New changes to the Family Procedure Rules
As of April 29th, the new regulation mandating the majority of separating and divorcing couples to first attempt non-court dispute resolution methods, like mediation, for addressing children arrangements and financial matters, has officially come into effect. The changes have been introduced because the previous Rules were not applied to the extent expected and did not […]
Industry reacts to new changes to the Family Procedure Rules
The new regulation mandating the majority of separating and divorcing couples to first attempt non-court dispute resolution methods, like mediation, for addressing children arrangements and financial matters, has officially come into effect. Industry commentators have reacted to the changes. The rules are designed to focus on the opportunities for resolution away from the court. They […]
CMA launches draft guidance for online divorce
The CMA has today opened a consultation on draft guidance for unregulated businesses which provide will writing, online divorce, and pre-paid probate services in the UK. The draft guidance is intended to help providers of these services to better understand, and comply with, consumer protection law. The CMA is now seeking views from businesses in […]
Government pledges action on regulating expert witnesses in family court proceedings
In response to concerns raised regarding the qualifications of expert witnesses in Family Court cases, Justice Minister Lord Bellamy has committed to addressing the issue, as reported by The Law Society Gazette. The pledge comes following an investigation jointly conducted by the Gazette and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The investigation spotlighted a particular family […]
Family law market value hits £2bn – Discounted report offer
The value of the family law market in 2023 increased by 5.4% to pass £2bn for the first time. The growth was driven by advice for high net worth individuals, complex cases especially Children Act cases, and increased demand for advice on financial issues after a divorce; in large part attributable for the spike in […]
Greater protections for child strip search
Consultation launched to strengthen safeguards for child strip search including the requirement to notify parents and guardians when a child is strip searched. Parents and guardians will need to be informed when their child is strip searched by the police, under new government plans set out today. The government is proposing a number of measures […]
Navigating the pitfalls of generative AI in legal proceedings: A call for guidance and awareness
With access to justice at such a low ebb, there are now more people than ever representing themselves at court – often through necessity rather than choice. The main resource available to them is The Handbook for Litigants in Person, a document created by judges which explains the stages and process of a civil case. […]
One expert is better than two
In BR v BR [2024] EWFC 11, Peel J in his role as head of the Financial Remedies Court delivered “a written judgment as one or two points of principle arise” on the use of single joint experts in financial remedy proceedings. This is an important decision for family lawyers on how cases should be […]
LSB sets out pro-innovation approach to AI regulation in legal services
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has set out its pro-innovation approach to the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal services sector. Published yesterday, the update explains the oversight regulator’s overall approach to technology including AI and the scope of LSB’s regulatory remit. It also sets out: The LSB’s new statutory guidance on technology […]
Changes to the Family Procedure Rules – non-court dispute resolution is (almost) inescapable
The changes will place additional expectations on parties going through relationship and familial breakdown, family practitioners and the courts themselves to continually consider whether cases are suitable for non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). Background and the ongoing drive for non-court dispute resolution The drive for NCDR is not new. It has been spurred in recent years […]
