Help With Mediation for Divorce and Separation
For anyone reaching state pension age on or after 6 April 2016 you need to be aware that the rules on what pension sharing orders can be made in divorce, nullity and on dissolution and annulment of a civil partnership will change. For people reaching state pension age on or after 6 April 2016, there… Read more »
Have you wondered what happens about finances when you have to go to court ? It is sensible to consider this question when deciding whether or not to use family mediation to resolve issues about how to split your finances. Here is a link to a recent 1 hour discussion on the subject on Radio… Read more »
When involved in divorce proceedings (or dissolution, nullity or judicial separation proceedings) concerning finances couples have to fill in a very long form called a Form E. This is intended to be a complete disclosure of the parties respective financial positions (i.e. assets and liabilities). Parties and courts make final decisions and orders on financial… Read more »
The Office for National Statistics have published (23 November 2015) more information showing how marriage and divorce in England and Wales have fared over the last few years. The rate of divorces fell in the years 2003/2009. The rate was then steady until 2010 when there was a 4.9% increase after which the rate was… Read more »
The Office for National Statistics (Families and Households survey, released 5 November 2015) has shown that unmarried living together is the fastest growing family type. The statistics disclose that in 2015 there were 3.1 million opposite sex cohabiting couple families, an increase from 14% of all families in 2005 to 17% in 2015. This difference… Read more »
In March 2014 the law changed to allow for same sex marriage. The result has been a 70% fall in the rate of civil partnerships from 2013 to 2014. ( Office for National Statistics ). When these partnerships/marriages end they can raise exactly the same issues as on the termination of heterosexual relationships. Family mediation… Read more »
It is commonly thought that unmarried couples living together have legal rights. These relationships are referred to as common law marriages. Those who are married or in civil partnerships have rights to claim against each other, on the ending of their legal relationship, for maintenance, orders concerning capital (property such as houses, savings and other… Read more »
The government has issued a consultation paper on court fee increases (responses by 15th September). It used to be the case that the courts were regarded as part of the public service funded mostly by the taxes citizens pay. However, over the last few years that has changed to trying to make the courts self… Read more »
Over the years the prevailing view on this question and what is in the best interests of the children has shifted from saying that the children should be heard, to keeping them away from the court and the parental dispute, leaving it to the court and the parents to decide what is in their best… Read more »