Blog
Civil Fraud Quarterly Round-Up: Q4 2025
Mary Young
30 May 2018
Reflections on The Split - Episode 6 – The grand finale…
Last night saw a rather emotional finale to the first series of The Split as Hannah appears to turn her back on her marriage and choose Christie over her husband Nathan. It perhaps didn’t end quite as I had expected and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was shouting at the TV as Hannah hit the buzzer on Christie’s door! But I’m pleased to hear that the BBC has announced that there will be a second series so who knows yet whether this really is the end for Hannah and Nathan or how the Noble & Hale and Defoes merger will pan out….
23 May 2018
Reflections on The Split – Episode 5: Affairs, betrayals and the personal nature of divorce
Episode 5 of the Split centres around Hannah and Nathan’s crumbling marriage following the disclosure of Nathan’s name being listed on an extra marital website. Like anyone who has just discovered their partner has been unfaithful, Hannah is determined to find out the extent of Nathan’s infidelity and she instructs a private detective, one whom she conveniently has instructed for her client Goldie. As the private detective remarks - “in this digital age, affairs are easier but it’s harder to hide them”.
15 May 2018
Surrogacy and Parental Orders for single parents - the ‘non-urgent’ road to change
Since May 2016, prospective single applicants for Parental Orders for surrogate children have waited with bated breath for the change in the law that permits them to make their applications, independent of their relationship status. At the end of last year, it was announced that a remedial order to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (HFEA) had been placed before Parliament. However, five months have now passed and the question remains whether we are any closer to change.
15 May 2018
Surrogacy and Parental Orders – how far does the interpretation of “enduring family relationship” extend?
In a case involving a Parental Order (“PO”) application earlier this year, X (A Child) [2018] EWFC 15, which involved the surrogate child of a married couple in a platonic relationship, the President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, again showed the flexibility the court is, sensibly, willing to give when making important decisions about the legal status of a child within its family.
25 April 2018
Reflections on The Split - Episode 1
Last night we saw the first of a six part series which focuses on the world of divorce. It is a drama; they use dramatic license to make the show interesting, appealing to the public and to fit into six parts. The show is the first of its kind in this country and it is exciting to see our profession featured in a high profile drama which will provide a platform for family law issues to be discussed. I hope The Split will also give us the opportunity to share our advice, thoughts and experiences from inside the profession.