Family lawyers are seeing a marked increase in disputes about whether family-funded contributions should be treated as genuine debts or simply as gifts dressed up as loans. These “soft loan” arguments now feature in a significant proportion of...

Clare’s Law: Understanding How the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme Offers Protection Clare’s Law – officially the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) – is a vital tool designed to help safeguard individuals who may be...

The recent disclosure by the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, concerning an underpayment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) has drawn significant public attention, not merely for its political ramifications, but for the complex intersection of family law,...

A recent decision by a Deputy District Judge has provided a useful refresher on the legal principles surrounding “ add-back ” in financial remedy proceedings, particularly in lower-value cases where the conduct of one party significantly impacts...

Legal Services Payment Orders: Bridging the Gap in Access to Justice in Family Proceedings A persistent challenge in family litigation is the unequal access to legal representation, often exacerbated by financial disparity between parties. It is not...

Undue Influence, Economic Abuse, and the Supreme Court’s Wake-Up Call: Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank Plc The Supreme Court’s decision in Waller-Edwards v One Savings Bank Plc  brings renewed focus to the devastating financial...

With increasing awareness of neurodiversity across the UK, more adults and children are being diagnosed with conditions such as autism and ADHD. This rise has left many families wondering how the family courts take neurodiversity into account when making...

When parents separate, ensuring the financial wellbeing of children becomes a priority. Child maintenance payments are designed to provide financial support for a child’s everyday needs, including food, clothing, education, and healthcare. However,...

In the recent case of Re T and G (Allegations of Alienating Behaviours) [2025] EWFC 15 , the Family Court tackled serious concerns about parental alienation. The case involved siblings, T and G, living separately with each parent following the breakdown...

Re C (a child) [2025] EWFC 47 This recent Family Court case highlighted the importance of a child’s wishes in determining residence arrangements, even in situations involving parental conflict. In this case, a 12-year-old child (‘C’)...

Divorce is never easy, but recent changes in the law aim to reduce the emotional strain. Since 6 April 2022, couples in England and Wales have been able to divorce without having to assign blame, thanks to the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 . ...

Since the legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales in 2014, followed by Scotland the same year and Northern Ireland in 2020, LGBTQ+ couples have had the same legal right to marry and divorce as opposite-sex couples. Equal Legal Grounds,...

When you and your spouse have reached the difficult but mutual decision to divorce, it’s natural to want things to go as smoothly as possible — practically, emotionally, and financially. And one of the most common concerns people have at this...

When entering a marriage, few people like to think about the possibility of it ending. But with financial stakes often running high, it's only natural to wonder: how can I protect my assets, especially if I didn’t sign a prenuptial agreement? ...

In today’s world, more couples are choosing to live together without getting married — a personal decision that works for many. But when it comes to property and legal rights, this choice can come with unexpected consequences. A common assumption...

In today’s world, more couples are choosing to live together without getting married — a personal decision that works for many. But when it comes to property and legal rights, this choice can come with unexpected consequences. A common assumption...

What Is Spousal Maintenance? Spousal maintenance is a regular payment made by one ex-spouse to the other after divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership. It is to help the financially weaker party maintain a standard of living that is fair,...

When a couple separates, one of the most emotionally and financially complex questions is: what happens to the house? The family home isn’t just a physical asset — it’s often the place where children were raised, memories were made, and...

Dealing with the shared matrimonial home can be one of the hardest aspects of a divorce. One or both parties often want to keep the property, which is usually a couple’s main asset. We look at how the courts deal with splitting a house in divorce and...

If you and your spouse or partner own a property with a joint mortgage, one of you will usually be released from this if you separate. We explain the legal process and answer the question, What happens if you have a joint mortgage and split up? Dealing...

Spousal maintenance is financial support provided to a spouse post-divorce. Determining the amount and duration of maintenance involves several factors: Financial Needs and Resources : The court examines the recipient’s financial needs, including...

When it comes to dividing pensions in a divorce , two main approaches are considered: equalisation of income and equalisation of capital. Equalisation of income ensures that both parties receive similar retirement incomes, maintaining a standard of living...

Parental alienation is a distressing phenomenon where one parent manipulates a child to reject the other parent without legitimate justification. This behaviour can cause long-term emotional and psychological damage to both the child and the alienated...

Divorce often brings financial turmoil, necessitating a clear understanding of two key concepts: needs and sharing claims. Needs-based claims prioritise financial support to meet reasonable living expenses for both parties post-divorce, ensuring that...

Under Section 1(3) of the Child Abduction Act 1984, it is a criminal offence for a parent or person with custody of a child to take or send the child out of the UK without securing the following: The consent of all individuals with parental responsibility...

In the aftermath of a divorce or separation, the decision to change a child's surname can be a significant issue. Understanding the legal framework is crucial for any parent considering this change to ensure the decision aligns with the child's...

Summer holidays can be challenging for separated parents, but with careful planning, they can also be a time of joy and bonding. Here are some tips to ensure smooth arrangements: Communicate Early and Clearly : Start discussing holiday plans well in...

In family law, Prohibited Steps Orders (PSOs) play a critical role in safeguarding children's wellbeing by limiting certain actions by individuals with parental responsibility. This legal tool ensures that significant decisions affecting a child's...

Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs) are vital legal tools in the realm of child welfare, designed to provide children with stable and secure family environments without severing their ties to their birth families. Introduced to fill the gap between full...

A court bundle is either a printed or digital collection of all pertinent documents in a family law matter. These documents are organised according to a specific format mandated by the court. Before each family court hearing, copies of the court bundle...

An Occupation Order is a legal directive issued by a court that determines who can live in the family home. It can grant you the right to reside in your home and simultaneously prevent another person, typically an abuser, from living there or entering the...

Judicial separation order is an alternative to divorce which can be utilised where, for example, religious beliefs forbid divorce. Reasons to Seek Judicial Separation A judicial separation order can be sought: At any time after the marriage: ...

Introduction Within the legal realm of England and Wales, the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 stands as a cornerstone legislation, offering a structured approach to resolving financial settlements in international divorce scenarios. Central...

In the wake of the groundbreaking Supreme Court verdict in Radmacher v Granatino [2010] UKSC 42, the landscape surrounding nuptial agreements, spanning pre-nuptial, post-nuptial, and separation agreements, has experienced a notable evolution within...

When a marriage comes to an end, untangling financial matters can often be one of the most complex and challenging aspects of the separation process. In England and Wales, financial remedy proceedings provide a legal framework for resolving financial...

In cases where parents are unable to agree on arrangements for their children following separation or divorce , initiating child arrangement proceedings under the Children Act 1989 may be necessary to resolve disputes and establish formal arrangements....

Divorce, once a taboo subject, has become a common occurrence in many societies worldwide. In England and Wales, the legal landscape surrounding divorce has undergone significant transformations over the years, reflecting changing societal attitudes...

London has some of the most expensive property in the world, being ranked fourth most expensive globally for prime property and third for ultra-prime property. It is also highly popular with overseas property investors, with research previously having...

Acting as an agreement between a property owner and occupier, a licence to occupy gives the licensee non-exclusive possession of a property. This is typically for a set period of time, and can range from a single week to 12 months. Despite the differences...

A service charge is a payment made from leaseholders to the landlord, which covers the cost of maintenance, management, and other services required within a building. For a service charge to be considered reasonable, The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 ...

Are you interested in extending the lease on your property or buying the freehold? The process for doing so is called leasehold enfranchisement and there are many things that you will need to know in order to successfully navigate the process. In this...

The relationships between landlords and tenants can be complicated, which is why it’s vital that leases and tenancy contracts are drafted correctly. When entering into a commercial or residential lease the circumstances of either party may change...

Reverend Mike Hall was working in North Wales when he was informed that people were inside his Luton home, only to learn it had been sold without his knowledge by conveyancing fraud. Mr Hall was only informed of the property sale when his neighbours saw...

Moving house is an exciting and significant event in most people’s lives, but it can come with its fair share of stress. For many people, the process of moving house can be daunting and overwhelming. A common question often asked is “how long...

Within the UK, it is possible to purchase a property that already contains tenants. This is known as a tenant in situ. A tenant may be in situ if the current landlord is unable or unwilling to evict them before the sale. These properties are more likely to...

2.9 million over-55s are planning to downsize their homes in the future. This is a 200,000 drop from 2018, when the number was 3.1 million. Legal & General estimated that three-quarters of over-55s own their homes, with many of these larger than the...

Renting a commercial property is usually one of the biggest investments a business will make. Commercial leases are complex, however, and there are a number of issues to be wary of. It is important not to rush into signing a commercial lease without taking...

UK property owners’ land and homes are being infected by the rapidly growing species Japanese knotweed, which can damage building’s foundations and floors, as well as growing through walls and fences. Initially introduced to the UK in the 19 th ...

Leaseholders are being given the opportunity to purchase their freehold at discounted prices after being ‘trapped’ into leases that left them paying thousands in annual ground rent and struggling to sell their homes. Evidence that many leasehold...

The ban on commercial evictions has been extended to March 2022, it was recently announced. Under the ban, which was originally supposed to end on 30 June 2021, landlords will be unable to use the full range of enforcement options they would usually have to...