‘Nightingale courts’ and ‘Supercourt’ unveiled to deliver speedier justice
Fourteen more ‘Nightingale courts’ and a ‘Supercourt’ have been unveiled which forms part of a £113m investment to alleviate pressures on courts and tribunals and deliver speedier justice. Further temporary court rooms are to be set up across the country in hotels and conference centres and a first ‘super courtroom’ in Manchester to hear complex […]
Practice Direction Update 1 (2021): Family Procedure Rules 2010
Changes to Practice Directions 12D, 17A, 36Q and 36R come into force in February 2021, and changes to Practice Directions 10A, 12K, 41B come into force in March 2021. More information is available here.
Senior Circuit Judge retired
His Honour Judge Keith Cutler CBE retires as a Senior Circuit Judge with effect from 15 February 2021. Background information His Honour Judge Cutler CBE (70) was called to the Bar (L) in 1972 and was elected a Bencher in 2005. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1989, Recorder in 1993, Circuit Judge in […]
International webinar on Nuptial Agreements
Kim Beatson chaired an International webinar on Nuptial Agreements with a question and answer session arranged by Anthony Gold. The speakers of the webinar were Francesca King from Italy, Katja Ziehe from Switzerland, Suzan Aiken from USA (California) and Cath Karlin from Scotland. During the webinar, the speakers answered the following questions: Do clients have […]
SRA close firm over ‘suspected dishonesty’
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) moved to close North Yorkshire Law after ‘suspected dishonesty’ on the part of the managing partner, last week (16th February 2021). The firm specialised in multiple aspects of law, including family law, conveyancing and wills and probate. The SRA closure decision notice revealed the regulator had intervened in the firm […]
How has Covid-19 impacted on the ability to get divorced?
The pandemic has put tremendous pressure on UK relationships with even the strongest couples suffering under strain with reports of a rise in marital breakups and applications for divorce, so, what impact has this had on the ability to get divorced? As the year anniversary approaches when the first lockdown ensued, families across the country […]
Rattan v Kuwad: As we were!
Grainne Fahy, family lawyer and IAFL Fellow and Head of Family Law at BLM gives her thoughts on the recent case of Rattan v Kuwad [2021] EWCA Civ 1. I think we can all agree that an application for maintenance pending suit is urgent by its very nature. It is designed to bridge the gap […]
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 […]
Research shows geographic divide in family private law applications
There is a clear north-south divide in the number of private law applications being made, according to research into private family law. According to a recent study by The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, private law application rates are consistently highest in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions, and consistently lowest in […]
HMCTS publishes Q&A on pandemic recovery plan
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has published a Q&A document following its reform online event on which focused on its recovery plans, progress in the civil, family and tribunals jurisdictions and the unique challenges being faced by them amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Access the Q&A document here.
Resolution’s National Conference is coming
Resolution’s National Conference is coming! So save the date! The week long event is taking place from Monday 17th to Friday 22nd May 2021 and will be the chance to network virtually as well as develop and get updates about the sector. This year the conference will be open to non-members as well as members. […]
Important Changes to Contested Financial Remedy Applications
From the 15th February 2021, HMCTS are asking users to send their Contested FR Applications directly to the Financial Remedy Centre (FRC) that is local to the Applicant, rather than sending them to the Regional Divorce Centres (RDC). You should send your application to the FRC, regardless of whether the divorce petition was issued online […]
4PB appoints children’s law specialist Piers Pressdee QC
4PB is pleased to welcome Piers Pressdee QC to its set. Piers joins 4PB from 29 Bedford Row, and will be practicing exclusively in the field of children law. His expertise will be an asset to 4PB’s established set of silks, renowned for their work in children law and matrimonial finance. Widely regarded as one […]
Roses are red, Violets are blue
Roses are red, Violets are blue, I no longer want this house with you…isn’t the love poem we’re used to or want to hear any day of the week, let alone on Valentines day. Yes Homebuyers asked home sellers what the main reason was for their move and found that divorce or a relationship ending […]
Remote High Court chaos questions protection of vulnerable people
The coronavirus pandemic has helped the legal sector to adapt and adopt technology at a quicker pace than usually perhaps it would. Although remote/virtual hearings were heard of, they may not have been used as regularly as now. However, just because virtual hearings are more common place now, doesn’t mean we should become complacent. Recent […]
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’ […]
Government announces new ministerial maternity leave law change
The government announces a new law update to formalise the process for ministerial maternity leave. The maternity law update came about so that the attorney general, Suella Braverman, can take six month maternity leave. The government’s chief law officer, Suella Braver, announced late last year that she was expecting her second child “early next year”, […]
Will the new coronavirus vaccine cause issues for separated parents?
The coronavirus vaccine is a ray of hope which will hopefully set the world back on the right path, meaning we can all begin to participate in things that we love. Gemma Sparks, Senior Associate and Team Leader, Children & Domestic Abuse Response Team at The Family Law Company has shared her insights with Today’s Family […]
LSB sets out options for ensuring the ongoing competence of lawyers
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has confirmed that it will develop and consult on a more robust approach to ensuring lawyers remain competent throughout their careers. In a new report published today, the LSB notes that while legal regulators have comprehensive measures to make sure that legal professionals are competent when entering the legal profession, […]
4PB becomes the first family set to sign up to the 10,000 Black Interns Programme
4PB have become one of the first barristers sets to sign up and commit to the 10,000 Black Interns programme. The initiative has been designed to encourage change and to help transform the horizons and prospects of young Black people in the United Kingdom by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries. […]