Report condemns “patchwork provision” of domestic abuse support
A new report from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner has criticised the “postcode lottery” in victims’ and survivors’ access to domestic abuse support which, despite “Herculean efforts” of those involved, results in a “patchwork provision” of support. The report, “A Patchwork of Provision: How to meet the needs of victims and survivors across England and Wales”, […]
Separating parents see family court as “last resort” – study
New research has suggested separating parents commonly treat the family court as a “last resort” rather than as a preferred way to resolve disputes. According to a report from Nuffield Family Justice Observatory and the University of Bristol, “Separating families: Experiences of separation and support”, reasons for avoiding court included the expense and stress involved, […]
Children affected by domestic abuse to be treated as victims under new guidance
New guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has stated children affected by domestic abuse are to be automatically treated as victims of domestic abuse, regardless of whether they were present during violent incidents. Updated legal guidance released by the Crown Prosecution Service specifically asks prosecutors to consider the impact domestic abuse has on […]
24/7 Support Line for rape victims launched
As of Wednesday 7th December, victims of rape across England and Wales will have access to “round-the-clock” support following the launch of a new 24/7 Support Line. Specialist operators – available via telephone or webchat – will be on hand at any time to provide victims with vital information and emotional support. This includes signposting […]
Family court reporting to be allowed for first time under new pilot scheme
Journalists and bloggers are set to be allowed to report on family court proceedings for the first time under a new pilot scheme set to launch in January. Historically, reporters have been able to enter the family courts and report on judgments, but the 12-month pilot – which is taking place in Leeds, Cardiff, and […]
Children’s Minister sets out five-point plan to fix child social care
Minister addresses parliament during debate on the independent review of children’s social care The Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho, laid out the government’s five-point plan to tackle issues in the social care system during commons debate. During her speech she acknowledged the previous failings in the social care system and the findings […]
Who keeps the dog?
Getting a divorce is undoubtably a stressful time, however even more so when deciding upon the division of pets. The emotional attachment we build with our pets can be argued to mirror that of a family member or child in some cases, so deciding who is going to keep them upon divorce can result in […]
Divorce in the partnership – an exploration of the issues which arise when law or accountancy firm partners divorce
When equity partners in a law or accountancy firm (or those with a lawyer or accountant spouse) divorce, careful consideration needs to be given to the partner’s financial position and the disclosure required to understand and corroborate it. The starting point in financial negotiations is the production of the Form E. The Form E should […]
The key factors impacting divorce rates in England & Wales
The ONS statistics on divorces in England and Wales in 2021 have been released today. It was anticipated that there may be a downturn in the number of applications for divorce in 2021, prior to the long-awaited and much publicised introduction of the new “no fault” divorce regime which was introduced in April 2022. Certainly […]
