Family law, relationships & divorce: thoughts & comment
The term 'meal ticket for life' is the controversial expression used by the media to describe open-ended spousal maintenance in divorce cases, which is intended to be paid for the duration of the lives of the payee and recipient. This somewhat distasteful phrase has again been the subject of much interest and public debate, thanks... Continue Reading →
The power of the court (or otherwise) to order that a property be sold on divorce during the course of proceedings has often been the subject of debate. The default approach has tended to be to wait until a final hearing, where it is clear that the court has power to make this order. In... Continue Reading →
At my firm, we have recently seen an increase in cases involving disputes regarding family pets on relationship breakdown. This is a really emotive issue as pets are an important part of family life and the decision about what should happen to them if circumstances change can be really difficult. Thinking clearly, logically and rationally... 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 →
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 →
Picking up the pieces 