Blog
AML: HMRC flexes enforcement muscle to the tune of £7.8 million
Nicola Finnerty
11 September 2019
Co-parenting with my ex - how do I do it?
Parenting is hard. Working out how to parent with your partner is hard. Who does what, when and how, where the boundaries are – so many small decisions that make up a big part of your child’s life. So how do you co-parent when your partner becomes your ex?
20 August 2019
Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill – what it means and where it is at now
The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (“MCA 1973”) in England and Wales currently provides couples seeking a divorce with one ground for doing so; that their marriage has irretrievably broken down. The ground must be proved by establishing one of five “facts”. Commonly used are the two fault, or conduct, facts of adultery or unreasonable behaviour, with 60% of English and Welsh divorces being granted on a fault fact. Many divorcing couples opt to use a fault fact as they do not want to wait the minimum two years’ separation required before applying under one of the “fault-less” separation facts. This blog looks at the proposed Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill 2017-2019.
8 August 2019
Controlling and coercive behaviour - “This isn’t what love should feel like”
The recent Channel 4 drama “I am Nicola” sought to portray the dynamics of a couple, Nicola and Adam, with a serious imbalance of power in their relationship - with the central theme of coercive control. Stacey Nevin explores the issues, including the interplay between family law proceedings and the criminal offence of controlling and coercive behaviour.
7 August 2019
Spousal maintenance: A system of Russian roulette?
Sital Fontenelle and Elizabeth Burch consider the different approaches to spousal maintenance and whether a formula for maintenance would provide clarity.
26 July 2019
Practical tips and legal issues to consider when separating from your spouse or partner
When a relationship breaks down resulting in a decision to separate, this is likely to create a challenging period for you and your family where you are faced with change and uncertainty about your future. Understandably, separation from a partner or spouse and thinking about how you will move forward and make decisions independently can be overwhelming. There are steps that you can take independently (some small and others requiring more commitment) in the short term to protect your emotional wellbeing and financial position. In this blog, we set out some examples of steps you can take.