News & Announcements

We would like to wish all of our clients a very Happy Easter. Please note, we will be closed on Friday 19th and Monday 22nd April.

If you need to contact us in case of an emergency, we will be available during the day on 01256 595294.

Parents are being reminded to apply for Childcare Vouchers as the scheme will be closing to new members as of 4th October 2018. The system which was first introduced in 1989 allows parents to buy childcare vouchers through their employer before tax and national insurance are deducted.

What is the tax-free childcare scheme?

Launched by the government in 2017, the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme will replace the current system of Childcare Vouchers. Under the new scheme, parents cannot claim universal credit or tax credits alongside TFC, something they were able to do under the old system.

Analysis from the Childcare Voucher Providers Association (CVPA) suggests most families will be worse off as a result of TFC as opposed to the Childcare Vouchers scheme. A spokesperson said:

“There are currently over 600,000 users of childcare vouchers, and the scheme has helped well over a million families to afford high-quality child care since 2005. Over 50,000 employers, employing 15 million people, offer childcare vouchers.”

“We urge all parents that are considering joining the Childcare Voucher scheme to do so ahead of their relevant payroll deadline.”

Childcare Vouchers vs TFC

• According to moneysavingexpert.com, Childcare Vouchers benefit couples where one parent does not work or those who spend less than £9,336 per year on childcare. High earners also benefit from the old scheme as those earning above £100,000 are ineligible for TFC.
• TFC will help the self-employed who are unable to claim Childcare Vouchers under the current system. Parents with more than one child and high childcare costs will also favour TFC as they can receive up to £2000 per child. Childcare Vouchers are not an option should you be in a couple who earns less than £100,000; however it does mean you are eligible under the Tax-Free Childcare scheme.

CVPA Chair Jacquie Mills said:

“We strongly advocate keeping Childcare Vouchers open alongside TFC beyond October to give parents a comprehensive and flexible support package, upon which they can make an informed choice about the childcare support that best suits their needs”.

“We remain committed to working with the government to achieve this as the Childcare Voucher scheme is an essential lifeline for many parents.”

To qualify for childcare vouchers, parents must have purchased their first voucher by the deadline in October. They can only be claimed through employers, who typically need a months notice.

Contact Us

For expert legal advice on these issues and other areas of family law, then contact our specialist family solicitors today.

The team at CLP are proud to have achieved Lexcel accreditation, recognising our commitment to client satisfaction and high-quality practice management standards.

Lexcel is an accreditation scheme specifically for the legal sector, which is operated by the Law Society of England and Wales. As part of the application process, our firm had to complete a thorough assessment process, including a site visit from an independent Lexcel assessor. Various aspects of our firm were scrutinised, from information management to file and case management. At the end of the assessment process, our firm was credited with excellence in legal practice management and client care.

With Lexcel accreditation our clients and employees can have the confidence that our operations are consistent and efficient, and put their best interests first.

Philip Bennett Director of CLP said: “We place considerable importance upon identifying, reviewing and updating our policies and procedures to ensure that we meet the standards expected by the Law Society’s recognised accreditation scheme. We have already seen the benefits both to our clients and to the firm in terms of greater efficiency, productivity and the delivery of value for money services. We are thrilled to have been accredited and that all of our staff are able to demonstrate that we meet the standards required”.

A leading family law practice with office locations in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and the South Coast  is looking to further consolidate its status as the go to firm for cases involving children.

We are looking to recruit lawyers who either have or are working toward achieving the Law Society Children Law Panel Accreditation.

The successful candidates will be joining a highly desirable family law firm where commitment and dedication to clients is second to none.

It is anticipated that the successful candidates will be skilled advocates, have strong negotiation skills and the ability and experience to handle difficult and complex proceedings.

Salary is negotiable and dependent upon experience. Benefits include life insurance, contributory pension scheme and discretionary annual bonus scheme.

To apply, please send CV and covering letter to pauline@childlawpartnership.co.uk.

Seasons greetings! As the holiday approaches we would like to take this opportunity to inform valued clients and potential new customers of our opening hours and Christmas activities.

Christmas and New Year Opening Hours

The office will be closed from 3pm on Friday 22nd December 2017, re-opening at 9am on Wednesday 3rd January 2018. During the period that the office is closed, any urgent enquiries should be directed to Pauline on 07595 779423 or Philip 07740 870400.

We will respond to non-urgent enquiries made over the holidays from 3^rd January 2018.

Christmas at Child Law Partnership

To celebrate the holidays, we will be having our Christmas dinner party on Wednesday the 20^th December.

We would like to wish all of our clients a very merry Christmas, and a happy new year. We thank you for working with us, and hope that you enjoy this time with your loved ones.