Family specialist Sarah Bentley dies at 62

Family practitioner Sarah Bentley, of Burnley firm Sarah Bentley Solicitors, died on 30 March after a long illness. She was 62. 

Sarah achieved a law degree at Birmingham University before completing her professional qualifications at Chester Law College.

She completed her articles at Southern, Jobling and Ashworth, a Burnley practice with a history dating back to 1792 and which later became Southerns Solicitors. She was admitted in 1986 and rose to partner level by the age of 28.

Sarah’s work covered the whole spectrum of law early in her career. She completed all types of conveyancing work, litigation including family law, criminal advocacy - both prosecuting and defending - and served as one of the first members of the then police duty solicitor rota.

It was in the mid 1990s that she turned her attention exclusively to family law, dealing with divorce, financial applications arising from divorce and cohabitation disputes, residence and contact proceedings under the Children Act. She was accredited as a member of the Law Society Children Panel in 1993 to enable her to represent children in care proceedings.

In 2017 Sarah established her own practice, Sarah Bentley Solicitors, specialising in family law.

Sarah’s funeral service will be held at St Mary and All Saints Parish Church, Whalley, Lancs. BB7 9SY on Thursday 25 April at 11.30am, followed by a private cremation. Family flowers only, donations if desired for Pendleside Hospice, Burnley BB10 2LW.