ASSIST NI was set up in 2021 by a partnership consisting of Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid, Foyle Family Justice Centre and Men’s Advisory Project. The service is made up of advocates passionate about supporting victims of domestic and sexual abuse.  The focus of the service is to forge and nurture strong working relationships with other services across Northern Ireland to ensure that victims of domestic abuse can access the support they need. Where are ASSIST NI based?  ASSIST NI advocates are located in police stations across Northern Ireland as well as the Rowan Sexual Assault ..read more

The United Nations designated 15th June as ‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’ as an occasion to recognise and highlight the issue of elder abuse in the world and for each country to vocalise its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted upon some members of our older generations. Elder abuse can take many forms though it is widely considered as being “a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.”  As well as financial abuse and neglect ..read more

Image: RICARDO HUBBS/NETFLIX In October 2021, Netflix released fictional 10-part series ‘Maid’ which quickly became one of the streaming site’s most successful shows, with over 67 million people having watched it worldwide to date. ‘Maid’ has received critical acclaim and recognition for its portrayal of issues surrounding parenthood, relationship breakdown, poverty and domestic abuse.  The show’s storyline centres around Alex, the young mother of 2-year-old daughter Maddy, and the struggles she faces when she tries to escape a toxic relationship with Maddy’s father, the abusive and ..read more

Relationship breakdown is a very painful time for the adults involved, but it can be even more difficult for children. Children within the family are often the innocent and confused casualties of the breakdown of a relationship. What if I can’t agree contact arrangements with my ex-partner? Many parents are able to agree between themselves arrangements for their children which enable them to continue to enjoy a relationship with both parents. For many other families, contact arrangements cannot be agreed.  Some parents choose to engage in mediation as a means of trying to negotiate a solu ..read more

A common rite of passage for many students finishing school is to leave the family nest and live independently in the big wide world – so after accepting a place in university or college, the next big step is often to secure private rented accommodation. But before packing up, here are 5 questions that all students should ask for before renting property: 1.   Has my landlord given me the basics? Once you have found your new home, you should make sure that the landlord provides you with the following:- A Tenancy Agreement – This is the contract between you and your landlord giving b ..read more

In recent years, it has become increasingly common for people to choose to live togetherrather than to get married or enter a civil partnership. Living with a partner to whom you are not married or in a civil partnership with is often termed as ‘cohabitation’. In the UK, the cohabiting couple family continues to be the fastest growing family type in the UK, reaching 3.5 million cohabiting couple families by the end of 2019. Cohabiting couple families include both opposite sex and same sex cohabiting couples. With cohabitation on the increase, it is important to be aware of all of the legal dif ..read more

Father’s Day is a celebration of fatherhood, paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in our lives. It’s a day when children lavish daddy with cards, gifts, hugs and kisses and where fathers celebrate both the joys and rewards of having children. Of course, the role of being a dad extends above and beyond one particular day and as any dad will know, along with the rewards of having children comes a lifetime of responsibility. It is the job of both parents to ensure that this responsibility is taken seriously and exercised in the best interests of their children. This can sometimes be diffi ..read more

Action for Brain Injury Week 2021 runs in the UK from 17th – 23rd May 2021. This is a week where focus is given to raising awareness of the devastating effects of brain injury. From a legal perspective, catastrophic brain injuries can arise out of all types of accidents on the road, at work or as a result of medical negligence.  Cases of this nature can be extremely complex – often, victims of a traumatic brain injury are left with a wide range of medical problems which will require intensive and lengthy rehabilitation for many years. Some may also be dependent for the rest of their lives ..read more

This week is Dementia Action Week 2021 – a week aimed at highlighting the ways in which we can all take action to improve the lives of people living with dementia.   For those who have loved ones who are suffering from dementia, it is important to consider how becoming mentally incapacitated with such an illness could affect their ability to manage their financial affairs. In a previous article on Enduring Powers of Attorney, we set out information on how any one of us can take sensible steps whilst mentally and physically capable of doing so, to put in place measures that would reas ..read more

Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda recently announced their intention to divorce after 27 years of marriage. Having reportedly accumulated an extraordinary wealth of $130 billion, it was no surprise that the media response was live with speculation as to how their significant assets would be divided out upon divorce, particularly as it transpired that the couple had not entered into a pre-nupital agreement prior to their marriage. However, it has since been reported that divorce papers filed by the couple make repeated reference to a “separation contract” which both have signed ..read more