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A change in Practice Direction – The court's approach to issues of domestic abuse in children act proceedings

A revision to Practice Direction 12J, of the Family Procedure Rules 2010, came into force on 2 October 2017. The Practice Direction applies to any family proceedings in the Family...

November 15, 2017

Opinion

Usain Bolt and the New Divorce Form: Ending Well in a Culture of Winning and Losing

At the Olympic Stadium in August this year, Usain Bolt lined up for a 100m race that was to bring the curtain down on his incredible career. After all he...

October 31, 2017

Opinion

“A rate rise this year” and the impact on divorce

Reading the Economist I noted the headline “A rate rise this year?” Upon reading the article the Monetary Policy Committee felt that the “moment was approaching” for such a rise....

October 24, 2017

Opinion

The summer divorce …. and the rise of the pre nup

The summer does not seem to be a good time for celebrity marriages with some very high profile couples splitting up at the start of the autumn. Summer 2016 saw…

August 15, 2017

Blog

Divorce: What income can I expect from my ex?

Indeed, an understandable question to ask a family solicitor at a first meeting. The answer will always depend on the overall finances of the parties and full case preparation can...

June 13, 2017

Blog

divorce

Divorce – what amounts to a ‘special contribution’?

Many people will be aware that when couples divorce, the legal starting point is that there will be a 50/50 division of assets. However, the court has the power to...

May 23, 2017

Opinion

Brexit: the big divorce’s effect on divorce law

However you voted you are probably tired of hearing how Brexit will bring riches or Armageddon. This blog does not aspire to deal with the doom and gloom but will...

April 7, 2017

Blog

Changing Your Child’s name

I regularly get asked what the best way to change a child’s name is. There are different options, but if you want to change your child’s name, and you have...

March 28, 2017

Blog

child-law

Section 20 Agreements – What are they and should I agree to one?

Section 20 agreements allow Social Services to place your child in foster care, or with other members of your family, without the need for a Court Order. There is a...

March 27, 2017

Opinion

Sarah-Cecilie – a personal insight into the impact of parental child abduction

I recently attended a private film screening of a film called Sarah-Cecilie made by a charity called Action Against Abduction. The organisation's founder Lady Catherine Meyer attended the screening and...

March 13, 2017

Opinion

Promoting Equality for Unmarried Couples

According to the Office of National Statistics in 2016 the fastest growing family type between 1996 and 2016 were co-habiting couples; more than doubling from 1.3 million to 3.3 million...

February 20, 2017

Blog

Divorce: What a difference “delay” makes

It isn’t always obvious, but when divorcing “delay” in resolving the finances of the marriage into a final court order, may create unexpected difficulties. Sometimes people divorce and think they...

February 13, 2017

Blog

Pakistan 96th state to join 1980 Hague Convention on international child abduction

The news that Pakistan has joined the Hague Convention 1980 will be welcomed by parents and legal practitioners. As from 1 February 2017, Pakistan will be a contracting state to...

January 16, 2017

Blog

Locating an abducted child

It is frequently the case that where a child has been abducted into the jurisdiction of England and Wales from a country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention...

November 30, 2016

Opinion

Surely it’s time for the introduction of non-fault based divorces!

This week has been dubbed ‘Good Divorce Week 2016’ by Resolution, an organisation of approximately 6,500 family lawyers and other professionals in England and Wales who believe in a constructive,...

November 28, 2016

Opinion

Digitalisation of the family courts for financial cases

It is widely acknowledged and as set out in Hodge Jones & Allen's Unjust Kingdom report (2015) that "the justice system requires faster modernisation". One way of achieving of this...

November 21, 2016

Blog

On Divorce: What do you actually “need”?

Financial “Needs” are always considered before a court makes a financial order to resolve the distribution of money of a marriage. WHAT IS A FINANCIAL ORDER?

November 9, 2016

Opinion

Family Drug and Alcohol Court – a different approach to tackling substance misuse and its impact on families

I had my first experience of the Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) as a trainee solicitor. My supervisor was representing a father with longstanding alcohol dependency. He was a...

October 31, 2016

Opinion

Practice Direction 27A – A gentle reminder…..

With increasing cuts in funding of cases and the increasing number of litigants in person on the rise before the family courts, practitioners and advocates have recently received a gentle...

October 27, 2016

Blog

Should I have a pre-nuptial agreement?

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, Amal and George Clooney and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are just some of the big name stars to have signed pre-nuptial agreements ahead of...

October 21, 2016

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