Article Category: Family Law – Insight & Opinion

In modern society our family circumstances are more diverse than ever. Increasing numbers of people are considering remarriage and a new term ‘blended’ families has been introduced for those households bringing up children from previous relationships together. When your family circumstances change it is imperative to consider the position of your Will. Recent research has… Read more »

The general starting point when considering division of matrimonial assets on divorce is an equal division of the assets unless there is good reason to the contrary. In limited cases where one party to the marriage feels they have made such an extraordinary contribution to the creation of wealth within the marriage that it would… Read more »

Changing a child’s surname is more common than you might think, particularly when parents are newly married, separated or were not married at the time of the birth. The process of changing a child’s surname varies depending on who’s involved and the arrangements which are in place. The process if a child arrangements order is… Read more »

The Facts about digital divorce: On 4 January 2019, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that litigants-in-person (people who are not legally represented) had submitted more than 23,000* digital divorce petitions to the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) since its online portal had opened on 1 May 2018. It would appear that the recent festive… Read more »

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal 42% of all marriages now end in divorce. With 5.7 million small and medium sized enterprises in the UK in 2017, these figures suggest divorce could impact a significant number of businesses and individuals. On setting up a small business, often for tax purposes, it… Read more »

As unlikely as it may sound for a nation of animal lovers, in English law, animals are defined as personal chattels. This puts them in the same legal category as linens, furniture, books, and jewellery during the divorce process. When you start considering the custody of pets, there is not just the emotional impact of… Read more »

The school summer holidays are fast approaching and many parents will be booking their summer holiday to enjoy whilst their children are off school. For a separated parent, the thought of their ex-partner taking their children abroad can be extremely difficult and they may feel incredibly anxious, especially if it is the first holiday as… Read more »

Under English law a child can have a maximum of two legal parents and the law dictates who these are irrespective of any agreement you may have, so it’s important for couples to consider and be aware of all the circumstances and law behind lesbian parenting. Who will have parental responsibility? The birth mother is… Read more »

Divorce proceedings cannot be commenced within the first year of the marriage, however challenging the circumstances. The courts understand the first year of marriage can be a difficult one, and the bar on divorce operates to dissuade parties possibly giving up too soon. However, some marriages do irretrievably breakdown within this period. What can you… Read more »

Location, location, location is a popular Channel 4 property programme where we see Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer help couples find their perfect home. But what happens when a couple want Kirstie and Phil’s help to find a new home, in a new country and relocate with children from a previous relationship or marriage? What… Read more »