Age, it is said, brings wisdom. For many individuals, that knowledge is, sadly, gleaned from difficult life experiences. Even though most of the marriage break-ups which I have handled on behalf of clients over the course of my career have been relatively amicable, the very natural emotions which surface during the process can leave those […]
Read moreAlthough we might wish otherwise, family relations are not always without difficulty. In some cases, even discussions regarding childcare arrangements or the division of joint marital assets which begin quite amicably can become tense. That can be due to quite natural emotions which arise in those faced with the breakdown of what might have been […]
Read moreFairness is one of the fundamental principles of law. That applies both to ongoing proceedings – whether they’re in court or not – and any orders or agreements which might arise from them. It is something which those presiding over cases are regularly reminded of – for example, by the Judicial College, which organises training […]
Read moreFor those going through the process, divorce can seem like a deeply personal and solitary experience. However, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 113,505 opposite-sex and same-sex couples ended their marriages this way in 2021 (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/divorce/bulletins/divorcesinenglandandwales/2021). I suspect that few if any of those individuals exchanged vows with the intention of divorcing soon […]
Read moreA recent high-profile court case involving Ed Sheeran has reminded us that many popular songs stretching back decades have employed similar musical devices to – quite literally – strike a chord with listeners. However, the same is true of the themes explored by those responsible for penning the lyrics. Certain topics have resonated to such […]
Read moreFamily law is one of the most discretionary of all legal disciplines. Even the most experienced practitioners know that the outcome of a case which goes to court can depend on how the judge hearing it interprets the evidence which is given. For people without legal training who choose to represent themselves, the situation can […]
Read moreLast year saw the introduction of the most significant reform of divorce law in half a century. The introduction of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act meant that individuals who believed that their marriages had failed no longer had to apportion blame for those relationships having irretrievably broken down (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2022/9780348230949). However, as experienced family lawyers, we […]
Read moreOne of the recurrent themes on this ‘blog has been that of constant change in Britain’s households. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, that has been reflected in the work – the volumes and practices – of the family courts. It is certainly true that they are being kept very busy. Figures released by the Ministry of Justice at […]
Read moreRegular readers of this blog will recognise that the degree of workload handled by the family court has been something of an issue of concern in recent years for politicians, the judiciary and family lawyers alike. Even if we discount the impact wrought by the pandemic, it doesn’t take much effort to see how family […]
Read moreJust before Christmas, the Ministry of Justice published figures showing that almost 66,000 new cases began in family courts across England and Wales between July and September last year(https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-court-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2022/family-court-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2022). Yet, in my opinion, I think that there are relatively few individuals who actually want to go to court. Court is increasingly regarded as a last […]
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