No fault divorce: 3,000 new applications received in first week
Figures released by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) reveal that the introduction of no fault divorce has prompted an influx of new applications, with 3,000 recorded since the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force last Wednesday. Hannah Gumbrill-Ward, Family solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, said that Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service […]
Ruling on overseas surrogacy an “important victory”
A judge’s ruling on overseas surrogacy, which has been hailed as “groundbreaking”, was descibred as an “important victory” for those with surrogate children. The ruling saw a couple become the legal parents of their adult son in the UK. He was born in the US in 1998, where they were already his legal parents. This […]
Document supporting male abuse victims published by Home Office
A new document outlining the government’s position on, and work to support male victims of crimes considered violence against women and girls has been published by the Home Office. The document updates and replaces the first Male Victims Position Statement, which was published in 2019. The document sits alongside the Tackling Violence Against Women and […]
Consultation tackles notion of “typical” domestic abuse victim
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced a consultation on revised legal guidance which aims to tackle the notion that there is a typical victim of domestic abuse. The guidance lists a number of ways that victims can appear in a domestic abuse setting to help prosecutors challenge misconceptions and build the strongest possible case. […]
SRA gives key consumer protection another chance
Following consultation on the future of post six-year run-off cover, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that it will seek a further 12-month extension to the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) – to September 2023 – to enable detailed consideration of key points raised in feedback. The consultation, which ran from November 2021 to January […]
Digital go-live for subject access requests
Requests for personal information can now be made through a new digital service. A new digital service allowing individuals to request personal information is now available which aims to improve the user experience for subject access requests (SARs). The process allows individuals to request information held by the Legal Aid Agency and other parts of […]
