Child Arrangments in Family Courts.

The Ministry of Justice has launched a Consultation into ‘supporting earlier resolution of private family law arrangements’, this being potentially done through mandatory mediation for separating couples. The consultation is open now and closes on 15 June 2023. The Ministry of Justice Press Release states: ……………………………………………… “The move aims to protect children from the damaging […]

Read More »

What is the Welfare Checklist?

In family proceedings involving children and where the family court is making a decision on matters that will affect a child, the courts are required to look at the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration. The welfare checklist consists of seven statutory criteria that the courts must consider under the Children Act 1989 […]

Read More »

Am I experiencing Economic Abuse?

Financial abuse can happen to anyone. If you can answer ‘yes’ to one or more of the following questions, you may be experiencing economic abuse.   Has your current or former partner ever:  stopped you from having the money you needed to buy food, clothes or other essentials, or to pay the bills?  dictated how you […]

Read More »

Parental Alienation – A tool to muddy the waters.

Children’s voices, their experiences and their realities should never be ignored. The issue of perpetrators of abuse using the concept of Parental Alienation is one of the most toxic developments in family law and a significant barrier to children’s real experiences and voices being acknowledge. The concept stems from the theory of “parental alienation syndrome” […]

Read More »

Statutory guidance: Domestic Abuse Act 2021

The Home Office has published statutory guidance supporting the implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act’s wide-ranging statutory definition of domestic abuse and providing guidance to those working with victims, including the police and local authorities. The statutory definition introduced in the Act incorporates a range of abuse beyond physical violence, including controlling or coercive behavior; […]

Read More »

No Fault Divorce

On 6 April 2022, no fault divorce was introduced in England and Wales. No fault divorce allows couples to bring to an end their marriage or civil partnership without having to blame “or fault” each other for the breakdown of their relationship and marriage. It also removes the possibility of one spouse contesting the divorce, […]

Read More »

Family courts volume of work at “an all time high.”

Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the Family Division of the High Court and the most senior family court judge in England and Wales has stated that everyone working in “family justice” is currently operating at the “extent of their capacity”. He has outlined that a significant number of agencies and law firms have had […]

Read More »

International Women’s Day

8th March 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD) has its origins in the US. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights. Spurred by the demonstrations, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Woman’s Day, which was observed in the US on 28 February. […]

Read More »
<