Our People - Lucia Mills
Lucia Mills
Partner, Roskilly & Mills
I specialise in advising unmarried couples and co-owners in property disputes. I also provide advice and draft cohabitation agreements as well as declarations of trust. I have worked with clients for many years bringing and defending claims under ToLATA and specifically claims involving common intention constructive trust and proprietary estoppel.
I have lived and studied in Bristol all my life. I started my legal career in 2007 and qualified as a Family solicitor in 2009. I advised married and unmarried couples with a range of issues including divorce, children issues, domestic abuse and property claims.
I developed a passion for property and financial disputes within this time and after five years I solely focussed on these types of claims and moved to the litigation department. During the last decade I have gained a depth of knowledge and experience in this area. There is such a difference between traditional family law and civil law which govern these claims for unmarried couples.
Due to my experience in both family and litigation departments I am able to bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding to best assist my clients.
It is important to me that unmarried couples and co-owners understand and appreciate their rights and options when they purchase a property. Equally, if the relationship breaks down, I do my utmost to provide the best advice to my clients and navigate them through what can be one of the most stressful times of their lives.
I often assist if a dispute arises between an unmarried separating couple; this can occur when the property is owned jointly or when a property is held in one person’s sole name. The latter can result in the non-owning party finding themselves in a vulnerable position. The non-owning party may have contributed towards the mortgage, bills and home improvements. In some circumstances I am able to assist the non-owning party to establish a financial interest in the property.
In most cases we are able to reach a settlement through negotiation and mediation. I then formalise the settlement by drafting a separation agreement.
However in some limited cases issuing court proceedings is the only way of resolving the dispute. I have in-depth knowledge of disputes in both the County Court and High Court as well as Appeals.
I have a great deal of experience with applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. These applications are often used by an unmarried parent in order to obtain financial provision for the benefit of the child or children.
Over the years of developing my specialism I have received mention in the Legal 500.
Legal 500 Rankings
Legal 500 2021
‘Lucia Mills is one of very few real cohabitation specialists with a true understanding of this area of work that is unmatched locally. She is also extremely good at dealing with intervention by third parties in financial remedy divorce cases as well as more traditional areas of trusts and probate work. She has a brilliant manner with clients and always gives pragmatic and cost-effective advice.‘
Legal 500 2019
Lucia Mills comes highly recommended by clients for going ‘beyond the call of duty’.
A little more about Lucia
I am Italian, however I grew up in Bristol. My father came to this country with very little and through his hard work built a successful business. My mother chose to study law at university, however being one of only two women on the course, she was made to feel that the law was a man’s world.
Whilst she eventually worked in a law firm, hearing her experiences gave me the passion to study law myself. I have always felt strongly about helping those who need it most. It is due to my parents’ hard work and sacrifice that I am the woman and solicitor I am today.
I am a busy mum of two with an inability to sit still. I am a very keen baker, constantly baking cakes and bread. Nothing gives me more pleasure than feeding family and friends. I most definitely take after my “Papa” in that regard as Italians show love through food. Most of my extended family remain in Italy and my husband, myself and our two children enjoy nothing more than visiting whenever we can.
As I have got older and had a family of my own, I have discovered the importance of fitness and enjoy running and cycling in my spare time. The outdoors is a wonderful way to keep stress at bay and spend quality time with my family.
Alongside Emily, I decided to launch Roskilly & Mills to focus on this ever growing and important area of law. So many cohabitants feel completely in the dark over their rights and it is often only when the relationship has ended that they feel overwhelmed and powerless. Within this smaller and specialised firm I am able to focus on the client’s needs and provide specialist advice to get them the best outcome for their new future.
Do you think we can help?
Contact us today to see how Roskilly & Mills can empower you.