It is generally accepted that divorce is one of the most stressful life events that anyone can have to navigate. Whether you are able to maintain a level of co-operation with your spouse, or matters become highly contentious, there will be vast amounts of information that has to be collated and considered, and complex legal principles that have to be processed and applied. For those with a neurodiversity this can be especially overwhelming. What is neurodiversity? Neurodiversity refers to differences in neurodevelopment, impacting the way a person’s brain works, learns and processes informatio ..read more

In April 2022 we saw the most fundamental change in divorce law in England and Wales in decades with the long-awaited introduction of “no fault” divorce. Separating couples can now choose to divorce without apportioning blame by simply making a statement that the marriage has irretrievable broken down. Please see our blog No Fault Divorce – what you need to know. No-fault divorce process The divorce application, which can now be made by either one or both spouses jointly, starts the process. There is then a “cooling off period” of 20 weeks before an application can be made for the next stage o ..read more

Co-parenting can be challenging for parents especially if you and your former partner are not on amicable terms. If your co-parent or someone else wants to make a decision about your child’s upbringing that you don’t agree with, you can apply for a prohibited steps order which can stop them. What is a Prohibited Steps Order? A prohibited steps order is a court order that can prevent a person from making a decision about a child’s upbringing. This is usually someone with parental responsibility, such as one of the child’s parents. A prohibited steps order can deal with a wide range of parental ..read more

As 62% of households in the UK are now pet owners, it is no surprise that one of the questions relating to divorce is: “what happens to the dog?!”. This is an even more pertinent question following the rise of dog purchases during the Covid19 pandemic to keep us company during lockdown. Pet owners will be saddened to hear that, in the eyes of the law, our furry friends are treated in the same way as the kitchen table; as “chattels”. Unlike some other countries, our pets’ feelings are not taken into account when deciding their future living arrangements. So who decides where Lulu the Labradoodl ..read more

Heston Blumenthal has recently made headlines. The name itself sparks instant intrigue for self-confessed foodies like me. Another savoury ice cream pairing perhaps? Not yet. Rather, the focus is on his recent split with Stephanie Gouveia who had married in the Maldives in 2018 and, his announcement, 3 days after announcing the split, that he is engaged to wed Melanie Ceysson. Stephanie and Heston’s split has sparked debate over whether it constituted a marriage in a legally binding sense. One of Stephanie’s friends has been quoted to say ‘despite all the reports at the time, they were never m ..read more

If a local authority considers that a child living within their area is at risk of significant harm, they can apply for a Care Order or an Interim Care Order (ICO). These proceedings are known as Public Law proceedings. Usually, the local authority will become involved with your family before they initiate Court proceedings. It’s crucial to obtain legal advice at the earliest stage you can, from a specialist family lawyer. What is an interim care order? An interim care order results in the local authority acquiring parental responsibility for the child and being in a position whereby they can ..read more

Believe it or not, whilst it absolutely probably doesn’t feel like it, if your relationship has ended and you are separating now, whatever your circumstances, you are fortunate to be doing so at a time when there are so many processes open to you to try and help ensure that your separation and the legal untangling from your relationship is dealt with in a humane, amicable and constructive manner. The days where every case was bitterly and corrosively fought in court are long since gone. This is probably just as well, as the hugely underfunded court service no longer has the ability to construc ..read more

When parties separate, they need to come to an agreement in respect of the arrangements for the children. Some parties will be able to reach an agreement on their own during separation, whereas others will separate on acrimonious terms and will struggle to reach an agreement or communicate with one another effectively. On the occasions where parties cannot reach an agreement, the assistance of third parties such as mediators and lawyers can assist the parties in reaching an agreement. Some may even require the assistance of the court. What is a Child Arrangements Order and who can apply? A chi ..read more

2022 saw the introduction of no fault divorces, as well as the online system through which a couple can apply for a divorce together, or on their own. This has led to many more people choosing the ‘Do It Yourself’ route to separation. Couples are often able to reach an agreement on their own and implement its terms without encountering any dispute between them; however this does not mean that the agreement is final or binding. This can only be done through a consent order. What is a consent order? A consent order is a legally binding document sealed by the court that reflects the terms of ..read more

In recent times, The United Arab Emirate (UAE) has brought in some significant legal reforms surrounding marriage and divorce. As a result, many British expats living in the UAE will now be conflicted as to which jurisdiction they should begin their divorce under. Most notably, Abu Dhabi has amended its federal laws by introducing a new secular no-fault divorce system that either spouse can instigate, without the need to go through with any mandatory mediation sessions. This overhaul has also given the Abu Dhabi courts a wider discretion when assessing financial claims following divorce, which ..read more