Hair strand testing resolves court-ordered childcare case following drug use allegations
Challenge In a childcare case, both parents were suspected of drug use after concerns were raised about the safety and well-being of their child. Following an incident, social services took the precautionary step of removing the child from the home while an investigation was carried out. The court ordered drug testing to assess the parents’ […]
Changes to sentencing guidelines prevent PSRs reference personal characteristics
New sentencing guidelines preventing pre-sentence reports (PSRs) which reference personal characteristics, such as race or ethnicity have come into effect. Under the new legislation, sentencing guidelines which risked differential treatment for different races and religions, in terms of access to pre-sentence reports, will be blocked to ensure fair access to justice for all. While the […]
Uncorking the value: wine collections in divorce proceedings
For some couples, wine is a shared passion. It can be a statement of their lifestyle and legacy, as well as a significant financial asset. As family lawyers, we are seeing increasing numbers of unusual collections of value, including wine, within divorce cases. This may be a wine cellar built up over decades or a […]