CMA praises advancements in legal sector, but more can be done
Today, 17 December, the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) has published the findings of its review of the legal services in England and Wales. The review has found that the legal profession has made some positive advancements with regards to transparency but more work can be done to continue to improve and more work on the […]
Financial Remedy Applications is simplified with MyHMCTS Online
Family practitioners said the Financial Remedy Service on MyHMCTS online plays a key role in simplifying and improving the divorce process. HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) have revealed that more than 10,000 consent applications for financial remedy have been processed on the new online portal MyHMCTS. Typically the majority of online applications submitted by […]
A weight off your mind, just when you need it
Ampla Finance have brought in a wealth of experience from the consumer funding landscape to the legal sector. Since the successful launch of their Family service, aimed at providing funding for the Family Law sector, the next step was to launch an innovative lending service for probate practitioners with the launch of their Legacy service. […]
Public sites will open as Nightingale courtrooms in the new year
Public premises to be used as Nightingale courtrooms are due to open in the new year. An additional nine more Nightingale courtrooms will open their doors at the end of January, which sees libraries, theatres and town halls to be used for non-custodial cases. The venues consist of Birmingham Library and Repertory Theatre and Lancaster […]
Are Private Financial Dispute Resolution hearings the way forward?
A ‘private’ FDR hearing may sound like something created for high net worth divorcing couples, but that is not the case. It can be of great benefit to all divorcing couples. There are a number of advantages to participating in a private FDR hearing. In light of COVID-19, with physical hearings only taking place where […]
Family Justice Board Latest December 2020 Statement
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary have released their December 2020 Family Justice Board statement: Priorities for the family justice system. They said: “The Family Justice Board has produced a statement, that summarises the priority actions it intends to pursue in response both to immediate pressures within the family justice system, and to bring about longer-term […]
Family Lawyer suggests CGT changes will impact divorcing couples
A family lawyer based in the South believes that Proposed Capital Gains Tax (CGT) changes will impact divorcees greatly. Simon Bassett, partner and head of family at Royds Withy King warns that the proposed increases to capital gains tax (CGT) suggested by the Office for Tax Simplification in early November are likely to hit divorcing […]
Duxbury is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.
Thankfully, eightfourtwo Wealth Management offer a sweeter alternative, as we’ll soon go on to explain. But let’s start with the problem. At a time when your client will be looking for certainty, the Duxbury tables are likely to be delivering a series of distasteful surprises. Yet, even though their limitations are well-known, Duxbury is still […]
Fraud issues aren’t the banks problems
The Financial Ombudsman Service has revealed that there is a 36% rise in complaints with regards to how banks dealt with fraud and scams when compared to 2019. Last year, many banks and financial institutions signed up to the voluntary code, which meant that they refunded victims of fraud, if the victim isn’t at fault. […]
Domestic Abuse during a Pandemic
The year 2020 has brought pain to many and in many different forms, from job loss, financial worries, illness and even death, the pandemic has struck a nerve with everyone. But what if no one can see your pain? Coronavirus aside, domestic abuse is a silent killer that can cause pain, frustration, and mental exhaustion […]
When legal representation falls short: study finds diversity is lacking in law firms
Diversity is a factor high on the list of any industry looking to ensure parity in their workforce and hiring practices. Nowhere should this be more the case than in the legal industry. Ensuring the workforce is representative of the wider society is particularly important within this sector because of the direct link it has […]
Legal Services Payment Orders: Equal footing for the divorcing couple?
Rachel Freeman, Partner Kingsley Napley As practitioners, we know that clients are often surprised to learn that, when it comes to dividing up the family assets upon divorce, not only does it not matter in whose name the assets are, but also the court can order them to pay their spouse’s legal fees during the […]
Should solicitors be forced to display prices on their websites?
Following on from Nigel Haddon’s interview, Jackie Emmerson Managing Director at Emmerson Solicitors has shared her views with Today’s Family Lawyer about price transparency. The Solicitors Regulatory Authority determined that solicitors should be transparent in their pricing. And thus everyone is now expected to display their prices on their website! It would seem that there […]
Looking ahead to 2021
Elizabeth Rimmer is CEO at LawCare It’s been a very difficult and challenging year for all of us. No-one has remained unaffected by the fall out of the global pandemic and its impact on our health, our relationships, our livelihoods and our mental health. For most of us this has been the most significant event […]
Divorcing couples rushing to file petitions before December 31 – Brexit threatens to upend rules
There is a rush amongst the estranged spouses of High Net Worth individuals to file for divorce in England before the December 31 Brexit deadline, says Boodle Hatfield, the leading private wealth law firm. Individuals, especially internationally mobile couples, are rushing to file for divorce to ensure that settlements are decided under English law. English […]
Send us your Christmas and festive pictures
According to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Christmas 2020 is a time to be ‘jolly careful’, as we continue to battle the coronavirus. Here at Today’s Family Lawyer we’d like to spread some Christmas cheer and share your festive photos on our social media channels. You can send your photo to press@todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk. We hope you have […]
LSB invites contributions to a new strategy for the legal service sector
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today launched a consultation on a draft strategy for the legal services sector and is inviting others to say how they will also contribute to reshaping legal services to better meet the needs of society. The strategy follows the publication of LSB’s State of Legal Services 2020 report last […]
FAQ’s for Independent Social Work Reports for Immigration Proceedings
If you are going through Immigration proceedings and require an Independent Social Worker Report, please see our FAQ’s below and get in touch if you need any more information. Do you complete Independent Social Work Reports for immigration proceedings? Yes! We specialise in this and have over twenty years combined experience in completing reports for […]
Latest domestic abuse statistics reveal offence increase during pandemic
The latest Office of National Statistics domestic abuse statistics reveal an increase in offences flagged as domestic abuse-related during the pandemic in England and Wales. The data which was extracted from a range of data sources to assess the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on domestic abuse resulted in a rise in domestic abuse […]
Resolution members provide over one thousand hours of free advice during Good Divorce Week
Resolution members across England and Wales opened their doors – virtual or otherwise – to separating families seeking advice last week, during the organisation’s “Good Divorce Week.” The initiative was the latest national awareness-raising week organised by the family justice body, whose members gave up their time to offer free initial legal and professional advice […]