Family Law Blog

Heterosexual and same-sex couples can now marry equally under English law, but do they have the same legal rights? This guest blog from Rebecca Rothwell of barristers’ chambers 36 Bedford Row provides the answers. Since Civil Partnerships became legal in England and Wales on 05 December 2005, there have been…

We have spent the last two weeks encouraging people to put Children First in divorce. In a final blog of this dedicated campaign, our lawyers list some of their key advice from years of experience of helping families through separation. Over the last two weeks, we have been signposting a…

Law firms and barristers are bemoaning the changes in the profession – but firms should have adapted to this some time ago if they want to survive in the new legal landscape. We have mentioned many times in these blogs the effect Legal Aid changes are having on the industry….

NACSA is an organisation dedicated to helping all parents, family and friends who experience difficulties with the CSA. Their remit is to ensure that the Child Support legislation is applied correctly and to educate the public about the administrations and powers of the Child Support Agency. With the extensive powers…

A lot is being made of mediation in the UK to help settle family law cases without the need to go to court, but is there any benefit in this new system for expats seeking divorce?  On the face of it, mediation would seem to be tailor-made for those living…

Rachel Tonkin of Family Lives continues the theme from earlier guest blogs about putting the needs of children first. This time it’s tips and ideas for setting routines and rules agreed by both parents. After divorcing or separating from your partner, you may find that you have different ways of…

When you enter into a long term relationship or marriage the last thing you probably want to think about is what happens if that relationship breaks down. In the same way I suppose none of us wants to take out health or car insurance because we think we are going…

In this Guest Blog Michelle Counley of NACSA helps to unravel some of the changes taking place in child maintenance payments. The Child Support Agency has a troubled history and parents, along with taxpayers throughout the UK, have suffered financially as a result. So I’m sure many people will agree…

Reports of domestic violence will rise after April this year. That’s my prediction and it may raise a few eyebrows. However, it makes sense if you think about the knock-on effects of changes to Legal Aid in family law. Cuts of up to £350 million in the system, due to…

In the second of our guest blogs, in which we invite others to post their thoughts on family law issues, Rachel Tonkin of Family Lives continues the theme from our previous guest blog about putting the needs of children first when going through a divorce or separation. These tips could…

As an experienced family solicitor, I have long been aware of the devastating impact divorce and separation can have on children, yet I was still particularly horrified to read recently the statistics from a poll undertaken on behalf of another firm of solicitors. Most alarming to me was the revelation…