I have had several enquiries regarding contact since the lockdown guidance was introduced. Cabinet Minister, Michael Gove, caused confusion among families when England announced its lockdown. When he appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain, he said...
Family Law News
Cafcass has shared a very helpful guide for working at home whilst your children are around. The guide provides practical tips on how to remain productive and calm while working from home with children. It also offers useful links to a variety of online...
One in ten London crimes involves domestic abuse. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline has recorded a 25% jump in abuse inquiries since lockdown. There have been fears that domestic violence would increase due to the nationwide lockdown as victims of...
The country is in the middle of a Public Health crisis on an unprecedented scale. Parental responsibility for a child who is the subject of a Child Arrangements Order made by the Family Court rests with the child’s parents and not with the...
It has been reported that a financial settlement in divorce has been reached between William Shatner and his wife, Elizabeth. In his seven decades of television, William Shatner became a cultural icon for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk of the...
What you need to know about 'DIY Divorce' from our Family Law solicitor Filomena Sterkaj... There are many misconceptions about online divorce. I am often asked by clients whether a Solicitor is mandatory in their case or, can they just...
Mixed-sex couples can now become civil partners. Previously, the law only allowed same-sex couples to be civil partners. Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, who won a legal battle for the right to heterosexual civil partnerships, were among the first...
Going through a divorce or separation is difficult. Emotions are high and even if two people agree, the changes can be overwhelming and stressful. All too often it is tempting to get into tit for tat arguments that lead nowhere. So why not make a few...
Our top tips for dealing with separations and children during the Christmas and New Year period... The festive period can be a difficult time for separated parents. If you have not agreed on the child arrangements as yet, time is running out. If disputes...
We have had a few questions recently from curious clients about when opposite-sex couples will be able to register a civil partnership . Opposite-sex couples will be able to register civil partnerships in England and Wales from 31 December 2019 ,...
I often meet clients who have an assumption that they can get a "quick divorce" - In England and Wales there is no such thing as a “quick divorce”. The time it takes a Court to process a divorce application can vary depending on the...
New laws to boost the rights of abuse victims, crack down on animal cruelty and introduce no-fault divorce could be axed after Parliament was suspended until the 14th October. The 12 bills that were going through at the time of Parliament's suspension...
Megastar Adele has filed for divorce from husband Simon Konecki. She announced the couple's separation in April, stating that she would like privacy and that there would be no further comments. The pair are said to have split amicably. Adele and...
So, when can you let your kids fend for themselves as you pop to the shops? If you’re a parent, you’ll be familiar with how long it takes to get your children ready to leave the house. Whether it’s setting up the pram for the baby,...
The current system is noted as needing reformation and greater clarity. It’s an area of family law that isn’t often discussed in public. Indeed, many people incorrectly think that it’s still illegal in this country. But surrogacy is...
Legislation for no-fault divorce will be introduced as 'soon as parliamentary time becomes available'. Currently, there is no such thing as a no fault divorce. The only ground for divorce, is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and to...
The record breaking divorce settlement.. The world's richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and his wife MacKenzie have agreed a record-breaking divorce settlement of at least $35bn (£27bn). The divorce deal dwarfs a previous $3.8bn record set in...
The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act comes into force on 26 May 2019. The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Bill received Royal Assent on 26 March 2019, becoming the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and...
Nearly two years after the government pledged to end the cross-examination of domestic violence victims by their alleged abusive ex-partners in the family courts, it has finally unveiled a draft bill to end the controversial practice. The landmark bill will...
It is perhaps considered insensitive to end a relationship by text message. Yet, the introduction of a new regulation allowing Saudi women to be notified by text of their divorce should be hailed as a method of ending secret divorces. Under the male...
Whilst divorce is perhaps antithetic to the values of Christmas, festive cheer is not always enough to save relationships in conflict. Following the initiative to modernise divorce, the introduction of online petitions has allowed 13 couples in England and...
While attention is focused on the country’s divorce from the European Union, and what the New Year will bring from the Brexit bargaining table, many families will be facing up to break-up issues closer to home. Too often, the stress of trying to hold...
Gepp's family lawyers are supporting Resolution's campaign for a change in the law to reduce the fallout from divorce on children, after figures released today revealed the impact of conflict between separating parents. In a new poll, 79% of the...
Before the introduction of civil partnerships and same sex marriages, it used to be the case that same sex couples were discriminated against by not being able to obtain legal recognition of their relationship their relationship in any way. Since...
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the divorce rate for heterosexual couples in England and Wales has hit a 45-year low. During 2017 for every 1,000 married men and women there were 8.4 divorces, representing the lowest...
What proposals is the government's consultation on divorce law reform likely to include? A new process to remove need for couples to have been separated or to allege ‘fault’ in order to obtain divorce Spouses would no longer be able to...
These days more and more people are spending time abroad, whether they’re overseas on business, trying to build a new life in a different country, or just taking a long trip. There are plenty of reasons a parent might want to take their child abroad...
In my blog of 26 July 2018, I reported on calls for a reform of divorce law after Mrs Owens was forced to remain in a marriage that was not working because the grounds, that she was unhappy, were insufficient for a divorce in England and Wales. ...
September is traditionally a time of new beginnings, with children off to school or university and parents back to work, but for many couples, the end of summer can spell the end of marriage . Lawyers often talk about ‘divorce day’ in January...
Pupil exclusions by schools have been hitting the headlines in the run up to the start of the new academic year and parents are being encouraged to find out where they stand if their children are the focus of disciplinary action at school. Figures1...
A survey of 11,000 children found 22% of the girls and 9% of the boys said they had hurt themselves on purpose in the year prior to the questionnaire. The self-harm statistics are included in The Children's Society's annual Good Childhood Report,...
Tini Owens (66) petitioned for divorce from her husband on the grounds that her husband had behaved unreasonable and the 40-year marriage had broken down irretrievably. Unusually, the petition was defended by her husband Hugh (78) and the divorce was denied....
The Family Court judges have a new leader from 18th July 2018. Sir Andrew McFarlane is the new President, ie the leading judge for all family courts. When Sir Andrew was a barrister, his specialism was the law relating to children. For more than 7...
Not everyone wants to get married in a church or registry office. For many cohabiting couples, a civil partnership is far more attractive – it moves away from the idea of women being the ‘property’ of their husbands and is infinitely more...
High profile inheritance disputes follow celebrities and the super-rich as surely as night follows day, but such challenges are becoming increasingly common, whatever the values involved. Some of the names to have made headlines include the artist...
Rebecca Steinfield and Charles Keidan made national headlines recently as they took to the courts their case for a civil partnership, despite being in a heterosexual relationship. As the law currently stands, only same-sex couples are allowed to enter into...
A new online service should cut the stress of applying for a divorce according to the Ministry of Justice, but family law professionals say it’s likely to benefit only those with simple finances who are pursuing the DIY route. The Ministry...
Everyone is talking about the Royal Wedding; Meghan did look amazingly beautiful and we were all filled with joy for the new couple as they tied the knot. Some of us may have also learned that the Los Angeles-born Suits star is actually called Rachel Meghan...
Until now grandparents have often been the unacknowledged victims of divorce, struggling to maintain contact with much loved grandchildren in the midst of circumstances beyond their control. In recent years this has caused ever increasing numbers of...
When a couple decides to opt for surrogacy when trying to conceive this can be a very exciting time. However, years of fertility struggles can take a toll on a couple and if the couple decide to break up before the child is born, this can lead to confusion...
A London court has ordered Russian billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov to hand over his £350 million-pound superyacht to his ex-wife as part of a divorce settlement. The 115 metre superyacht known as ‘Luna’ is the second largest expedition yacht...
There are increasing numbers of people dissatisfied with the provision made for them by family members within their wills. More and more people are looking to challenge wills. But the vast majority of wills still pass through the probate process without...
On Russell Crowe’s 54th birthday and what would have been his 15th wedding anniversary the New Zealand actor decided to have a bit of a clear out. In a recent article published by the BBC Russell Crowe held his "Art of Divorce" auction - a...
I am delighted announce that Sarah Overy has now completed her accreditation as a Family Mediator and she is now certified as a scheme member recognised by the Law Society. Sarah has been able to undertake mediation for some time, and has considerably...
When couples break up either one can be 100% liable for money owed on a joint account After Jennifer Davis ( not her real name ) tried to shut down the joint account she shared with her former partner, she got a nasty surprise. Her other half had taken out...
How do I maintain my relationship with my grandchildren when their parents' divorce? When a marriage breaks down, it is usual for the parents to discuss the arrangements for their children. Grandparents however, are often overlooked, leaving them...
Plans are afoot for heterosexual couples to be given the right to enter into civil partnerships after the biggest shakeup of marriage laws since the 1800s. The home office said it would review the operation of civil partnerships – which are currently...
Wedding season is just around the corner.. .. and there is an extra buzz thanks to the brace of royal weddings planned for 2018. If you’re tying the knot this year, it’s likely you’ve spent time carefully planning everything from bouquets...
Historically pre-nuptial agreements were reserved for the rich and famous, but in recent years the Courts have shown a much greater willingness to uphold such agreements, provided some basic rules are followed in their preparation. There are a number of...
Moving abroad is a huge decision, and should not be taken lightly. If one of the reasons you are moving abroad is to join a spouse, it is highly recommended that you get an understanding of the legal implications that moving abroad will have on your...
In any separation or divorce the emotional upheaval can be stressful to deal with, but so too can the financial implications. If couples are unable to agree to an amicable separation or divorce and the process goes all the way to a contested court hearing,...
The majority of houses are no longer bought by married couples. As exciting (and often stressful!) as buying a new home is, it is of great importance to document how a property is to be held in the event the property ever needs to be sold. It is often the...
The first working Monday after the Christmas and New Year festivities have passed sees more people feeling disillusioned about their relationship. Here at Gepp and Sons we are used to seeing an increase in enquiries about divorce and separation in...
Christmas celebrations for children are too often marked by family divisions when relationships break down. According to statistics from the ONS around 100,000 children per year see their parents divorcing, with many of those families breaking...
In 2005 Civil Partnerships were introduced for same-sex couples. Fast forward to 2014, and same-sex marriage was also made legal, meaning same-sex couples now have the choice between the two. But what are the differences? Rights for both married couples and...
With Christmas fast approaching you might be thinking about the next stage of your relationship and asking your partner to move in. What rights do cohabiting couples have with respect to the property they live in and other assets? Couples who are unmarried...
Unfortunately, being a father with or without Parental Responsibility for your children does not automatically give you the right to spend time with them over the Christmas holidays, unless you have an agreement or a Court Order. We recommend trying to work...
How to make your children's Christmas special Start the conversation about Christmas with your children's other parent as early as possible so that you have plenty of time to agree arrangements and tell the children, and they know what to...
It’s no secret that divorce can be one of the most stressful events a person goes through in life. Unfortunately when children are involved things can be doubly challenging. The co-parenting process can be tricky to master at first, but here are 5 top...
A Consent Order is a legally binding document which sets out the financial agreement between divorcing couples. Each Consent Order is different and is drafted according to each party's unique circumstances. The Consent Order will deal with all the...
Many people imagine that to get divorced they will have to go to court and that this will be a long, stressful and expensive process. In fact, most divorcing couples do not need to go to court, either for the divorce process itself, or to resolve issues...
In a divorce, nobody really comes out of the process a ‘winner’. Hostilities between battling former spouses can sour relationships not just between them, but throughout the wider family group too. Courts do their very best to protect the...
On the 6th April 2015, the Government introduced the Marriage Allowance for the benefit of husbands, wives and civil partners by allowing the lower earning spouse to transfer up to 10% of their unused personal allowance to their partner for that year. In...
Have you ever been to a wedding where bets were being made on when the couple would divorce? Well believe it or not it does happen, and the most recent incredible example, reported in a well-known newspaper, being the groom's mother taking bets on when...
Earlier this year, a divorce case made the headlines when Tini Owens was not granted a divorce from her husband, Hugh Owens on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour. This was a highly unusual case: the vast majority of divorces go undefended, but in this...
The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court's decision on a financial remedy order in favour of the husband after a 23 year marriage, on the grounds that most of the property was owned by him before the marriage began. In August this year in...
To be legally granted a divorce in the UK, you must be able to prove one of the ‘grounds for divorce’. This means giving one of a certain set of reasons that demonstrate that your marriage has irretrievably broken down, and being able to show...
The distressing case of Charlie Gard recently put the spotlight on a question that all parents want the answer to, but hope they never have to face. In a situation where a child is seriously ill, who has the right to decide what course of treatment is...
In an ideal world, all adults at whatever age and stage of their lives should make a Will. If the worst happens this means that your loved ones would be able to deal with your estate in accordance with your wishes and feelings. You may have...
Few of us could have failed to share the pain of Charlie Gard's parents who recently made the difficult decision to allow their son to die. But this decision came following a series of court hearings when they challenged the hospitals recommendation to...
Going through a divorce can be earth-shattering to your emotional and financial stability. One way to feel in control of your own destiny again is to organise a strategy for managing your finances as soon as possible. Whether you are on your own...
Retired divorcees - also known as "silver splitters" - are fast becoming Britain's biggest growing demographic. Though traditionally more likely to own their own homes, this growing demographic are renting in record numbers. According to...
English law does not afford cohabiting couples the same legal protection and rights as married couples. A cohabitation agreement is accordingly an essential consideration for unmarried couples. Cohabiting couple families are, according to the Office...
A Life Interest Trust should be considered if, for example: you want to protect your assets against care fees; you have children from a previous relationship and want to provide for your new spouse but also want to ensure your children inherit your...
A City trader has successfully challenged a divorce judgment of the High Court in 2015 which awarded her ex-husband of four years £2.7 million - half of the total matrimonial assets. Yesterday the Court of Appeal reduced Mr Sharp's award to...
Going through a divorce is often a time of significant financial upheaval, and the division of assets is a cause of worry for many couples considering a split. Past inheritances and anticipated future inheritances are commonly relied on as an essential...
A Cambridge don has won a divorce battle with her Macedonian minister ex-husband who claimed he shouldn't have to pay her maintenance now she is working full-time. Despite having children to care for, Kathleen Liddell moved from part time to full time...
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a "desperately unhappy" marriage is not in itself a ground for divorce. Tini Owens Petitioned for Divorce last year alleging her husband had behaved unreasonably. Hugh Owens disagreed and said that the couple...
A landmark victory in the Supreme Court has seen a Northern Ireland woman win a share of her former partner’s pension, with commentators saying it’s likely to add impetus to the drive for greater rights for unmarried couples. But, in the...
THE MOTHER OF TWO BOYS KILLED IN A HOUSE FIRE STARTED BY THEIR FATHER HAS HANDED IN A PETITION AT DOWNING STREET CALLING FOR A CHANGE IN THE LAW GOVERNING ACCESS TO CHILDREN. Jack and Paul Sykes, aged 12 and nine, died when their father Darren, 44, set fire...
It is tempting to think that your divorce is finally over once you have a final order for financial settlement but there are still likely to be further steps to be taken to implement the order. In most cases this is not a problem. But what happens if your ex...
A divorce is tough to go through especially when you have children but even tougher if there is a business to consider. When you are happily married, having a document outlining what happens if the business were to end is not attractive, however divorces do...
Ex-husbands and wives who refuse to pay their former spouses' divorce settlements could be banned from driving or travelling abroad under new proposals from the Law Commission. Tough penalties are needed to tackle divorcees who avoid paying,...
The family-focus of Christmas is often followed in January with news of unhappy couples who decide to call it quits, leading to so-called Divorce Day, as family lawyers receive a surge of enquiries when they re-open after the break. And as the...
A cohabitation agreement records arrangements between two or more people who have agreed to live together, as a couple or otherwise. The agreement usually sets out the following criteria • Each party's rights and responsibilities in relation to...
It is often said that ‘things are never lost – only misplaced’. So what happens if no one knows where a loved one's Will is stored, or more to the point whether they ever made a Will. At Gepp & Sons once we have advised our clients...
Around 230,000.00 people are going through a divorce every year in England and Wales and almost half of the break ups have at least one child under 16 in the relationship. This therefore meant that tens of thousands of children see their parents separate and...
The news that the Court of Appeal is to stop hearing all challenges made in local family courts serves another reminder of the pressure our family court system is under. The quarterly Family Court Statistics, for example, showed some stark trends: a 10%...
There can never be a good time to get divorced but this week marks Resolution's campaign to improve the process for dealing with divorce and relationship breakdowns. Resolution is a community of family justice professionals who work with families and...
The Family Justice Council published Guidance on ‘Financial Needs’ on Divorce. Define ‘financial needs’ on divorce and. Covers two areas: What are needs and how are they measured? The main needs in most cases are for housing...
Watching others acting out the ending of a marriage on a public stage can provide a valuable lesson on how to ‘uncouple’ with least pain Whether fiction or fact, marriage breakdown issues have been stealing more than their fair share of...
The short answer is no, the law does not punish a party for committing adultery(other than costs for the divorce suit). Adultery will not have any influence on how the court divides the financial assets. However, if your ex-partner moves in with a new...
An article in the Daily Mail on line on 19 July 2016 reports on how a judge ruled that an un-married father of 3 should let the mother of his children keep the house that he bought in her name as the price he had to pay for denying her the financial security...
One of the few certainties in life is death. None of us like to think about our own passing, but failure to do so can create difficulties for those we leave behind.Despite the uncomfortable reality that death comes to us all, of the 51 million adults living...
A father who refused to pay a £120 fine for taking his daughter on an unauthorised term-time holiday, has today won his case at the High Court. The court's decision is likely to redefine the way the law is applied in England. When the case...
There have been some interesting facts that have emerged recently from research about the impact of divorce and separation in the workplace. The impact of divorce or separation is painful for couples, their children, families and friends. It is often...
The first working day in January is commonly known as Divorce Day, when family lawyers receive more enquiries than at any other time of the year, but they are more likely to be faced with ‘silver splitters’ than young couples these days. ...
A new law targeting domestic abusers, brought into force in England and Wales, follows a Home Office consultation in which 85% of participants said the existing law did not provide sufficient protection. Citizens Advice said it has supported more than 5,400...
Child experts are clear that the most important factor in a child’s healthy development is the stable and healthy relationship of their parents. Yet the sad fact is that half of all children in Britain are no longer living with both parents by the time...
When dealing with divorce settlements, couples have been filling out faulty Ministry of Justice forms since April 2014, it has been discovered. Debts were not included in the calculations, potentially producing inflated and inaccurate figures. Though...