part is uncertainty, not the law itself.

Good service means plain-English explanations, written clarity on what is included, realistic guidance, and consistent updates. It also means being able to ask “basic” questions without feeling rushed.

Whether you are moving home, planning for later life, or dealing with a family change, the experience should feel supportive and structured.

The best outcomes are often built on communication, not complexity.

02/06/2026

Deputyship: When There Is No LPA

When someone loses capacity, and there’s no LPA in place, families are often faced with applying for a Deputyship Order.

A Deputyship Order from the Court of Protection lets someone step in and manage the affairs of a person who can’t make decisions for themselves.

This is often needed to handle money, pay bills, or make important choices.

Applying takes time and involves dealing with court paperwork, providing evidence, and ongoing duties after the appointment. That’s why many people set up LPAs in advance, to avoid future stress and delays.

If you must apply for Deputyship, getting good advice early makes a real difference and helps you stay on top of your responsibilities.

28/05/2026

Separated: But We Still Live Together

More couples these days choose a 'soft separation.'

This means ending the relationship but continuing to live in the same home for some time.

It can be the most practical choice when children, finances, or housing make moving out right away impossible.
But without clear boundaries, it can lead to problems that could be avoided.

Our latest blog covers what to look out for and how to protect yourself and your family, including:
• Considering the financial responsibilities
• How living together affects divorce under the no-fault system
• How to reduce confusion for children
• Practical steps to prevent resentment and disputes
• Why early advice can save stress later

If this sounds familiar, or you think it could be your situation soon, be sure to have a look.

Read the full blog here:

Not every separation means someone moves out immediately. More couples are choosing what we call a “soft separation” deciding to end the relationship but staying under the same roof for a while. It can make practical sense, especially when children, finances, or housing come into play.

26/05/2026

A few things that are easy to keep meaning to sort and never quite do.

With Bank Holiday at the end of the week why not start getting things done.

Here are 6 things that are worth a quiet five minutes:

1. Your Will - Do you have one? Is it up to date? Marriage, divorce, a new child, a new property, any of these can affect what your current will does (or doesn't) do.

2. Lasting Powers of Attorney - There are two types: financial and health & welfare. Both matter. Neither takes long to set up. Most people don't have either in place.

3. Your mortgage - When does your current deal end? If it's within the next 12 months, it's worth knowing your options before you slip onto a standard variable rate.

4. Your property - If you co-own a home, do you know whether you hold it as joint tenants or tenants in common? It affects what happens to your share upon your death.

5. Beneficiaries and executors - Do the people you'd want to handle things know that? Have you told them where your documents are?

6. A conversation you've been putting off - Sometimes the most useful thing on a life-admin list isn't a form or a document. It's a conversation with a partner, a parent, or a sibling.

Knowing where you stand is a good place to start.

If any of these have raised a question, our team will help you identify the right person for a straightforward chat.

21/05/2026

Family Matters!

Our Family Law team can assist you in the following areas:

 Relationship breakdown - including divorce, separation agreements, and financial arrangements

 Child maintenance and arrangements following separation/divorce

 Protective orders - such as non-molestation and occupation

 Protecting your future - including pre-nuptial, post-nuptial, and cohabitation agreements

We also offer a free, no-obligation, 30-minute phone consultation for all new clients.

19/05/2026

Want to make probate easier?

You may think probate is just paperwork, but the reality is that it surprises even the most organised executors.

After years of helping families with probate, we’ve learned it’s rarely as straightforward as people hope.
Executors often start out thinking it’s a simple checklist, but quickly run into property valuations, HMRC forms, asset collection, and debt settlement. When property needs to be sold, there’s even more to coordinate.

Add in the possibility of missing beneficiaries or family disagreements, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

We offer support at any stage, whether you want one-off advice or someone to handle the whole process.

Our goal is to make things clear, organised, and less stressful for families.

14/05/2026

Great time had by all at the BBQ on the Green in Sturminster Marshall! 🌭☀️

We were delighted to sponsor such a fantastic community event and see so many people enjoying the day.

13/05/2026

Completion Day Is One of the Biggest Days of Your Life. Here Is What Is Actually Happening Behind the Scenes.

Getting the keys feels like the finish line. But for your solicitor, completion day is one of the most tightly coordinated moments in the entire process, and the one where the smallest delay can cause the biggest stress.

At MJP Law, we genuinely care about making one of the most significant days of your life go smoothly. That means being on the phone, chasing funds, and communicating clearly throughout the day, not just sending emails into the void.

Here is what is happening on completion day while you are waiting for that call.

Your solicitor is coordinating the transfer of funds through the CHAPS banking system, confirming the mortgage redemption figures, preparing the final completion statement, and ensuring the money reaches the right places at the right time. That statement typically covers sale proceeds, fees and disbursements, mortgage redemption, and estate agent fees. It does not include removals, so that is one to plan separately.

The keys cannot be released until the seller has received all completion monies. In a chain, that means waiting for every transaction below yours to complete first. One delay anywhere in the chain ripples upward.

And delays are increasingly common. Conveyancing now routinely takes longer than it once did. Property chains are longer and more fragile, lenders are applying more stringent compliance checks, and anti-money laundering requirements add layers that simply did not exist a decade ago

Understanding what your solicitor is doing and why things sometimes take time goes a long way to reducing last-minute stress. We keep you informed at every stage so that nothing comes as a surprise.

Read our blog or get in touch to talk through your move.
https://www.mjplaw.co.uk/blog/conveyancing-completion

We are local. We keep things clear. And we are with you every step of the way.

13/05/2026

First house purchase

"I am a first time buyer and instructed MJP to do the conveyancing. Both Lucy Norris and Quinton Jordan were excellent throughout the process and made sure I was aware at all times what was occurring. I would definitely recommend going with MJP!"

24 March 2026

07/05/2026

Clean Break Orders: Divorce Doesn’t Always End the Financial Link

Your divorce can be final, and your finances still unfinished. That is a problem many people do not discover until years later, when it is far harder to fix.

A clean break order is a court-approved financial order that permanently ends all financial claims between you and your former spouse. Once it is in place, neither party can return to make a new claim, regardless of how circumstances change.

Many people assume that once the divorce is finalised, the financial ties are cut automatically. That is not correct. Without a clean break order, your ex could legally claim against future assets, an inheritance, or even a business you build years down the line. There are reported cases where ex-spouses have made successful financial claims decades after divorce, simply because no formal order was ever put in place.

It matters even when you think there is not much to split. It matters even if you have already agreed on things informally. An informal agreement has no legal weight until it is approved by the court.

The good news is that when both parties agree, this is often handled without a court hearing and is more straightforward than many expect. We keep the process clear, the language plain, and the focus on getting you the certainty you deserve so you can move forward without looking over your shoulder.

At MJP Law, we see what happens when the right plans are not in place, and we want to make sure that does not happen to the people around us.

Read our full guide on clean break orders on the blog or get in touch directly to talk through your situation.

https://www.mjplaw.co.uk/blog/clean-break-orders-ending-financial-ties-after-divorce