Is there a place for Separation Agreements now that the divorce laws have been changed?
Prior to the introduction of the no-fault divorce this year, many separating married couples who managed to reach an out of court financial settlement at an early stage of their separation historically chose to enter into Separation Agreements – a legal document drawn up by family lawyers. This document would typically reflect the financial arrangements […]
How will a court deal with business assets on divorce?
The value of business assets will be taken into consideration on divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership. As part of the financial disclosure process, it will be necessary for parties to provide copies of the full sets of the financial accounts for the business for the last two years together with details of all […]
Legaltech adoption sees “40% of firms” receive PII discount
During a recent legaltech panel discussion hosted by Women in Wills, it was suggested that up to 40% of firms are receiving a discount on their professional indemnity insurance (PII) renewal due to their adoption of legaltech. The panel consisted of Rob Hosier, Sarah Keegan, Emma Baddaley and Pippa Shepherd, focusing on three key areas: […]
Wedding law reform: dreaming of your perfect “I do”
The Law Commission of England and Wales has announced recommendations to reform wedding laws, which it says is to give couples more choice over where and how their wedding takes place. Current law The Marriage Act 1949 governs weddings in England and Wales. It details everything from the types of ceremonies, the type of building […]
Summer holidays for separated parents
With school summer holidays fast-approaching, parents will be making plans for their children. For separated parents, this may be a stressful time, particularly when there isn’t an amicable relationship with an ex-partner and you need to try to reach an agreement. Here are some tips for separated parents on how to achieve the best arrangements […]
One small decision for the US Supreme Court, one monumental step back for womenkind
On 24th June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark decision of Roe v Wade. Previously, this monumental case enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion in the US Constitution. Roe v Wade came about as in 1969, a 25-year-old single woman called Norma McCorvey (using the pseudonym “Jane Roe”), challenged the criminal abortion […]
Financial remedies: splitting the cryptocurrency
What is cryptocurrency? There are thousands of different types of cryptocurrencies, also known as cryptoassets, out there. Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that exists electronically in the virtual world. Well known examples are Bitcoin and Ethereum. They have no physical properties and no intrinsic value. There are no central banks, governing bodies or government agencies […]
The family lawyer’s view: “priority seating”
“Egregiously wrong” and “an abuse of judicial authority”. Of all things, US Supreme Court judge Justice Samuel Alito used this phrasing to describe the Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. For just shy of 50 years, Roe v. Wade conferred a right to abortion upon women in the US. Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that […]
No-fault divorce spike and misconceptions
New HMCTS figures have revealed that the number of couples filing for divorce this year has doubled. This follows the introduction of no-fault divorce laws in April. In April 2021, there were 6,674 filings, compared to this year’s April 12,978 filings. We certainly saw this jump in our own practice – in the period April […]
73% of lawyers avoid jobs with “toxic” work culture
New research from Culture Shift has found that 73% of legal workers would accepting a job with a firm that has a “toxic” work culture, compared with just 57% of those in the banking industry. 41% of those in the legal industry also would not apply for a firm with poor online reviews, 49% would […]
Untangling the concept of parental alienation
Parental alienation is usually seen in court cases where the relationship between parents is particularly acrimonious and often where there has been a breakdown of contact between one parent and the child. But what does parental alienation actually mean? What effect does this have in court proceedings and, most importantly, how does this impact on […]
The Ombudsman’s corner: an introduction to LeO
I am delighted to be writing the first of what will be a monthly column in which I talk about complaints, complaints handling, what we are seeing at the Legal Ombudsman, the way that we work, and how we approach matters that are referred to us. The Legal Ombudsman receive around 7,000 complaints every year […]
Three-year anniversary of the Women in Law Pledge: a reflection
Law Society of England and Wales president I. Stephanie Boyce reflects on the Women in Law Pledge, which currently has 46 signatories. I am delighted to mark the three-year anniversary of the Women in Law Pledge, which was launched by the Law Society in partnership with the Bar Council and the Chartered Institute of Legal […]
The “scandal” seeing mothers stripped of their children
A new study conducted by the Observer has highlighted a “scandal” in which court-appointed “psychological experts” are costing parents – more often mothers – custody of their children. The Association of Clinical Psychologists UK (ACP-UK) has warned that many of these experts are making decisions on the lives of families and young children based on […]
Delays in the Family Court – how they impact on children
When relationships end, arrangements must be made in respect to children. Disputes arise. Some of these end up in the courts. Family courts are required to deal with cases involving children without delay – that is the law. However, a perfect storm has been brewing in the family courts for some years now. COVID-19 was […]
ADR in family law post-COVID-19 pandemic
All the way back on 8th January 2021, Sir Andrew McFarlane released “The Family Court and COVID-19 | The Road Ahead 2021”. During this time, there was a growing consideration in respect of hybrid working and the workloads of judges up and down the country. Practitioners working within family law witnessed first-hand the impact of […]
Retaining women in the workforce: overcoming challenges facing employers
Resignation rates remain high with many root causes for why women may be leaving their employer or workforce altogether – creating an opportunity for employers to help extend women’s careers and retain a wealth of knowledge and experience. One of those factors is the menopause taboo – One in ten women say they haven’t talked […]
The surrogacy debate: is the law fit for purpose?
The UK’s surrogacy legal framework does not protect the reproductive autonomy of the parties involved. Reform to ensure parental orders are in place before birth would adequately respect the choices of surrogates and commissioning couples instead of the legislature overlooking the presence of such arrangements and forcing people to go abroad where there are less […]
Why you should think about becoming a judge
Courts and tribunals judiciary webinar: why you should think about becoming a judge This webinar is free and open to all. It is aimed at legal practitioners (in-house lawyers, solicitors and barristers) and academics. Especially if: You’ve wondered about trying to become a (full- or part-time) judge It has never crossed your mind You’re thinking “judges […]
The conversation around menopause in relationships
Nicola Green is a menopause consultant who, after over 20 years working in law, launched Nicola Green Consultancy in 2019 and now helps law firms and organisations address and support menopause in the workplace. Here, Nicola goes through the impact menopause has on relationships and legal proceedings. I understand from my own premature menopause experience […]