Domestic abuse; a gap in the treatment of the law?
The discordant and disproportionate ways the criminal law, private law children and public law children systems treat domestic abuse The criminal law, private law children, and public law children systems treat domestic abuse cases and those embroiled in them, including children, in discordant and disproportionate ways. I was struck by this thought when writing a […]
Social Media. What NOT to Say – 5 Key Rules
Over the last few months, we have seen a number of stories breaking in the news that have proven fantastic for law firms and others, well not so useful. Social Media can be a hot bed for various discussions, where many opinions can be voiced. People are very passionate over social media, but sometimes that […]
Provision of domestic violence specialist advisors
As Team Leader in the Children and Domestic Violence Team, I am shocked to read that only three police forces have enough specially trained domestic abuse advisors (according to a report for the Government from the charity SafeLives). The hope with this article is to highlight the dangerous effects of such shortages and what can […]
Cohabitating couples: building financial resilience on relationship breakdown
This is the second in a series of articles exploring the steps that can be taken to combat the potential risks to personal wealth that can be suffered on relationship breakdown. This article explores the financial risks facing unmarried couples who live together and what steps can be taken to mitigate the financial impact on […]
Supervision: The ‘Repair Shop’ for Family Lawyers
My client, a senior associate, revealed that she was struggling at work. She described: lacking motivation, doubting her professional judgement, losing confidence, sleeping badly and not even enjoying her time off. Working in family law can bring many pressures which take their toll. As a result, some lawyers consider leaving the profession. For this reason, […]
Divorce: Minimizing risk on a financial settlement
This is the first in a series of articles exploring the steps that can be taken to combat the potential risks to personal wealth that can be suffered on a relationship breakdown. It explores some steps that can be taken to mitigate the financial impact, and build up some financial resilience, in the event of […]
The no fault divorce: handle with care
Tanya Foster, Family Law Consultant at LSL Family Law shares her thoughts on no-fault divorce and the advice those in the profession could share with clients. The journey so far So many divorces start off on the wrong footing, and it can be hard to clamber back from the precipice of complete distrust and antagonism. […]
Brangelina divorce bill skyrockets
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie two of the world’s superstars, are estimated to have spent more than $1m each on their respective lawyers as the fall out from their spectacularly nasty 2016 split continues unabated. They have been fighting each other longer than they were married and the legal bills are apparently skyrocketing. It is […]
The tax consequences of separation
By James Ward, Head of Private Client, and Jane Keir, Partner in Family & Divorce at Kingsley Napley LLP. The last 12 months have put an awful lot of pressure on the family unit and sadly this has led to a spike in separation and divorce amongst married couples. With the end of the tax […]
The importance of setting boundaries
When their relationship breaks down, our clients are dealing with a turmoil of emotions, which often leaves them confused and vulnerable. To make matters worse, some boundaries in their new lives can become blurred. For example, one ex-partner kept his bikes at my client’s house, another returned there for his daily shower; both clearly exerting […]
How a divorce coach can support family solicitors
How a divorce coach can support and add value to the work of family solicitors…….. For 10 years now, I have been working exclusively with clients going through painful separations. My work is referred by family solicitors. Their feedback confirms my belief that my role supports and complements their legal work. ‘I want to help […]
Should law firms rethink their agile working strategy?
2021 dawned with positive news for a change. With vaccination programs up and running in many parts of the country, there is a sense of optimism in the air, even as we continue to endure this latest lockdown. Most of us have gotten used to working from home by now – the ‘office at home’ […]
AML Risks – why did I agree to be the MLRO?!
This is a question I ask myself many times each day since being appointed the MLRO for Weightmans in May 2020! Faced with the current economic uncertainties caused by the pandemic, Brexit, new AML risks identified by the SRA in its Risk Outlook 2020/2021 including the shift from face to face to on-line identification/verification procedures, […]
Deal, what deal?
A Family Lawyer’s perspective on UK-EU “Trade and Cooperation Agreement” Last January, I wrote an article entitled: “No-deal Brexit would cut children adrift A long tradition of cross-border co-operation and recognition of judgments is close to being abandoned” In it I said, Cassandra like: “As we approach the eve of Brexit, not even to have […]
Two wrongs don’t make a right: conduct in FRB v DCA [2020]
![Two wrongs don’t make a right: conduct in FRB v DCA [2020]](https://todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/separation.jpg)
There are numerous questions family practitioners come to expect when dealing with separating spouses. Chief amongst them is usually the inevitable request to cite conduct they considered essential that the Court be aware of when assessing financial provision. These can include cutting legs off valuable furniture, refusing access to pets, or listing their many affairs. […]
A Quick Guide to Cohabitation in England/Wales and Scotland
Following the Villiers decision, reinvigorating forum shopping (Villiers v Villiers [2020] UKSC 30), and with the implications of Brexit now a reality, family law practitioners must ensure that they are aware of the significant differences in family law between England/Wales and Scotland. This article identifies some of the differences between the two jurisdictions when considering […]
Divorce & Trusts – has the pandemic changed marriage & family?
With news stories of surges in divorce enquiries, there can be no doubt that Covid has impacted on married couples and family life. The implications of life in lockdown has been a strain on many households. Families have found themselves forced into situations where they may be working from home together, bringing work pressures to […]
The fallout from the controversial judgment in F v H
How the family justice system is failing victims of abuse and children who are at real risk of harm as a result of a flawed approach to cases involving allegations of abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour On Tuesday, four appeals in private children proceedings involving allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour and serious sexual […]
A Quick Guide to Pre-Nuptial Agreements in England/Wales and Scotland
Following the Villiers decision, reinvigorating forum shopping (Villiers v Villiers [2020] UKSC 30), and with the implications of Brexit now a reality, family law practitioners must ensure that they are aware of the significant differences in family law between England/Wales and Scotland. This article identifies some of the differences between the two jurisdictions when considering […]
Does the Family Court favour mothers?
Does the Family Court favour mothers when determining with which parent dependent children lives? Of course, the starting answer has to be, “Of course not!” but as with all things there is so much more to consider. This is a subjective question if ever there was one, and also a very hard one as every […]