Shared care orders over the Christmas season
The Christmas period for some is a time of celebration, but for others it is a time they dread. Some parents have the same battle each year about when the children will spend time with them. Many families don’t require Court Orders, but sadly others do. When making an application to resolve Christmas arrangements, there is […]
‘Diversity: Not Just a buzzword, but a business imperative for UK law firms’
When choosing a law firm, one might assume clients typically prioritise expertise, reputation, and value for money. However, in an age where social responsibility and fairness are becoming increasingly important, there’s another factor that is fast gaining prominence: diversity and inclusion (D&I). This year, in the Law Firm Marketing Club’s ‘What Clients Want 2024’ survey, […]
The direction of family law
I recently spoke at a family law masterclass for law students at Kings College. When preparing the talk, I started off by quoting my idol, Lady Hale, “A lot has happened in Family Law since the 21st century has begun, and we are only a quarter of the way through. A good parlour game for […]
The future of financial remedies: What the Law Commission’s review may mean for an ‘out of date’ system
In April 2023, the Law Commission announced the start of its review of the law governing financial remedies on a divorce/dissolution of a civil partnership, and potential recommendations for reform. Its scoping report is set to be published in December 2024. The current system centres around the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (‘MCA 1973’) and is […]
Reform of the Law on Financial Claims on Separation and Divorce
The laws governing financial claims when a couple separate are complex and date back over 50 years. Many say they are ripe for reform. The last Conservative government agreed, as they asked the Law Commission to produce a scoping report (due next month) addressing areas for reform. So do the new Labour government; they have […]
Fertility Rates – what does the lowest birth rate on record mean in family law?
ONS recently revealed that fertility rates in England and Wales have dropped to their lowest since records began. On average, women had 1.44 children between 2022 and 2023, the culmination of a decade of gradually declining birth rates. Whilst birth rates decline, the average age of first time mothers has risen to an all-time high […]
Reassessing Client Account Interest: Navigating Regulatory Changes for Financial Stability
Handling client money is a core responsibility for law firms, with an associated obligation to pay a fair sum of interest to clients. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires firms to account to clients for interest earned on funds held on their behalf, in line with the principle of fairness outlined in the SRA Accounts […]
How AI is Transforming Billing Models and Client Relationships in Law Firms
The legal industry is undergoing a huge shift, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). While much of the focus has been on AI’s ability to enhance operational efficiency, its impact on billing practices and client relationships is equally transformative. In a sector long-dominated by traditional hourly billing, AI offers a path to new, outcome-based […]
Domestic Abuse in Financial Remedy Proceedings & the Resolution Report
Within Resolution’s ground-breaking report published this month there is a call for a “cultural shift from all family justice professionals to better meet the needs of victim-survivors of domestic abuse seeking the resolution of finances on divorce”. There is an acute awareness by all of us who practice in family law that abusers use the […]
A family lawyer’s perspective on Labour’s first budget
There was much anticipation ahead of Labour’s first budget since being elected into government. The usual media frenzy and some questionable headlines fuelled panic with people wanting to cash in their investments, their pensions and bring forward house purchases/sales to avoid the anticipated tax rises. Rachel Reeves pledges to reduce national debt and to boot […]
Tax treatment on pensions following the Budget and the impact on divorce settlements
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, yesterday announced Labour’s first post-election budget. It brings a variety of tax changes, including in relation to the tax treatment of pensions. The key change from the Budget, in relation to the tax treatment of pensions, is that “from 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and death […]
To Trick or to Treat? – the not-so-spooky guide to navigating Halloween as co-parents
For children, Halloween is a time of costumes, sweets, and spooky fun with friends, ushering in the start of the festive period. For co-parents, however, the holiday period can sometimes be a scary time of uncertainty and may bring underlying tensions to the surface when differing parenting values come into conflict. Parents who have parental […]
CEO of Refuge responds to lack of funding for VWAG issues, despite Labour’s promise to end gender based violence ‘in 10 years’
A charity has expressed their disappointment at the lack of focus on violence against women and girls (VWAG) as the autumn budget was unveiled in the commons yesterday. During their election campaign Labour suggested they would put in place policing reforms to ‘end violence against women and girls within 10 years’. However, the budget focused […]
Cost of living pressures contribute to lowest fertility rate among British women on record
Women in England and Wales have been reported as having the lowest fertility rate on record, with cost-of-living pressures a contributing factor to the decline in births. There has been an average of 1.44 children born between 2022 and 2023, the lowest rate since 1977, according to figures for the Office for National Statistics(ONS). Only […]
‘We may not even know the full extent of the CGT increase on vulnerable people stuck in controlling marriages’ says family lawyer after Rachel Reeves announces rate increase in autumn budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled Labour’s first budget since being elected to government – with a focus on slashing national debt, boosting the UK economy and protections for working Brits. Labour’s autumn budget saw the Finance Minister announce an increase in capital gains tax to 18 per cent and 24 per cent for different earners, which […]
Out of court settlements and private FDRs
Vanda James and Tom Quinn, both partners at Birketts LLP, join the latest Today’s Family Lawyer to discuss the current sentiment around alternative and out of court dispute resolution. Amongst the points up for discussion are Does out of court dispute resolution force people down a route that may ultimately end up in a more […]
Law Society urges SRA to focus on its core role, as new report shows insight into perceptions of the regulator
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published findings from its corporate strategy benchmarking research, which examines key audiences’ perception of its performance, despite continued warnings from the Law Society of England and Wales to focus on its core role. The report has found that the existence of legal regulators enforces confidence and trust. However, low […]
Enhancing Legal Protections for Victims of Domestic Abuse
The Need for Greater Awareness of Civil Protections and Immediate Legal Remedies There needs to be better understanding of civil procedures by the police – and sometimes domestic abuse charities. We speak with domestic abuse victims who have been advised by the police to apply for a Non-Molestation Order (NMO). This is often people who […]
A surrogate’s right to be involved in the child’s life? Where does Re Z (Surrogacy: Step-parent Adoption) leave us?
The case of Re Z is a detailed examination of the complexities of the sensitive area of surrogacy law and the difficulty in determining an appropriate legal framework to protect the individuals involved including, most importantly, the child that is born from the process. The focus at the outset of the surrogacy process is often, understandably, the […]
QualitySolicitors – The next chapter
As one of the disruptors in the wake of the Legal Services Act 2007 QualitySolicitors (QS) was launched in 2009 with the ambition to help the high street fight back against the anticipated onslaught of major brands entering the legal market – so-called ‘Tesco Law.’ QS grew rapidly, with firms up and down the country […]
