Partner Abby Westell and Legal Director Lehna Gardiner recently travelled to Cyprus for a conference hosted by Consulegis, a network of lawyers  from all over the globe. Here’s Lehna’s summary of their trip: In May 2024 Abby and I flew to Cyprus for our first Consulegis conference. Consulegis is a network of lawyers from all corners of the world, from Australia to Zambia and everywhere in between. The conference was hosted by Cypriot law firm LLPO and took place in the beautiful Parklane Hotel just outside Limassol. With Rayden Solicitors having only just joined Consulegis, this was our f ..read more

The breakdown of a marriage is difficult and can be a cause of extreme stress and anxiety. It can feel overwhelming to navigate the legal aspects associated with it. It is important to know and understand the options available to you. There are two different ways to end a marriage, namely divorce or annulment, but what are the differences?    What is an annulment?  An annulment, or a nullity order, is a declaration by the court that a marriage or civil partnership was not legally valid or had become legally invalid. It differs from divorce or dissolution, as it is a retroac ..read more

As a former British colony, Hong Kong retains strong historical and cultural ties to the United Kingdom. Figures suggest that approximately 350,000 British citizens live and work in Hong Kong; as of the 2021 census, 120,000 Hongkongers reside in England (albeit this number is thought to have increased given changes to visa rules). I grew up in this fast-paced city of skyscrapers, curry fish balls and impeccably efficient transport services, and spent formative years of my career practising law in Hong Kong. Having relocated in 2022 and qualified as a solicitor in both Hong Kong and England and ..read more

Receiving a divorce application can be daunting. In this guide, we explain some of the things to think about before responding.  The divorce application is the starting document for a divorce to take place. On its own, it does not mean that your marriage has been dissolved. It also does not mean that you must go ahead with the divorce. Even if you wish to divorce, it does not mean that you must have the divorce in England and Wales.  In this guide, we will set out your options for responding to a divorce application made to the Courts in England and Wales, and what to do next.  ..read more

The Form D81 is a form used within family law proceedings in England and Wales. The form is also known as a “Statement of Information for a Consent Order in relation to financial remedy form”. When parties divorce and reach an agreement in respect of the division of matrimonial assets, the agreement should be recorded into a financial Consent Order. The financial Consent Order is sent to the court for approval to become legally binding. When sending the financial Consent Order to the court for approval, the Form D81 is required by the Judge in support. What information does the D81 provide and ..read more

In most situations where two parents share parental responsibility for a child, they will both be entitled to up-to-date medical information about that child; however, there are some exceptions to this. It depends on the age of the child concerned. Furthermore, for some medical decisions, there is a duty to inform the other parent, for other decisions there is a duty to consult, and major decisions should be taken jointly. There is case-law on this point dealt with below. What factors influence a parent’s right to withhold medical information from other parents? In unique circumstances withhol ..read more

In 2023, I moved to England from New Zealand and am practising family law as a Registered Foreign Lawyer (New Zealand Qualified).  This article sets out my observations so far, between the family law systems in New Zealand and England/Wales. As New Zealand was colonised by Britain, it is no surprise that New Zealand inherited the English common law tradition and constitutional framework. However, as England/Wales and NZ evolved as two separate countries, the legal systems also developed in different directions in order to keep up with societal needs. In this article I provide a general ov ..read more

Parents may refuse medical treatment for their child in situations where they have concerns about the potential risks associated with the treatment. They may also have personal or religious beliefs that influence their decision. There may also be a desire to explore alternative treatment options such as homeopathy treatments. However, parents do not have an absolute or irrefutable right to refuse medical treatment for their child. Their wishes can be overruled by the Court in England and Wales. What if parents disagree on medical treatments for their child? This depends on the nature of the de ..read more

In 2023, I moved to England from New Zealand and am practising family law as a Registered Foreign Lawyer (New Zealand Qualified).  This article sets out my observations so far, between the family law systems in New Zealand and England/Wales. As New Zealand was colonised by Britain, it is no surprise that New Zealand inherited the English common law tradition and constitutional framework. However, as England/Wales and NZ evolved as two separate countries, the legal systems also developed in different directions in order to keep up with societal needs. In this article I provide a general ov ..read more

We are looking an ambitious family law Solicitor to join our expanding Berkhamsted team. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an award-winning team and continue your family law career, alongside industry leading family law specialists. THE ROLE: You will work on an interesting case load of all aspects of family law. You will play an active role in Business Development. You will be expected to be an ambassador of the firm and work with the team to promote Rayden Solicitors as well as your own professional practice both at internal and external events and should be comfortable doing so. REQ ..read more