News/Blogs  

  Children, Residence And Resistance  

No break-up between parents is ever easy. In my experience, that is true regardless of whether they are married or have been cohabiting. It is only natural for couples to experience some distress or upset when it happens, no matter how long they have been together. Even so, it is vital that the adults set […]

Read more

  The Costly Impact Of Parental Alienation  

The breakdown of any relationship, such as a marriage, is not necessarily a pleasant experience. Nevertheless, in my professional experience, many couples manage to divide their joint assets and – particularly – provide for their children’s future after they themselves separate without rancour. However, there are still cases in which conflict does occur to varying […]

Read more

  Decades And Delays: A Timely Legal Aid Review?  

Family 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 more

  Plain Speaking, Publicity And The Family Courts  

One 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 more

  Domestic Violence: Terror, Threat And Balance  

There is, of course, a famous old saying that “an Englishman’s home is his castle”. However, the scourge of domestic violence means that home is anything but a place of refuge for many individuals. It is heartening, therefore, to hear that the Government is intensifying its efforts to eradicate the threat which people face from […]

Read more

  Flexible Families: The Impact Of Homeworking On Home Life  

Almost three years on from the start of lockdown in the UK, there are few who would doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has been a life-changing event. It has, of course, wrought a terrible toll in the home and the workplace. At the time of writing, the virus has cost the lives of more than […]

Read more

  Greater Expectations: Careers, Fertility And Childbirth  

It is sometimes bewildering to think of the speed at which home life in the UK has changed. Not so long ago, for instance, there was an expectation that women would marry young, have children and remain housewives. Yet that notion continues to be challenged. Both women and men now marry 10 years later on […]

Read more

  The ‘Dispossessed’: Family Law And Legal Aid Cuts  

In the world of elite sport, coaches, athletes and commentators talk about the ability of what are described as ‘marginal gains’ to transform results. The basic idea is that small yet significant improvements can make a considerable difference. It is a concept which is recognised outside of the sporting arena, of course. In fact and […]

Read more

  Royalty And Responsibility  

Being described “a good parent” is more than merely a complimentary form of words. The role of a parent is formative and fundamental in the well-being and development of a child. It is one reason why the courts take the matter of parental responsibility so very seriously. After all, parental responsibility is a legal status, […]

Read more

  Childbearing And Choice: The Shift In Britain’s Families  

In many respects, the world in which we live in today is drastically different to the one that our parents were familiar with when they were growing up. It’s tempting to think of such change solely in terms of the technology which we use every day and even the way in which cities immediately around […]

Read more