Family Law
2022 will see ‘no fault’ divorce become law
In April 2022, the much-awaited Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 will introduce what has become known as ‘no fault’ divorce. It has long been seen by campaigners and legal professionals as a much-needed amendment that will greatly reduce the stress, expense and acrimony that charact....
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Pensions on divorce
When a relationship sadly breaks down, the primary concern for both parties will be the issue of where they (and any children) will live and how they will afford their daily living expenses. During such a challenging and emotional time, it is common for one of the couple’s largest assets to be ov....
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Why Living Together Agreements are more important than ever before
These days, many more couples are deciding to live together without getting married. This may be due to the extortionate costs of weddings, a rejection of archaic social conventions or simply because they’re happy as they are. However, what many unmarried couples are unaware of is that they lack ....
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Coronavirus and spousal maintenance payments
Across the UK, millions of people have been impacted financially by the coronavirus pandemic. Some lost their jobs, others were furloughed, while many parents were forced to cut their hours to focus on homeschooling and caring for their children. Others still lost money when the stock markets plumm....
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The end of the blame game
Ending a relationship is never easy and the reality is there is no right way to do it. As you head into an important life transition, there are always multiple factors to consider and rarely are things entirely straightforward. But, can there be a “good” way to separate amicably? As it s....
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Why do collaborative lawyers need specialist training?
Taking your case to court is not the only way to resolve your financial issues when getting a divorce. Especially when there are children involved, collaborative family law can help couples to come to an agreement in a calm, non-confrontational environment, which can help them remain on good terms ....
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How collaborative law can protect your children’s wellbeing
Divorce is extremely emotional and stressful for everybody involved. But for your children, it can be particularly tough. The dissolution of a marriage can be hard for adults to understand, let alone young children, who often experience feelings of shock, uncertainty, anger, and even guilt. If your....
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Spike in couples experiencing marital difficulties
We are living in exceptional times; times that are forcing us to stay at home almost around the clock to curb the spread of coronavirus and save lives. During this crisis, the heightened stress and anxiety that many people are feeling, as well as the effects of prolonged self-isolation, have led ce....
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COVID-19 and child arrangements: co-parenting in troubled times
We’re all hearing how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the stock market, businesses, employees and the property market. But on an individual level, it is also proving hugely disruptive for families – particularly separated ones. With movement now seriously restricted, many co-parents are c....
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Pre-nuptial agreements – an insurance policy, ‘just in case’
When we move home, we take out contents insurance just in case the worst should happen. Nobody anticipates having to make a claim, but it’s there to protect us – just in case. The same applies to pre-nuptial agreements. Far from the unromantic picture painted by the press, who delight in reveal....
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Mixed sex civil partnerships: a step towards equality
In 2018, London couple Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan won a landmark legal bid at the Supreme Court for the right to enter into a civil partnership. Previously, only same sex couples had been permitted this right, as granted by the Civil Partnership Act 2004; however, following the Supreme Co....
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Why it’s high time cohabiting couples were given rights
Last summer, Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan sought judicial review of the government’s decision not to make changes to the Civil Partnerships Act 2004 to allow different sex couples to enter civil partnerships. Their victory should see civil partnerships extended to different sex couples by....
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Civil partnership bill expected to become law before the end of the year
For couples who dislike the idea of traditional marriage, but would like full legal recognition of their relationship, the news that opposite-sex couples will soon be able to enter into civil partnerships will be welcomed. This move is designed to address the imbalance that allows same-sex couples ....
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Can you ever have a ‘good’ divorce?
Yes, you can. Whilst it might sound like a paradox, it is possible to have a civilised parting of the ways following the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage. That’s not to say that it will be easy; ending a relationship never is, but there are steps you can take to minimise the pain and suf....
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Why our divorce laws need to be reformed
The Nuffield Foundation recently released a report entitled ‘Finding Fault’ in which it condemned the prevailing divorce laws in England and Wales, accusing them of forcing couples to make exaggerated and even false claims of adultery or bad behaviour, to obtain a divorce. Under the Matrimoni....
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Domestic violence – not just a problem faced by women
It’s a sad fact of life that domestic abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their social class, age, race, disability, sexuality or lifestyle. Much of the media coverage of domestic violence issues highlights the plight of women who find themselves on the receiving end of physical, psycholo....
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We’re divorcing and don’t have any assets to divide, do I need to do anything?
Yes, you do. Even in situations where both spouses trust each other, and neither intends to make a financial claim against the other, there is always a risk that if one of the spouse’s financial circumstances were to change, then the other party might decide at that stage to make a financial claim....
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My wife is with another man, can I divorce her on the grounds of adultery?
If your wife is having a sexual relationship with a member of the opposite sex while you are still married, then this is adultery. This is the case even if your relationship with your wife has come to an end, or you have been living apart for some time. Adultery is one of the five facts that can be ....
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Are our divorce laws still fit for purpose?
Whilst it’s incredibly easy to get married in 2017, divorce it seems isn’t quite so easy. Tini Owens knows this to her cost. Judges in the Court of Appeal recently rejected her petition to divorce, meaning that the 65-year-old is, as she describes it, “locked in” her 39-year-old marriage to ....
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My child doesn’t live with me, what rights do I have regarding their upbringing, including their health and education?
Firstly, you are not alone; every year, 12,000 couples with children decide to live apart. To answer this question, it's important to understand a little about the legal concept of parental responsibility and the duties and rights that this gives parents. Who has responsibility? Parental....
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