The organisation that campaigns for family law reform, Resolution, has just held a Cohabitation Awareness Week aimed at highlighting the need for basic changes in the law to protect cohabiting couples who separate. In spite of political noises calling for reform, neither the Tories nor Labour indicated any intention to legislate in this area… Read the full article
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Petnups: Your Questions Answered
Press coverage of recent celebrity break-ups has shone the spotlight again on the issue of pet custody following divorce and separation. Ant McPartlin’s split from Lisa Armstrong for example was – according to reports – significantly complicated by the estranged couple’s inability to agree who should get to keep their dog, Hurley. Avoiding this… Read the full article
Are Couples Staying Together Until No-Fault Divorce Is Introduced?
Earlier this year the government made clear its intention to introduce no-fault divorce. There was a general consensus among political parties and family lawyers like ourselves that the current system is outdated and in need of reform. At present couples must prove that one of ‘five facts’ applies to them before they can successfully… Read the full article
Reviewing Foreign Financial Settlements: High Court Confirms ‘Solid Basis’ Rule
As international divorce lawyers we are sometimes asked if it’s possible to reopen a financial settlement that’s been approved by a foreign court. Often one spouse is a high net worth individual so the stakes can be high. It’s a complicated area of family law and so anyone entertaining the idea of an application… Read the full article
Legal Considerations For Older Parents
An Indian woman has given birth to twins at the age of 74. The new mother has described it as the happiest time of her life. She and her 82 year-old husband have spent years living with the stigma attached to childlessness that still exists in their village in the state of Andhra Pradesh…. Read the full article
Cohabitation: What Happens When One Partner Dies?
Back in 2016 we wrote on these Advice Centre pages about how the number of cohabitees nationally continued to rise – despite the precarious legal position of those who choose to live together without getting married. Three years on and parliament is considering a bill to give cohabitees certain rights and make provision about… Read the full article
Asset Sharing And Divorce: How Far Do Courts Go?
Judges have a wide discretion to decide how to divide assets on divorce. This can inject a degree of unpredictability into disputed financial settlement cases. Where there are high value assets at stake the repercussions can be significant. This is one reason why we try to help our clients agree financial settlements. But if… Read the full article
Rules On Weddings Venues Look Set For Reform
We all know that the choice of wedding venue can make or break the big day. Until now there have been fairly strict restrictions on where couples can marry and what form a civil wedding ceremony can take. As the Law Commission announces a project to consider relaxing rules on where and how couples… Read the full article
Pensions And Your Divorce: New Guide Highlights The Need For Caution
A pension can often be the biggest asset in a divorce apart from the family home. We’ve previously discussed the complexity of assessing the value of a pension and dividing it during a divorce. Ensuring fairness when it comes to pensions and divorce is a fine balancing act. So the publication this month of… Read the full article
Can I Represent Myself In The Divorce Courts?
The short answer is yes. But what might seem like a financial saving at the time could cost you more in the long run. Divorce, including the financial aspects, is a complex legal process. Individuals who represent themselves will often be at a disadvantage compared with a spouse who is represented by a family… Read the full article
