Gemma Hope, family law solicitor, collaborative lawyer and mediator, explores the likely issues, trends and themes that are set to shape year ahead for family law professionals and couples who are separating or divorcing. No-fault divorce The current divorce process requires many people to blame their spouse on their divorce petition. As I have outlined
Separating or going through a divorce is one of life’s most difficult journeys. When you are separating, a lot of legal words get thrown around – custody, residence, contact, access, child arrangements, shared parenting and of course, co-parenting. Understandably, all of this legal jargon can be very difficult for parents to understand. In recent years, one of
In Part 1 of this blog, I consider the impact of divorce on business assets. In Part 2, I shall consider the potential impact of divorce on others involved in the business and the practical implications that this may have on the business. Throughout this blog reference to marriage, divorce and spouses should also be
A common issue that arises when people separate is the treatment on divorce of monies advanced by one of their parents to help them get onto the property ladder or to move up the property ladder. Monies are often given by parents either before a party is in a relationship or when a party is
As with so many things on divorce, whether you will be expected to share inherited wealth with your ex-partner is a matter for the court’s discretion and this will include an assessment of what it considers fair in your particular situation. Generally speaking, the court would prefer you not to require you to hand over
Alan Larkin writes for Solicitors Journal (March 2019 issue). A few weeks back, a corporate solicitor gave me a look that betrayed, just fleetingly, mild disquiet, perhaps even pity, at finding that my legal practice lay in family law. It chimed with similar looks of alarm and, if I’m honest, sometimes disdain, from legal peers
Divorce and separation are two of the most stressful experiences we can experience in life. The Holmes and Rahe stress scale puts them second only to the death of a spouse – worse than imprisonment, serious injury or losing your job. It is hardly surprising that mental health issues arise in many of the cases
Negotiating can be tough at the best of times let alone when you are going through a relationship break down. It is very common for separating couples to reach an impasse, a situation in which no progress is possible, when trying to work out a way forward after their relationship has come to an end.
Children depend on their family unit for stability and support. If that unit is to be changed as a result of divorce then careful consideration needs to be given as to how that can be managed to limit any detrimental impact on the children. In this blog we explore some top tips to minimise the
In part 1 of this blog series, I looked at what rights you have if your child divorces. We explored how complications can arise if you have provided your child with money to help them purchase their home and they are married (or later gets married) and then the marriage breaks down. As explained in