Family law, relationships, separation & divorce: thoughts & comment
When parents separate, new arrangements have to be made about the care and welfare of the children. Ideally, parents should reach an agreement and discuss matters with the children in a neutral, reassuring and age-appropriate way. The majority of parents are able to agree between themselves what should happen, but some do not. It can... Continue Reading →
As fans of the long-running rural soap “The Archers” will know, Helen Archer’s partner, Lee, has two pre-teen girls. His ex-wife (mother of his daughters), has been offered a job in the USA and has moved permanently with them. Despite this initially upsetting Lee, he decided to agree to the move and hopes the girls... Continue Reading →
hen welcoming a new baby into the world, most parents are able to agree what their given name will be and so this at least is relatively straightforward when it comes to registering their birth. Choosing a child’s surname can be less straightforward. Nowadays, family structures take all shapes and forms and often there are... Continue Reading →
Earlier this week, I wrote about parents' concerns surrounding Covid-19 and what the Government’s lockdown plan would mean for their child arrangements. However what has become clear from speaking to clients old, existing and new is that for many, matters have not been quite as straight forward as simply keeping arrangements going as usual (on... Continue Reading →
Chances are your client or a family member are going through a major life event when you are next in touch, be it a new child in the family, a wedding on the horizon, a separation, starting or selling a business, or, most probably, planning for the twilight years of their life. It’s not always easy... Continue Reading →
The run-up to Christmas is one of the busiest times of year in a family lawyer’s calendar. Christmas often becomes a focal point for clients wanting to have their divorce and financial settlement done and dusted or a house purchase completed. One of the most contentious issues can be arrangements for children over the festive... Continue Reading →
Parenting apart from birth – how to make it work Becoming a new parent is an emotional, physical and practical rollercoaster, an all-consuming challenge like no other you have experienced before. They say it takes a village to raise a child and I have recently learnt how vital support of family and friends is at... Continue Reading →
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 →
Picking up the pieces 