Lesley Hackett
Paralegal in the Family Team
Lesley joined Nash & Co in July 2001 but has worked in family law for over 20 years. She works closely with all the Lawyers in the Family team, assisting them with all aspects of Family Law, including divorce proceedings, financial proceedings, Private Law Children cases, and applications for Non-Molestation Orders.
Family client reviews
Family insights
The court system in England and Wales is an adversarial system, meaning that parties become two opposing sides, presenting their case to a judge for a decision. This approach can, unfortunately, create or amplify conflict, lead to expensive legal costs on both sides, as well as heavy emotional cost.
Divorce is a concept almost everyone is familiar with but we are commonly asked ‘what is divorce’ and ‘how do I get divorced?’.
The Ministry of Justice has announced changes to Court fees scheduled for May this year. 172 Court fees are going to increase, but how will this affect the fee for the application for divorce?
The end of a marriage is a difficult time for all, even moreso when you own a home. Understandably, one of the main questions faced by Family lawyers is ‘Can I stay in my home once we have divorced?’ This is particularly the case if you have young children living with you.
The simple answer is that it depends on individual circumstances. Unfortunately, what feels like an innocent holiday could be considered a criminal offence and so it is very important to understand the law before booking a holiday abroad.
This International Women's Day, we're highlighting the journeys, challenges, and experiences of our female lawyers. Their stories show the importance of diversity, resilience, and empowerment in shaping an inclusive legal community. We’re starting with Eleanor Barber, who heads up our Family Team.
This International Women's Day, we're highlighting the journeys, challenges, and experiences of our female lawyers. Their stories show the importance of diversity, resilience, and empowerment in shaping an inclusive legal community. We’re joined by Chelsea McVicker, a Chartered Legal Executive in our Family team.
This International Women's Day, we're highlighting the journeys, challenges, and experiences of our female lawyers. Their stories show the importance of diversity, resilience, and empowerment in shaping an inclusive legal community. We’re joined by Rhianna Greenley, a Solicitor in our Family team.
In 2022, we saw an overhaul of the divorce process, which saw the end of “fault-based” divorces, so that neither party could blame the other for the end of the marriage. It was hoped the new terms would remove outdated phrases and simplify the different stages and the process.
Separating from your partner can be a difficult time, filled with emotional and logistical challenges, especially when children are involved. Navigating the complexities of child arrangements can be daunting, making it difficult to find common ground.
The breakdown of a relationship is invariably a challenging time for all involved, particularly when there are children involved. This is where a well-considered Parenting Plan comes into play, providing a structured approach to addressing any issues that may arise and facilitating a collaborative co-parenting environment.
It is a common misconception that when you divorce, the financial links you have with your spouse come to an end. Until you have a Financial Order, either by consent or at the end of Court proceedings, you remain financially linked to your former spouse. You do not have to have a lawyer to assist you but not using one could mean that you end up with unresolved financial claims or a Financial Order that does not do what you thought.