Family Law

Living Together Agreements

A Living Together Agreement does what it says on the tin. It is a legal agreement between a couple who live together but have either not contemplated marriage or have decided not to marry. The agreement will set out how the couple intend to organise their living arrangements including with regard to assets, income and child arrangements, both when living together and in the event of their separation

Read more

5 tips to keep the costs of your divorce down

There’s no doubt that getting divorced is a challenging time and, quite possibly, one of the hardest things you may go through. There are a number of ways in which you can help to make the process of ending your marriage and getting divorced easier and avoid incurring unnecessary legal fees.

Read more

Grandparents’ Rights

It is Grandparents Day on 4th October 2020 so what better time to talk about grandparents’ rights to see their grandchildren? Whilst many grandparents are able to enjoy a relationship with their grandchildren, unfortunately this is not the case for all grandparents.  This article covers what can be done if you are a grandparent and […]

Read more

Parties can be penalised in costs if they do not negotiate reasonably

Mostyn J has emphasised in the case of OG v AG [2020] EWFC 52 that parties must comply with their disclosure obligations and also negotiate reasonably on an open basis once financial disclosure has been obtained.  The case of OG v AG [2020] EWFC 52 In the case in question, Mostyn J held the husband’s […]

Read more

COVID-19 & Postponement of Weddings

Planning a wedding can be stressful at the best of times. Throwing a pandemic into the mix only adds fuel to the fire for anxious couples. From 1 August 2020, restrictions on weddings will be eased to allow wedding receptions of up to 30 people. Larger events are currently expected to take place from October. […]

Read more

“Divorce Tourism” and the Supreme Court judgment in Villiers vs Villiers

On 1 July 2020 the Supreme Court handed down their long-awaited judgment in the case of Villiers v Villiers [2020] UKSC 30.  The case of Mr and Mrs Villiers has attracted interest from family lawyers in Scotland and England as it addresses the challenges faced when divorce proceedings are started in one jurisdiction by one party […]

Read more

Want a no fault divorce? You’ll have to wait until Autumn 2021

Those waiting for no fault divorces to come into law have a wait on their hands.  Despite the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill having almost concluded its journey through Parliament, Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland MP has stated that Parliament are working towards an indicative timetable of implementation in autumn 2021 as “time needs to be […]

Read more

No-Fault Divorce on the Horizon

MPs have voted favour of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill following its second reading on Monday, 8 June 2020. Referred to as the “No-Fault Divorce Bill”, it will bring about a significant change in the way in which divorce can occur. While this article focuses on the divorce process, changes are also being proposed […]

Read more

Support for domestic abuse victims during lockdown

As the UK Government last week announced an extension of lockdown measures for at least three more weeks in a bid to combat the continued spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, people across the country continue to adapt to an extended period of life at home with their family. Recent stories in The Guardian and Times […]

Read more

COVID-19, Barder Events, & the case for variation of financial orders

The unprecedented situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe has already shown that it will have a lasting impact on society. This week the British Government advised that social distancing measures were likely to last months rather than weeks. Many businesses have already responded by taking advantage of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme […]

Read more

Varying maintenance payments as result of a change in your income

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals have seen a change to their income for a series of reasons including: reduced hours, redundancy, pay cuts, furlough leave or a reduction in self-employed income. For those who pay either Spousal Maintenance or Child Maintenance, this can be a particularly worrying time as their ability to […]

Read more

Video mediation to resolve childcare arrangement disputes as a result of COVID-19

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s statement on Monday evening represented the biggest curtailment of freedom of movement that we have seen in the United Kingdom in recent times. Several questions emerged for families who share childcare arrangements across two households including concern that children would be stopped from seeing one parent. Subsequent amendments to the government […]

Read more

Civil Partnerships for All?

As a result of one of Parliament’s final acts before it was dissolved for the General Election, mixed-sex couples will be able to enter into Civil Partnerships from 31 December 2019.  At the time of writing, Civil Partnerships are reserved exclusively for same-sex couples. When same-sex couples were allowed to marry in England & Wales, […]

Read more

Family Law Options for Separating Couples to Avoid Court

Increasing numbers of separating couples are, particularly where Legal Aid is unavailable, finding themselves in the difficult position of dealing with legal matters themselves. Sometimes, this leads to one or both of them becoming a Litigant in Person, meaning that they may represent themselves at Court, with all the stress, uncertainty and complexity that involves. […]

Read more

Starting a Family in a Same-Sex Relationship; what are your options?

Deciding when is the best time for you and your partner to start a family can be difficult and for same-sex couples there is the additional question of how to start to your family. There are numerous options which you may wish to consider including: Adoption Surrogacy Sperm Donation Co-Parenting However you decide to start our family […]

Read more

Travelling abroad with children as a separated parent

With the summer holidays fast approaching, one of the most common issues that can arise between separated parents is seeking permission to take their child on holiday or to visit family abroad. Why is permission so important? We all know the risk of child abduction to another country is a very real fear, and not […]

Read more

Covert recording of parents and children in family cases

With the advent of portable technology, courts in the UK have seen an increase in the use of recorded evidence, either visual or audio in family cases concerning children. These recordings might be carried out on phones, recording devices or cameras and may be made either openly or covertly. For example, recordings are often made […]

Read more

Separation and New Beginnings

January is traditionally a time for new beginnings.  In the New Year, many married couples, often after much careful deliberation, make a resolution to end their relationship and start afresh. No one would suggest that the decision to end a marriage is taken lightly and both husband and wife should, before deciding how best to […]

Read more

Choosing a Family Lawyer

Few people consult a family lawyer before they need to do so and, for that reason, the process of choosing one to support and represent you at a difficult and stressful time can feel rather rushed. Many of our clients come to us through recommendation from a family member, friend or work colleague, but a […]

Read more