Family law, relationships, separation & divorce: thoughts & comment
A Bristol judge has decided to publish his decision in an exceptional case of parental alienation. The Designated Family Judge for the Western Circuit, HHJ Wildblood QC, wanted the public to be aware how badly wrong things can go for a family when one parent chooses to alienate the children from the other parent. What... Continue Reading →
Last week saw the High Court decide that a transgender man who gave birth with the help of fertility treatment cannot be legally registered as the father (or parent) of his child. The case has also provided the first legal definition of a mother. This case highlighted just one of the difficulties faced by... 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 →
As the current sunny spell is coming to an end, with storms and rain forecast, our thoughts naturally turn to summer holidays – when and where we are next going to get our fix of vitamin D. Increasingly, we are seeking out more interesting destinations, guaranteed sunshine and a trip that offers an unforgettable experience,... Continue Reading →
Facing a separation is never easy and you can find yourself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. It is often difficult to find the headspace to think about what should happen next, let alone communicate about this and start taking steps to move your life forward. Managing the impact of your separation on any children... 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 →
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 →
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 →
Picking up the pieces 