No Fault Divorce: Where Are We Now?
Getting a divorce can be an extremely difficult and emotionally challenging time for the former couple. Yet even where both ex-partners are in agreement that divorce is the only option, the law at present in England and Wales does not allow a ‘no-fault divorce’. Under current rules, to legally divorce, blame must be attributed to […]
The New UK Points-Based Immigration System
EU free movement ended on 31 December 2020, meaning nationals of EEA countries looking to come to the UK to work must now apply for approval from the Home Office. In most cases, this will mean making an application for a points-based work visa, requiring the individual to attain the required number of points. EU […]
Fathers Family Court: Do They Get a Raw Deal?
Fathers Family Court – Do fathers get a raw deal from the family courts? It is not uncommon for fathers to claim that social workers, Cafcass officers and Judges discriminate against men when deciding issues about who a child should live with, or what contact arrangements should be in place. Recent research by academics at […]
Family Law Changes: How Have they Fared?
This April marked the very first anniversary of the family law changes to the family justice system and it was classed as the start of a cultural revolution. There are still a large number of family break-ups making the news which leads to questions surrounding whether the changes have had any real affect at all? […]
The Law Commission’s Proposals Herald a Golden Age for Prenuptial Agreements and DIY Divorce. Or Do They?
The last few days have seen a surge in interest in the possibility of pre-nuptial agreements becoming binding and the effect that that might have on the use of divorce lawyers versus DIY divorce solutions. The Law Commission’s Proposals First came the Law Commission’s recommendation on 27 February that ‘qualifying nuptial agreements’ (covering pre and […]
Family Lawyers and Clients Face New Challenges
Radical reforms to family law services in 2014 mean fresh challenges for family lawyers and numerous difficulties for parents and couples. Family lawyers have already had to cope with huge changes in 2013, including the withdrawal of public funding (legal aid) for most family law cases and the closure of several local courts. Although, family […]
Shared Parenting and the Children and Families Bill
Alan Beith MP wrote to Mr Cameron to express his objections to shared parenting legislation: http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/jul/18/family-law-confusion-lib-dem Mr Beith’s opposition to shared parenting legislation is, perhaps, best viewed in some historical and cultural context. In the 19th century, British family law was such that, if the father so wished it, a separated mother was likely to […]
Baroness Butler-Sloss on Shared Parenting
Retired President of the Family Division, Baroness Butler-Sloss has expressed her strong objections to Shared Parenting legislation: Baroness Butler-Sloss said: “I’ve heard one father who went into court saying, ‘Once this law is enforced, I will get half of the child’ ” Is she claiming to have heard this father in a case over which […]
Children and Families Bill Update
The Children and Families Bill was debated in the House of Commons on 25 February 2013. A transcript of the children and families bill and the Parliamentary debate can be found here: Tim Loughton spoke passionately and with much insight about the very real problems many non-resident parents (usually fathers) face in trying to maintain […]