Family Law Blog
Comment on divorce & family law
By Ian Giddings, on Wednesday April 2, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Going through a divorce can be a stressful and costly experience. For this reason, it is tempting to try to cut corners by opting for what is commonly referred to as a ‘quickie divorce’ or a fast, uncontested divorce. In this article, we break down the process involved in getting…
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By Ian Giddings, on Tuesday July 30, 2024 at 2:12 pm
There is often confusion surrounding fathers’ rights to overnight stays. In fact, the notion of a father having the ‘right’ to look after their children overnight is a common misunderstanding. It is important to clarify that the law holds the view that parents have responsibilities towards their children and that…
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By Ian Giddings, on Friday May 31, 2024 at 2:39 pm
Spousal maintenance refers to an amount of money that is paid from one spouse to another during divorce. The payment is made from the spouse with the higher income to support the spouse with the lower income. Whilst spousal maintenance is not always payable, it will be ordered by the…
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By Ian Giddings, on Saturday October 1, 2022 at 1:44 pm
At first glance, you may think the words “amicable” and “divorce” don’t belong in the same sentence. By its very nature, a divorce means that two people no longer want to be together and have decided to go their separate ways. If everything was fine between them, this would not be the…
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By Ian Giddings, on Thursday September 1, 2022 at 9:30 am
As family lawyers, we are often asked ‘Can my husband ask me to leave our house?’ and ‘What right do I have to stay in the family home when we split?’ This blog attempts to provide answers to these questions and provide advice on the steps you might take. Separating…
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By Ian Giddings, on Friday August 5, 2022 at 10:34 am
On 6 April 2022 divorce law across the UK changed. The introduction of no fault divorce means it is no longer necessary to provide a reason such as adultery when applying for a divorce. The only ground for divorce is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and you no longer…
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By Ian Giddings, on Wednesday October 11, 2017 at 12:31 pm
As new terms started recently many students will have thought long and hard about the likely costs of going to university. In a BBC article a few months ago the average student debt was calculated to be an eye watering £57,000. Having had a full grant and a job in…
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By Ian Giddings, on Wednesday March 8, 2017 at 9:59 am
Some years ago, I was told about a case another family solicitor had been involved with. After lengthy court proceedings regarding a divorcing couple’s financial matters the parties had finally been able to resolve their differences and a consent order had been agreed at court. Thinking everything was resolved she…
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By Ian Giddings, on Wednesday November 11, 2015 at 2:38 pm
Whilst it’s not surprising that emotions can run high in divorce proceedings (we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t get upset about the breakdown of our marriage) there is a limit to what behaviour is acceptable. A recent case in the High Court (Veluppillai v Veluppillai) has highlighted the best…
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By Ian Giddings, on Wednesday April 8, 2015 at 1:54 pm
Gordon Gecko said in the film Wall Street “The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed – for lack of a better word – is good.” I’m not sure I agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment but it does make me think about my role as a family law solicitor and…
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By Ian Giddings, on Tuesday August 5, 2014 at 9:00 am
Making arrangements to take your children on holiday after a divorce is not always plain sailing, but there are some simple rules to follow to make things easier. School’s out for the summer. If not booked already, then a holiday, either close to home or on a foreign shore, is…
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By Ian Giddings, on Thursday March 13, 2014 at 9:00 am
The range of questions divorce solicitors are asked quite mind-boggling – and they are not always related to the legal profession. However, there is a small band of them that come round time and time again. So I thought it might be useful to try and address some of the…
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