Family law, relationships & divorce: thoughts & comment
A consultation has been launched by the Department for Work & Pensions for views on how the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) works to ensure that the correct payments are being made by parents. The law provides that the parent that doesn’t live with a child (all or the majority of the time) must pay child... Continue Reading →
Children's needs change as they grow older, as will their relationship with each parent, their wider family and friends. This can be challenging enough parenting in a relationship, let alone learning to co-parent when separated. Like it or not, you and your ex will be in each other's lives to some extent, until your child... Continue Reading →
Ending a long term relationship or marriage is one of the most stressful things that you will go through in life. Holidays, time at home, family and Christmas pressure can cause the cracks in a relationship to show, or one or both of you may decide that a new year is the time to move... Continue Reading →
I featured in the Law Society Gazette's "My Legal Life" section this year. Below is the text of the article, which can also be viewed here. Growing up, I wanted to be a writer. I used to spend hours boring family and classmates with my storytelling. This grew into a leaning towards journalism after covering... Continue Reading →
Ryan Giggs is the latest in a string of high profile footballers embroiled in court proceedings following the breakdown of his marriage. However, the case has received significant attention, not for the reasons behind the marriage breakdown, rather in relation to the financial separation and his contributions during the marriage. Giggs has announced that it... Continue Reading →
Moving abroad is a huge decision which can often challenge even the most stable of relationships. Life in a new country can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Establishing a new social network can be challenging. If things don't work out, facing a separation whilst away from everything that is familiar to you can... Continue Reading →
In October, together with two YRes colleagues, I made the keynote speech at Resolution's annual Dispute Resolution conference. The article below summarises the key points of our speech, based around the changing needs of families of the future and how family lawyers can best support them. The family law landscape is in near-total flux. The... Continue Reading →
The use of covert recordings in family proceedings has recently been highlighted after the President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, warned that this has become a topic of "growing significance". It seems that desperate parties are going to increasingly greater lengths to produce evidence that could sway a case in their favour, where... Continue Reading →
Marriage certificates in England and Wales are no longer fit for purpose, according to campaigners who are seeking a change in the law to overhaul documents that have not been updated since the Victorian era. The marriage certificate in its current form provides space for the names of the fathers of the bride and groom... Continue Reading →
On 21 September 2017, I chaired the inaugural National YRes Conference, for junior family law practitioners under 10 years qualified, and delivered the opening speech. Below is a copy of the message I gave to our delegates: Welcome everyone to the inaugural National YRes conference. We are delighted to have a full house today and... Continue Reading →
