SmartWater: the forensic spray putting domestic abusers behind bars
One issue that has long prevented domestic abuse victims from getting justice is that many instances of abuse take place behind closed doors, often with nobody but the victim and their abuser present to recount events. While this is well-known, the innovative techniques being used by West Yorkshire Police to tackle this very fact are […]
Court makes interim order, despite financial remedy proceedings delay
A recent case dealt with applications by the wife (“W”) for maintenance pending suit (“MPS”) and a legal services payment order (“LSPO”) in the context of financial remedy proceedings stayed pending a jurisdiction dispute. Mr Justice Peel described case MG v GM [2022] EWFC 8 as a “battle royale” in which “the parties agree on nothing”. […]
Helping your clients to reality check their post-divorce future
Family lawyers are all too aware that reaching a financial settlement on divorce can be one of the most difficult parts of their client’s separation. Although there are statutory factors that we can point to which provide guidance for dividing up assets and income on divorce, the courts also have a wide discretion. While this […]
Looking back at family law during Her late Majesty’s glorious reign
As the country mourns Queen Elizabeth II’s passing, Today’s Family Lawyer looked back at the development of the law and society during Her late Majesty’s glorious reign. Join nearly 1,000 other family lawyers – sign up to our newsletter
PII renewal – what are the market conditions?
At the time of writing, there are 20 working days until the 1st October PII renewal date, the most populated renewal date for SRA regulated practices. Whilst 20 working days may not seem like a long time, in the context of this particular renewal period it really is significant. I would estimate, at the very […]
Mining on the moon: the Luna-cy of crypto costs in matrimonial financial proceedings
The pandemic-driven explosion of interest in crypto currencies has led the family courts in England and Wales to consider how to deal with these incredibly volatile assets in financial claims on divorce. It is now more likely than ever that one or both parties in a divorce may have holdings in at least one cryptocurrency […]
How does domestic abuse impact the workplace?
There are many topics not discussed in the workplace and domestic abuse ranks high on that list. Perhaps this needs to change. Domestic abuse could be having an impact on staff and their performance. Whilst something that happens at home, behind closed doors, DV can be affecting more than just a victim’s home life. We […]
Why divorce reforms may put women at risk of financial hardship on retirement
The new “no blame” or “amicable” divorces has been warmly welcomed by the majority of family lawyers, and while a step forward there are still downsides to this new process. One of the concerns for couples looking to part ways is the new process takes longer to complete than prior processes. This is due to […]
Mother argues psychologist assigned by court is not regulated
A mother from Croydon has claimed a psychologist assigned to her by the court was not properly regulated. She stated the psychologist’s assessment should be removed from her case, which involves a dispute with her husband over their children. The mother researched the psychologist and stated she was not properly regulated. She stated that the […]
A solicitor’s top technological tips
Here are some handy technical tips from a solicitor that you already have at your disposal but may not know about know about. With everyone working from home either permanently or on regular basis, it might take a change in mindset/training yourself to read everything on screen to be totally paperless. Here we go: Learn […]
Baby loss policies: in conversation with Keeley Lengthorn
Where an employee has lost their child in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, there is currently no statutory right to parental bereavement leave in the UK. In those cases, employers have the discretion to offer their staff leave under their compassionate leave policy, annual leave, or unpaid leave. This is, however, an option that […]
Cohabitation Rights Bill: protection for cohabitees urgently needed
Ahead of the Queen’s Speech, Suzi Denton, Family Law expert at Irwin Mitchell comments on the much needed Cohabitation Rights Bill. According to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Rights of Cohabiting Partners, there are over 3.4m unmarried couples living together in England and Wales, making cohabitation the fastest growing family set-up. Many of these couples […]
The Ombudsman’s corner: 25th August 2022
The Ombudsman’s corner: recent changes – taking the right approach for each case The Legal Services Act 2007, which set up the Legal Ombudsman, requires that we complete our work “quickly and with minimum formality”. Demand for our service has never been higher, and there have been significant waiting times for us to begin investigating […]
Surrogacy in Ukraine – things to consider
Victoria Maxwell of Bishop Sewell, a specialist in international surrogacy, has urged intended parents in the UK to avoid entering into new surrogacy arrangements in Ukraine, Russia’s invasion has had a devastating impact on the country’s commercial surrogacy sector, leaving many couples unable to complete their surrogacy arrangements. In previous years, an estimated 2,000 to […]
WHSmith, Coronation Street, and the FA Cup Final: what happened to QualitySolicitors?
From a boxroom in Leicester to having 200 law firms adopt its branding, the odyssey of QualitySolicitors was one like no other. Here, Saleem Arif, co-founder of QualitySolicitors, tells all: the idea, working from his car, WHSmith, Amanda Holden, the FA Cup Final, private equity, and the eventual end, as well as discussing his current […]
A solicitor’s top tips for productivity
The legal sector is a highly pressurised environment. For many who work within it, the time constraints and stress can have an impact on focus and efficiency. One solicitor provided Today’s Family Lawyer with their top tips to remain productive – here’s what they said. This is a collection of sources I have turned to […]
Six things to watch for when advising intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement
Surrogacy law is an incredibly rewarding and less litigious part of family law; where you can feel proud in the part you play in helping your clients to grow their family unit and positively change their lives for the better. However, it is crucial that when practising in this specialist area, you are equally prepared […]
How a paralegal can assist a litigant in person
If you are a Licensed Paralegal Practitioner and you have been assisting a client with their legal matter, but it seems inevitable that the case cannot be resolved, it may be necessary to go to court. If such circumstances arise, then whether the case is a criminal or civil matter will guide you as to […]
The unseen damage from parental alienation
What is parental alienation? There is no formal definition. Broadly speaking, however, parental alienation refers to situations where one parent’s unjustified behaviours and negativity can damage a child’s relationship with the other parent and turn their emotions against them. It often leads to the non-resident parent having no contact with their child. It can include […]
Are CGT changes a “lifeline” for divorcing couples?
The government has set out changes to the rules that apply to transfers of assets between spouses and civil partners who are in the process of separating. Are the changes a “lifeline” for divorcing couples? The new rules provide that they be given up to three years in which to make no gain or no […]