There has until recently been a presumption that children have a right to have a relationship with both parents, and the presence of domestic abuse in the parents’ relationship has not been an automatic bar to this. This is not to say that the Courts do not take domestic abuse very seriously. It is a [...]
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Almost 50% of all marriages end in divorce and for many it can be the most traumatic time in their lives. Months and sometimes years are spent deciding whether to separate and then, when the decision has been made, it can take an age to pluck up the courage to take action. Emotions run high [...]
The term “parental responsibility” or “PR” can sometimes draw blank looks from clients when mentioned by family lawyers. Not everyone is aware if they have parental responsibility for their child or what this actually means in practice. Parental responsibility is defined by the Children Act 1989 as “all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority [...]
It seems these days that more and more couples are deciding to cohabit, whether as an alternative to marriage or simply a prelude. According to the Office of National Statistics, since 2005 cohabitation has increased by approximately 33% whereas marriage / civil partnership only by approximately 2% in the same time frame. This is definitely [...]
They say the home is a man’s castle. But, finding the house of your dreams can be a long and arduous process with many challenges and disappointments along the way. That is why it is so vitally important to be prepared, think logically and keep our emotions in check. Remember not to let your heart [...]
There are a number of myths and misconceptions about divorce law in England and Wales but I intend to speak about only one of these today. I am often asked in an initial consultation if a divorce can be based on irreconcilable differences. Sadly, the answer is no. We do not have a straightforward ‘no [...]
It has been reported that there has been a significant increase in the amount of Inheritance Tax (“IHT”) being paid from a deceased’s estate. Over the period of ten years, twice as much IHT has been paid to HM Revenue and Customs, namely nearly up to £4.7 Billion. A number of factors could be the [...]
In the current property market it is becoming increasingly difficult for first time buyers to get a toenail on the property ladder let alone a foot. Increasingly, young couples are having to borrow money from their parents and extended family in order to afford their first home. While the age old concept of borrowing money [...]
Many divorcing couples particularly those with minimal or no assets or income are reluctant to incur the expense of obtaining a financial order, relying on an informal agreement between them and their former spouse not to bring any further claims against each other in the future. Of course circumstances change and it is very important [...]
Autumn approaches and a recent interesting article reminds us that autumn is one of the periods of the year when married couples are more likely to split up. Public funding for divorce has all but been removed since the legal aid cuts of a couple of years ago. This means that many people who may [...]