• 01616 966 229
  • Request a callback
Stephensons Solicitors LLP Banner Image

Services
People
News and Events
Other
Blogs

Family Law Blog

Our family law specialists regularly write about related legal topics and breaking news, we welcome your comments on our posts. If you would like more information on our services, please don't hesitate to get in touch on 01616 966 229.

.

How can I stop my ex removing our children from my care or changing their school?

  • Posted

It is not unusual for disputes to arise with an ex-partner after a relationship comes to an end and sometimes these disputes may be over an issue concerning your child. You may find that when your relationship comes to an end your ex-partner wishes to...

Divorce numbers lowest since 1971 in England & Wales

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

These figures from the ONS stem from 2022, leaning out of the pandemic and into a cost-of-living crisis. We know that financial pressures and income concerns have led to many couples delaying the divorce process. What was once a reason to get to...

How can I stop my ex-partner making continuous applications to the family court?

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

The court often sees parents make repeated applications in relation to their children, not because they believe that those applications are in the child’s interest, but because they use the repeated applications as a continuous form of control,...

What is a section 20 agreement?

  • Posted

A section 20 agreement is not a court order. It relates to the local authority requesting your consent for your child or children to reside elsewhere, often in foster care, but occasionally with family or friends as well. Under section 20 of the...

Dealing with arrangements for your children at Christmas

Nicola Horrocks
  • Posted
  • Author

The law does not contain any specific provision for Christmas arrangements. The court would recommend that separated parents try to reach an agreement between themselves about who a child should spend Christmas with. The court system should only be used as...

What is shaken baby syndrome?

Nicola Clayton
  • Posted
  • Author

At Stephensons we have extensive experience in our family law department of dealing with cases where the local authority have become involved due to allegations of physical abuse to children. One key area that can be complex is that commonly known as...

When can social services remove a child from the care of their parents?

Nicola Horrocks
  • Posted
  • Author

Social services, also known as the local authority, will usually only take a child away from their parents if they believe that the child is at risk of significant harm suffering harm or neglect in their current circumstances. They are obliged to...

Crisis in the family court system

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

The Law Society has reported that tens of thousands of children are being left in limbo by a crisis in the family court system as a result of care proceedings and parental separation cases taking more than a year to resolve with data from the Children...

Pets and divorce - a guide to who keeps the family pet when separating

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

For many people a pet is another member of their family unit. As a result, it can be a very emotional and difficult decision as to how the future care of any pet shall be determined when couples separate.  With pet ownership increasing during...

New capital gains tax legislation for divorcing couples

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

6th April 2023 marked new CGT legislation that enables those going through divorce or civil partnership dissolution significant assistance in separating their assets as tax efficiently as possible.   Capital gains tax (CGT) can arise on the...

How should you respond to the initial letter from your estranged spouse/partner?

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

The first letter anyone receives from a solicitor is so important – and without a doubt this cannot be more truthful than when a relationship is ending. It brings with it through your letter box, all the emotion and realisation that you are actually...

Moving to a new country with your child after separation

Rachel Benett
  • Posted
  • Author

As the world emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, opportunities to relocate overseas are becoming a reality again. For some, the opportunity could arise from a transfer through work, others may have always had dreams of moving abroad, and others may wish to...

Celebrating our family team this International Women's Day

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

Today is International Women’s Day, a day for celebrating women's achievements while calling out inequality. International Women’s Day is observed by the United Nations and its missions include celebrating women’s...

Custodial sentence for Stephen Bear following guilty verdict

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

Stephen Bear, who has appeared in Big Brother and other reality shows, has been convicted for sharing a video of him and his ex partner, Georgia Harrison, having sex online and sentenced to 21 months in prison. The offences for which he was found...

Allegations of abuse in an early years setting - what should you do?

Rachel Benett
  • Posted
  • Author

It is every nursery or childminder’s worst nightmare for a child they care for to become unwell or to be injured. It is even more stressful to find yourself involved in investigations about alleged abuse of a child. In cases of suspected...

What is a non-molestation order?

  • Posted

A non-molestation order is designed to protect victims from abuse, threats and harassment. This order is an injunction which means that certain actions/behaviours are not allowed. These include stopping the abuser communicating with you or being allowed...

Cost-of-living contributing to January divorce spike?

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

Simmering marital tensions can often reach boiling point over the festive season and it is not uncommon for solicitors to see a spike in enquiries throughout the month of January rather than on one particular day. A new year, a new start. We have begun...

ONS figures show 9.6% increase in divorces in 2021

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

The pandemic exposed the fault lines in many relationships. Financial pressures, job worries and the disturbance of traditional support structures, resulted in many couples very quickly reaching breaking point. In 2021, as the shadow of covid slowly...

What is a section 7 report?

Nicola Horrocks
  • Posted
  • Author

A report under Section 7 of the Children Act 1989 is directed by the court when an application has been made under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989 and there are either welfare concerns for a child or the parents cannot agree matters in respect of their...

Can I take my children out of the country if I am separated from their other parent?

Bethany Corday
  • Posted
  • Author

What happens where parents are separated and your former partner/spouse will not agree to you taking your child out of the country? The first question to ask, is who has parental responsibility for the child? A child’s biological mother...

How does the online divorce process work?

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

With the introduction of no-fault divorce on 6th April 2022 the government launched a new digital online and paper service for those wanting to divorce. Here we will explain how the online digital divorce process works. Online divorce applications can...

Disputes about children - can a child be a party to the proceedings?

  • Posted

Where there is a dispute about a child such as where a child should live or how long they spend time with a parent, under rule 16.4 of the Family Procedure Rules, the court has the power to make a child a party to private law proceedings. Making the...

What is a special guardianship order?

Jessica Macaulay
  • Posted
  • Author

A special guardianship order (SGO) is a private law order made in the family court that appoints one or more individuals to be a child or young person’s ‘special guardian’ who they will live with on a long term basis. An SGO can also be...

What is a no-fault divorce?

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

A no-fault, or no-blame divorce is a much more straightforward and amicable approach to separation in that couples can now file for divorce or civil partnership dissolution without having to place the blame on their former partner to prove the...

Non-accidental injury allegations

Nicola Clayton
  • Posted
  • Author

As a parent, the idea of being accused of hurting your child is a nightmare that can become a reality. If a child suffers an injury that cannot be explained, or the explanation is considered not consistent with the injury then the parents, or others...

Does the final order in a divorce/dissolution end my financial ties?

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

The final stages within divorce/dissolution proceedings is to apply to court for a final order, previously called the decree absolute in divorce proceedings. Once this is made, you are no longer legally married or in a civil partnership and both parties...

The Bank of Mum and Dad - can I get my money back if my child divorces?

  • Posted

The question of whether a parent’s financial contribution can be claimed back is a dilemma often encountered either by parents wishing to claim money back when their child divorces or by (ex)spouses opposing repayment. Such cases generally crop-up...

Ten things to know before attending a family court hearing

  • Posted

Preparing to attend a family court hearing can be stressful but our family law solicitors can guide and support you through the process. Here are ten things we think you should know before you attend a hearing. 1. Check with your solicitor whether the...

Introduction of no fault divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships

  • Posted

The introduction of no fault divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships is a welcome step forward in what has often felt a like an outdated process which too often relied on one pointing the finger of blame at the other, particularly if they wanted...

No fault divorce - what is different?

Jessica Macaulay
  • Posted
  • Author

The legislation Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 is to come into effect on 6 April 2022. It is said to be the biggest change to the to the divorce system in decades and introduces no fault divorce. This means that one party does not need to...

Who keeps the pets after a separation?

  • Posted

Pets are often considered to be part of the family and so it can be difficult to decide who should care for them when a relationship breaks down. What should I do if my partner won’t agree to me owning the pet after separation? 1. It is important...

The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme - what it could mean for you

  • Posted

It has been announced by the Ministry of Justice that an additional £1.3 million will be given to the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme , which aims to assist thousands of parents involved in disputes and in turn help to resolve family disputes...

Parental alienation - what is it and what should I do about it?

  • Posted

There is no legal definition of parental alienation, however Cafcass recognise parental alienation as ‘when a child’s resistance or hostility towards one parent is not justified and is the result of psychological manipulation by the other...

Pensions and divorce - why failing to discuss a pension could leave you significantly out of pocket

  • Posted

There can often be a huge discrepancy between the pension wealth of men and women, recent research suggests that, on average, men aged between 65 to 69 have almost six times the pension wealth of their partners. Going through the divorce process can be...

ONS divorce report highlights challenges faced by couples

  • Posted

While there was a drop in the number of people filing for divorce in 2020, the report from the ONS does highlight the challenges many couples faced during a year of huge uncertainty. We know that the pandemic exposed the fault lines in many...

Child contact arrangements at Christmas

  • Posted

Christmas is considered by many as a special time of the year, dedicated to spending quality time with family and friends. As this period approaches, it is important to think about where and how children will spend the festive season. With that in mind, how...

What is a cohabitation agreement and do I need one?

  • Posted

Cohabitation is a living arrangement where a couple who are not married or not in a civil partnership live together in the same household. The law gives cohabiting couples considerably less legal protection on separation or death than for married couples...

I have been invited to a pre-proceedings meeting, what does this mean?

  • Posted

You are a parent or someone with parental responsibility of a child who has received a letter from Children’s Services inviting you to the pre-proceedings process, but what exactly does this mean? When Children’s Services are concerned...

What is a children's guardian? Who they are and what they do

Benjamin Armstrong
  • Posted
  • Author

Children’s guardians are appointed by the court to represent children within care proceedings (local authorities can start ‘ care proceedings ’ if they’re very worried about a child and can apply for a ‘ care order ’...

What if parents don't agree about having their child vaccinated?

Bethany Corday
  • Posted
  • Author

What happens if you want your child to have a vaccination and your child’s other parent does not agree? Or, what if you do not want your child to have a vaccination and your child’s other parent does? Many parents may now be contemplating...

Domestic abuse and children's services

Bethany Corday
  • Posted
  • Author

Many parents are concerned that where there has been domestic abuse in their relationship, that children’s services (or social services as they are more commonly known) may become involved with their family and may remove their children, if they...

What is parental responsibility and who has it?

  • Posted

The legal definition of parental responsibility is “all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authorities which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and the child’s property”. This means that parents are...

Is Absolute really absolutely the end?

  • Posted

We are frequently receiving enquiries from clients who, having gone through the divorce process, now find themselves exposed to a litany of problems. The common theme throughout is a misunderstanding in relation to the Decree Absolute in their divorce ,...

Social services and the coronavirus pandemic

  • Posted

In 2020 the world was faced with one of its biggest challenges in living history when the coronavirus pandemic hit. The UK is now ploughing through its 3rd national lockdown since the pandemic began which has resulted in families being under additional...

Do I need my ex partners permission to take my child on holiday in England & Wales?

  • Posted

The coronavirus pandemic has certainly put a stop to many holiday plans in 2020 and 2021, but with the governments’ announcement that the restrictions will end by 21st June 2021, you may be hovering over that ‘purchase tickets’ button for...

Raising children together following divorce

  • Posted

Despite it being a few years since her last music release, Adele has still found herself subject to numerous headlines with many referencing her multi-million pound divorce from her husband. She and her husband have an eight year old child together and,...

Return of abducted child to England

Tim Galbraith
  • Posted
  • Author

The circumstances where one parent makes a unilateral decision to move or keep their child in another country is often described as child abduction or, where the child is kept abroad, as an unlawful retention. Such situations are often traumatic for all...

Divorce, separation and COVID-19

  • Posted

Navigating a relationship breakdown is rarely stress free but couples separating over the past few months will have had to deal with particularly unique challenges. With so much changing from one week to the next it can be hard to know how best to...

Guide to prenuptial agreements in the UK

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

Prenuptial agreements take the form of a written agreement between a couple prior to their marriage. The purpose of a prenup is to set out ownership of all of the couple’s belongings (assets, money and property) and explains how these...

Is Children's Services the same as Social Services?

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

Children’s Services has replaced Social Services although are often still known as “social services”. The new Children Act in 2004 placed a duty on children’s social care to promote co-operation with partners such as health...

DIY family law - should I represent myself?

Bethany Corday
  • Posted
  • Author

Accessing legal advice or representation can be costly. It is important that you have access to legal advice before you consider how to resolve a dispute in relation to a family matter. Access to legal aid is now available in only limited circumstances...

Which court order is appropriate for my family/child dispute?

Jackie Price
  • Posted
  • Author

When couples separate it can be a very stressful time particularly where children are involved. Ideally parents should make decisions between themselves as to what is best for the child after separation. Mediation is a process where parents can be assisted...

Why a pre-nuptial agreement may be the best wedding gift

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

With the summer approaching, the wedding season will soon be upon us. As the concept of what makes a perfect wedding changes so has the approach of couples towards their finances and for many a pre-wedding checklist now contains the item “organise a...

Does the decree absolute cut financial ties with a former spouse?

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

The answer is “no!”. However this is a very common and potentially costly misunderstanding.  The decree absolute ends your marriage but only a financial order can cut your financial ties. Without a sealed financial order from the...

Can I stop my former partner applying to court about our child?

Bethany Corday
  • Posted
  • Author

The short answer is usually, no. It is often necessary to involve the court where parents cannot agree arrangements for the child, for example where the child should live and what, if any, time the child should spend with the other parent. But, what...

Practical tips for a positive separation

Emma Roberts
  • Posted
  • Author

Coming to a decision to separate, get divorced or having that decision announced to you, has many consequences and will bring many reactions and emotions, as with any other loss. Whilst the end of a relationship can for some understandably be...

What is section 20 accommodation and when can it be used?

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

Earlier this year, Katie Price explained that she was considering making the difficult decision to place her son, Harvey, into residential care due to his complex needs and the dangers of his challenging behaviours to himself and his family. It has now...

Interveners in care proceedings

Nicola Clayton
  • Posted
  • Author

In care proceedings it is most often the case that the parties involved are a small circle consisting of the local authority, the parents, and the children through their representative, the children's guardian, a professional appointed by the court...

First UK conviction for coercive behaviour for a female offender

Jackie Price
  • Posted
  • Author

Alex Skeel has been prevalent in the media recently after bravely speaking out after the horrific abuse he suffered at the hands of his ex-partner, Jordan Worth, the mother of his two children. Alex had been stabbed, starved and scalded by his...

No more mud slinging - no-fault divorces to become law

  • Posted

The government has confirmed that legislation introducing no-fault divorce is to be introduced after launching a consultation last autumn on reforming the law. This reform would remove the need for separating couples to wait for years or allocate blame in...

The Bezos - what happens when the 'super rich' call time on their marriages?

  • Posted

There is “being comfortable”, there is having a feeling of “being well off”, then there is “being rich”, or for a limited few, “super-rich” and then there is being so super-rich the amount of money involved...

Parental substance misuse - child care proceedings

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

Celebrities and drug scandals are in the news nearly every week. The latest celebrity to fall into the spotlight for this is Katie Price. Katie’s life has been well documented by the media and now a video has come to light of her on holiday...

What to do when a parent abducts a child and how to prevent it

Tim Galbraith
  • Posted
  • Author

A mother of three children, two of them born in Britain, has pleaded guilty to abduction following removing the children from the UK and relocating to Alaska without the knowledge or consent of their father. The background A man and woman met in...

Stand united against domestic abuse

  • Posted

It’s 2018 and England have reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. While most of us will be backing an England win on Wednesday, through every moment of togetherness and excitement, when England wins, there is a...

'Celebrity mother' case and child care proceedings

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

Reports have surfaced today that a ‘celebrity mother’ - who cannot be named for legal reasons - has had two of her children removed and placed into foster care. Although her identity remains confidential, it is understood that the mother is...

Cheryl and Liam Payne split: how might they avoid a dispute over child contact?

Victoria Gethin
  • Posted
  • Author

After months of speculation Cheryl and Liam Payne have announced their separation. The couple confirmed their relationship in February 2016 and had a son, Bear, in March 2017. Both Cheryl and Liam posted tweets about the separation and both stated...

Supreme Court rules in favour of heterosexual couples being granted the right to a civil partnership

  • Posted

The Supreme Court has today ruled in favour of allowing heterosexual couples the right to elect to have a civil partnership instead of a marriage, after a lengthy court battle in which a mixed-sex couple argued that their Human Rights were being breached...

Push for change: making child contact safer for children and victims of domestic abuse

  • Posted

A recent study carried out by Women’s Aid highlights the experience of victims of domestic abuse within the family courts. Victims have revealed that their experiences have been negative and traumatising. Recommendations have been put forward to...

Should civil partnerships be an alternative to marriage for everyone?

  • Posted

This week the Supreme Court heard the case of different-sex couple Rebecca Steinfeld, and Charles Keidan. The couple entered into a legal battle as they wish to enter into a civil partnership rather than a marriage. They seek the right to enter into a...

Are parent's rights protected during care proceedings?

  • Posted

Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 provides that "everyone has the right to respect for private and family life". How is this right maintained when the state intervenes and a care order in respect of the child of a family is made? A care...

Woman 'condemned to loveless marriage' appeals to Supreme Court over divorce

  • Posted

A woman who claims she has been ‘condemned to a loveless marriage’ by the UK courts has taken her case to the Supreme Court in a bid to divorce her husband of 40 years. Tini Owens, 66, previously failed in her attempts to divorce Hugh...

Divorces could be invalid after family court blunder

  • Posted

There’s been major a cock-up in our divorce courts! This significant administrative error may have wide reaching consequences, although officials have said they don’t know how many it will affect. In short there are some people who will...

The blame game

  • Posted

For over 20 years, legal professionals have argued for ‘no fault’ divorce to be introduced in England and Wales. It is argued that the current law increases hostility and is confusing. Currently if you want a divorce in England and...

The 26 week time limit in care proceedings - fact or fiction?

  • Posted

When a local authority has serious concerns about the safety and welfare of a child or children, they begin what is known as ‘pre-proceedings’. Children’s services will send a letter to the parents or carers of the child(ren), inviting...

All you glorious silver foxes and vixens out there are bucking the trend!

  • Posted

According to new figures released about our personal lives, not only are baby boomers commanding an ever greater share of the population – their number has risen by 20 per cent, living longer and taking the place of the existing ‘silver...

Dividing assets after divorce: a problem best met 'head on'

  • Posted

Making good decisions when you are in the midst of life changing events isn’t easy - particularly when you’re trying to make the most of a difficult situation. Physically separating is one thing but when is a good time to divide your...

How short is a short marriage?

  • Posted

How long is a short marriage and how should the assets be divided? The first has not been answered but the second has – effectively, with fairness.  Yesterday guidance was provided by the Court of Appeal on how it may be possible to divide...

How much is too much in divorce proceedings?

  • Posted

How much is too much, when paying for lawyers in financial proceedings?   The starting point for anybody in dispute about the division of assets following divorce - and considering going to court to fight about it - is to ask that very question....

Connected and contented? Secrets and suspicion make social media a potential relationship minefield

  • Posted

The world has been overtaken by social media, Facebook, Skype, Snapchat, Twitter and – apparently – ‘WhatsApp’. Today, many people’s personal lives are being played out publicly, marriages, separations and divorces. There...

Understanding forms of domestic abuse

  • Posted

One woman in four and one man in six in the UK will be a victim of domestic violence during their lifetime, according to research. Before knowing how to deal with instances of domestic abuse it is important to have a reminder of what it is or can be. ...

'Unhappiness' not sufficient grounds for divorce

  • Posted

You may have heard about the case of Mrs Owens who has been denied a divorce by the Court of Appeal. She said that the decision had left her trapped in a loveless marriage and you would be forgiven for wondering how such a situation was possible –...

Bad behaviour as grounds for divorce

  • Posted

How badly does your ex have to behave to justify you getting extra money from them or a bigger share of the assets when you separate? In many relationship breakdowns - unfortunately – there are allegations and counter allegations about behaviour....

Making a Will in divorce proceedings

  • Posted

Making a Will isn’t the most exciting subject. And separating and thinking about death is a combination must people don’t want to think about. But ignore it at your peril and here’s some examples why. Anne (not her real name) came...

Clean break best solution for true separation

  • Posted

“It looks like a clean break!” While one might commonly hear those words whilst flat-out on a hospital gurney, it is also very common to hear this from your solicitor when talking about your financial settlement. What is a 'clean break'?...

Roses, chocolates and...pre-nups

  • Posted

Roses are red, violets are blue, etcetera! It’s that time of the year again and, for many, the pressure is on to declare undying love and to get down on one knee. You’ve bought the card, booked the table next to the window and ordered the...

Dealing with emotions in divorce

  • Posted

Separating - and the legal process of doing so - is one thing, but the practicalities of divorce go hand-in-hand with an emotional transition. If proper attention isn’t paid to the emotional side of divorce it can lead to a significant impact...

Understanding the 'D-Day' phenomenon

  • Posted

Is there really such a thing as D-Day? It might seem like a silly question; but we’re not talking about the date marking the Normandy Landings, but rather ‘Divorce Day’. It is often said that the first working day back after Christmas...

Christmas 'calm before the storm' for divorce lawyers

  • Posted

Tick tock, tick tock! The big day is nearly upon us and many of us will be rushing round to get everything sorted before the 25th of December. It is an exciting - if a little hectic - time of year. Without wanting to put a dampener on the festivities, for ...

A guide to avoiding Christmas conflict

  • Posted

‘Ding dong merrily on high!’ We’re definitely on count down. The Christmas lights have been switched on in town - the Christmas Markets are in full swing - the weather has turned - Black Friday is…well, Black Friday - and...

Divorce and the family home

  • Posted

The family home. A place of sanctity. But it can also become the centre of a battlefield when separating. Who should keep it and who should leave? You might both want it but can’t live under the same roof once the relationship is over. What are your...

Pitt-Jolie custody battle escalates

  • Posted

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s divorce takes a dramatic turn as information is leaked about the “Allied” star being in possession of a damning video of the mother of six. News sites report the star would be ready to release this if his...

Sir James Munby calls for review of the guardian

  • Posted

In ‘View from the President’s Chambers’, Sir James Munby cast his gaze over the role of the children’s guardian within family proceedings. In the family court, where all parties should be adopting a child focused approach, and...

Cheryl closer to ending Versini marriage

  • Posted

The short lived marriage of Cheryl Fernandez Versini's and Jean-Bernard Fernandez Versini is closer to being ended as the Central Family Court in London today awarded the couple a decre nisi. The former pop star and ex-wife of footballer Ashley Cole saw...

Taking the children abroad could create serious legal problems

  • Posted

You have picked the house with a nice big garden, the children’s schools and you have secured your dream job.  All of this could be just down the road, in a neighbouring town, in a different county or it might even be on a different continent. You...

Record breaking divorce hands £75 million to former model

  • Posted

How much can a spouse claim on separation?   How much ‘maintenance’ – the financial support one spouse is ordered to provide to another - is reasonable? These are the issues that continue to trouble our family courts. ...

What is parental alienation?

  • Posted

Breaking up is never easy to do.  In the past few weeks, we’ve witnessed the fall out of ‘separation’ in the news and in the media.  We have fallen out with Europe and have decided to divorce. At home we fell out...

Perils of pensions in seperation

  • Posted

Pensions are in the news again following the demise of the national retailer, BHS. As family solicitors, we are regularly dealing with them – particularly with the question of what to do on separation. They are a tricky subject and one which can be...

'One in five relationships in distress', report finds

  • Posted

According to a survey by Relate, almost one in five (18 per cent) UK couples regularly argue or consider separating. The poll suggests that 2.87 million people are living in ‘distressed’ relationships; defined as when a relationship is under...

'Family and friends foster carers' entitled to financial support

  • Posted

Are you looking after grandchildren, nieces and nephews or other children in your family?  I am not referring to the odd babysitting or for a couple of hours after school – I am talking about children who are living under your roof because they...

Counting the cost of separation

  • Posted

The decision to permanently separate can be stressful enough, but the additional financial worries that come with it can make an already difficult time worse.  There will always be costs when making life changing decisions - whether emotional,...

The end of pre-nups?

  • Posted

Last week, a group of senior judges warned that the vast majority of people who sign a pre-nuptial agreement are wasting their time and money. A document, produced by the Family Justice Council suggested that, for the vast majority of those going through a...