The Welfare Checklist: How Courts Decide What Is Best for a Child When parents cannot agree on arrangements for their children following a separation, the court may be asked to intervene. In doing so, the court’s primary concern is always the...
Living Abroad but Connected to the UK — Can You Still Bring a Claim Here? Many of our clients live internationally—whether for work, family, or lifestyle reasons. A common question we are asked is: “If I’m living abroad, can I...
When Will a Court Decide a Child Should Have No Contact with a Parent? Rare and Exceptional Circumstances Courts in England and Wales rarely prevent a parent from seeing their child. No-contact orders are only granted in exceptional situations where...
Renters’ Rights Act 2026: What UK Landlords & Tenants Need to Know (Updated for 2026) The Renters’ Rights Act 2026—previously known as the Renters Reform Act—marks one of the most substantial transformations to the private...
Changing Your Child’s Name Deciding to change a child’s name can be a complex process. Whether you’ve recently separated or simply feel a new name suits your child better, it’s important to understand the legal process and what is...
When 18 Is Not the End: Dependent Adult Children in Financial Remedy Proceedings In divorce proceedings, many people assume that a child turning 18 brings financial responsibility to an end. Legally, 18 marks adulthood. In reality, particularly in...
Section 7 Reports in Children Act Proceedings – Key Information for Parents If you are involved in child arrangements proceedings under the Children Act 1989, the court may direct that a Section 7 welfare report is prepared. This report helps the...
When Child Maintenance Isn’t Enough: The Power of Schedule 1 Not every child support case is solved by the CMS. Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 usually appears in a very specific scenario: the parents were never married, one parent is a high...
Who Gets the Dog? Pets on Separation in England and Wales For many people, pets are far more than animals, they are companions and part of the family. When a relationship ends, deciding who keeps the pet can be one of the most emotional and disputed...
Moving on after separation: when can you relocate with a child? After separation, it is common for one parent to want a fresh start. This might mean moving closer to family, relocating for work, or simply finding somewhere new to live. When a child is...
Understanding Parental Alienation — and Why Only Courts Can Decide It The phrase parental alienation appears frequently in family law discussions, yet it is often used loosely and without a clear understanding of what it truly means. In broad...
Child Relocation and the Court’s Approach: Re Simon [2025] The recent case of Re Simon [2025] EWFC 249 highlights the critical importance of having a carefully considered, child-focused relocation plan when one parent wishes to move abroad with a...
Non‑Matrimonial Assets in Divorce: What Can Stay “Yours” and How It Becomes “Ours” On separation, one phrase is heard again and again: “That was mine before we met.” The response is just as familiar: ...
Why Informal Child Maintenance Arrangements Can Create Serious Legal and Financial Problems What is the issue? Many separated parents rely on informal child maintenance arrangements, often based on trust, goodwill, or verbal agreement. While this...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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