A bill introducing “no-fault” divorces in England and Wales has passed through the House of Commons with a likelihood of it becoming law as early as July. Currently one person can start divorce proceedings immediately by alleging unreasonable behaviour, desertion or adultery against the other party. A ‘fault based’ divorce is therefore the only…
The current restrictions are placing families under considerable pressure. The ‘lockdown’ is limiting movement, whilst those parents who can work from home are having to juggle work, with schooling and normal parenting. Health worries and concerns over friends and relatives add to a level of anxiety that can compound the stresses faced by family…
A divorce settlement has been reached after discussions took place between Ant McPartlin and ex-wife Lisa Armstrong. Reports of Ant McPartlin’s financial settlement arising from the divorce flooded the news last week. Predictably, facts and figures vary from one report to the next, but the common theme appears to be the way in which…
The government has finally prioritised a divorce reform after the latest bill stalled twice in 2019. The delay occurred due to the unlawful suspension of parliament back in September as well as the December general election. Our article published on 4th December bemoaned the delay, so this is a welcome injection of momentum. First introduced…
The situation where one parent poisons their child against the other is known as parental alienation. While there is no single definition of parental alienation, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), recognise it as ‘when a child’s resistance or hostility towards one parent is not justified and is the result of…
When Boris Johnson suspended parliament, work on 12 high-profile Bills passing through the Commons stopped. A Bill is a proposal for a new law or a proposal to change or amend an existing law. The Bill is presented for discussion in Parliament before it becomes an Act (law). One of the Bills was the eagerly…
Arbitration can be used to resolve financial disputes and disputes concerning children and offers an alternative route to Court proceedings which are often lengthy and expensive. The process is usually faster and offers greater flexibility and privacy. The Great British Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood and his estranged wife turned to arbitration to settle their financial…
Do you or someone you know need advice relating to a family issue? Whether it relates to your marriage, cohabitation, children or finances we are here to help. During the week of the 23rd September our Family Law team will be offering free advice sessions of up to 30 minutes. An appointment will be necessary…
Whilst many couples deal with the division of the equity in their house, bank accounts and contents when their relationship breaks down they often forget about the pension, or ignore it because they do not think they are entitled to it. It is important that you do not forget the pension as in many cases…
It can be awkward to discuss a pre-nup with the love of your life after you’ve made the decision to spend the rest of your lives together. There’s no easy way to broach the topic because whichever way you try and look at it, it may be perceived that you think your partner is after…