Children Law in the Global Mobility Space
Global mobility is on the rise. It is increasingly a key element of strategy for businesses and individuals alike. For businesses there are several key driving factors, for example in the face of economic uncertainty looking to scale into new geographies where costs are lower. The ability to move top talent across borders is crucial […]
Helliwell v Entwistle Live
The Court of Appeal heard the case of Helliwell (respondent) v Entwistle (appellant) and many lawyers had the benefit of watching the livestream of the hearing via the Court of Appeal website. Mr Entwistle seeks to appeal a final order made by Mr Justice Francis on 15 March 2024 which required his ex-wife (Ms Helliwell) […]
One Lawyer, One Solution: The Rise of Resolution Together
The concept of one lawyer representing two clients is not a new one but is currently in the spotlight thanks to Resolution. They have been campaigning for their model, Resolution Together, which is now widely recognised, for some years and is now part of our day-to-day practice. At first I will admit that I had […]
Gifts from the family of an ex-spouse: Blood is not always thicker than water
Disputes about the categorisation and treatment of funds advanced by family members to a spouse arise often in financial remedy proceedings. In P v Q (Financial Remedies) [2022] EWFC B9 His Honour Judge Hess provided guidance to distinguish between gifts and loans. To qualify as a gift, the advance of money generally requires the animus […]
Family Law Dilemma: Paternalism versus Autonomy
Introduction In recent years, family law has witnessed a growing commitment to principles of individual autonomy, especially in the context of the law surrounding financial settlement upon divorce. There has been a discernible move from paternalistic concerns for welfare, towards embracing and promoting ideas of personal responsibility and economic self-sufficiency. Both concepts have their own […]
Rewriting Retirement: The Impact of Pension Sharing Orders on unemployed women
This year marks the 25th anniversary of pension sharing orders in this country. While this date may not loom large in many calendars, this date marked a fundamental shift in family law. Unfortunately, despite their usefulness, pension orders have not become widespread. A 2021 Manchester University report highlighted the difficulties pensions can cause as part of divorce proceedings, […]
200 Years of the Law Society – A Moment to Reflect about Legal Aid
By Richard Atkinson, President of the Law Society of England and Wales The 200th anniversary of the Law Society of England and Wales marks an occasion to celebrate but also to reflect on the continued erosion of legal aid, our recent wins and the urgent need for sustainability. Legal aid seems as if it has […]
Dispensing with a surrogate’s consent in difficult circumstances
Surrogacy has been on the family law radar for several years now as an area in need of reform. Intended parents of children born via a surrogate are left worryingly vulnerable with the status of parenthood upon the child’s birth, whether or not either or both parents are biologically related to the child. In England […]
Increase in fees for family proceedings
In early April 2025, and subject to parliamentary approval, the Ministry of Justice will increase 171 court and tribunal fees to account for changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The income generated from these uplifts will help to support the efficient and effective running of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS). Most notably […]
Autism, Masking and Child Arrangements Orders
Having been involved in two keenly disputed Children Act cases recently where the parents have vastly different experiences of their autistic child, I thought it would be helpful to explore how autism may present and the factors to be considered when seeking Child Arrangements Orders for such children. Autistic children may “mask” (hide their feelings […]
Life in the law – have your say before 21st March 2025
Podcast host David Opie is joined by CEO of the charity LawCare, Elizabeth Rimmer, to discuss their latest “Life in the Law” surveys which are now open for completion until Friday 21st March. LawCare supports and promotes mental health and wellbeing across the legal services sector. They have 2 main focuses. Their first is in […]
Children’s Mental Health: a consideration for family law practitioners every week
In 2015, the charity Place2Be launched its first Children’s Mental Health Week and this now takes place in February each year (3-9 February 2025). Those who work in the family law sphere witness firsthand some of the difficulties that children, sadly, experience with their mental health. Children often struggle to come to terms with the […]
10 point guide to prenuptial agreements
For those who have current or future wealth to protect or who are marrying for the second or third time perhaps, arranging a prenuptial agreement could be an essential part of the “wedmin” leading up to the big day. In this short guide, we outline 10 questions we often get asked to help dispel some […]
Let’s be clear: The Transparency Reporting Pilot for financial remedy proceedings
One of the most important considerations for anyone with significant wealth, or who has a public profile and who is getting divorced, is the subject of confidentiality and privacy. It is often a key factor of any such client who is considering where and how to get divorced, and it is something that matrimonial solicitors […]
High Court judge rules on existence of twins – legal comment
Just over six months ago that is how Mrs Justice Arbuthnot opened her 74-page Judgment in a perplexing case where the Family Court was tasked with ascertaining whether or not the respondent had given birth to twins. This was what had been alleged by the applicant who was her former partner. The facts of the […]
“Delegate Now to Supercharge Your Profits”
The Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes back Dan Warburton, a law firm consultant and trainer who specialises in helping individuals delegate work more effectively; in the process junior staff are elevated, the individual has a happier work/life balance, and ultimately the firm can be more profitable. It’s a soapbox Dan has jumped on before having […]
The next generation of family lawyers
It is well known that there are now many different routes to qualification. It is encouraging that law firms are embracing these routes which are likely to provide your team with depth given the flexibility of such career paths and how these can be taken at different stages, allowing your team to gather the life […]
Find out how much UK law firms spending on marketing activity
The Professional Services Marketing Survey, conducted annually by the Law Firm Marketing Club, aims to collect valuable insights directly from law firms about their marketing and business development (BD) activities, ensuring an accurate, firsthand perspective instead of relying on guesswork. We ask firms to share key information on their marketing budgets, the size and influence […]
Cohabitation and the Case for Legal Reform
As family law professionals will well know, the myth of the common law marriage still prevails, and there is a huge education piece needed to ensure that those in cohabiting relationships understand they are not entitled to the same protections. A survey conducted by Stowe Family Law revealed that nearly half of people mistakenly believe […]
The important role of intermediaries in court proceedings
In the latest Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast host David Opie discusses the role of intermediaries in the justice system with Lucy Osmond, Lead Practitioner at Communicourt. With over a decade of experience in facilitated communication, Osmond sheds light on the essential work Communicourt does in supporting HMCTS and ensuring that all court users can effectively […]
