It’s tough being a parent. For parents whose relationship has broken down, bringing up children whilst separated can be harder still. The recent appeal in the case of Re H-B (Contact) highlights just how badly separated parents can behave towards one another, in the process inflicting major damage towards their children that may last for […]

Much media attention was generated by the decision of the Supreme Court in the recent case of Wyatt v Vince. Sensationalist newspaper stories proclaimed that ‘the floodgates have opened’ for former wives to make financial claims against their former husbands (and vice versa), even when many years have been and gone from the date of […]

The High Court has recently heard an interesting case on whether an earlier ‘agreement’ between two parties can be admitted as evidence in subsequent court proceedings between them. The case of SC v YD begins back in early 2013. The parties (described as mother and father) had been in a lengthy relationship of over 17 […]

Parliament is shortly expected to approve regulations that will allow existing couples in civil partnerships to convert that civil partnership into a marriage. From 10 December 2014, couples can covert their civil partnership into a marriage simply by attending at a local register office and providing evidence of their identity and their civil partnership. Of […]

In Back to the Future Part II, Marty McFly gets into a large spot of bother by visiting the year 2015 in a time-travelling Delorean, purchasing a historical sports almanac and subsequently disrupting the entire space-time continuum. I can’t see this article having quite the same effect. Still, all of us involved in family law […]

Recent statistics (albeit for 2012) published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) provide a fascinating insight into how modern society in the UK appears to view the idea of marriage. They also give us a rough idea of how likely a divorce might be and when it is most likely to take place. Perhaps […]

Whenever parties cannot agree arrangements over their children, it must be stressed that court proceedings should be the last resort. Contrary to common perception, going to court is not glamorous nor is it guaranteed to provide an outcome that ensures long-term stability for the children. Court proceedings are often stressful, time-consuming, unpredictable and expensive. For […]

The Children and Families Act 2014 has now gained Royal Assent and will come into force on 22 April 2014. The Act introduces several changes affecting how the courts in England and Wales should approach disputes between parents who are unable to agree on arrangements for their children. On the face of it, these changes […]

The Law Commission has recommended to the Government that ‘qualifying nuptial arrangements,’ such as pre-nuptial or pre-marital agreements, should be legally binding in England and Wales. At present in England and Wales, couples that intend to marry but wish to regulate their financial affairs in the event of separation and divorce can enter into a […]

As the dust settles on the festive period, family lawyers often associate January with a sudden and sharp increase in the number of people seeking divorces. For a variety of reasons, Christmas and New Year can often mark a ‘crisis point’ for couples whose marriage may be in difficulties. This is well understood by family […]