Making pensions on divorce less of a scary subject
The dreaded “P” word – facing up to pension sharing on divorce
Recent court case supports Private FDRs
The courts have been under increasing pressure for years, and this has come to a head as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. In finance cases on divorce where the parties can’t agree how to split their assets, resulting in one party making an application to court, delays continue to increase. The... Continue Reading →
The impact of divorce and separation on adult children
When a couple with dependent children divorce or separate they will be very aware of the impact this will have on their children, and this will normally be a major consideration in the decision about whether and when to separate. However, often less thought is given to the impact that a separation can have upon... Continue Reading →
New Court of Appeal case a gamechanger for arbitration in family law?
A recent Court of Appeal case has the potential to change the landscape of arbitration in family law. With the court backlog worse than ever as a result of Covid-19, out-of-court settlement options, such as Early Neutral Evaluations, Private FDRs and Arbitration are seen as increasingly attractive prospects for separating couples, who would like to... Continue Reading →
Financial advisors: Top family law tips to help your clients
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 →
Parental alienation: treading a treacherous path
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 →
Does the legal definition of a “mother” suit modern society?
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 →
Don’t worry, baby
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 →
Supreme Court refuses to grant divorce
In arguably one of the highest-profile family law cases for decades, the Supreme Court has today ruled that a wife must remain married after her husband objected to a divorce. Mr and Mrs Owens' case hit the headlines when Mrs Owens appealed the court's decision not to allow her divorce to proceed, when it was... Continue Reading →
Wellbeing and the life of a family lawyer
This week is both Mental Health Awareness Week and Learning at Work Week. To tie in with this, Resolution have been running a campaign to provide tips and guidance for practitioners in relation to personal development in the workplace. Today's focus is on workplace wellbeing. Below is an article I wrote to coincide with the... Continue Reading →
Picking up the pieces 