24 November 2011
An increase in divorces for the over 60s
Despite the latest published figures (for 2009) indicating that the overall rate of divorce has decreased by 11%, the results also show that for one particular category, the over 60s, the rates have increased. The number of people over 60 granted a divorce in the last 2 years has risen 4% from 11,040 to 11,507.
18 August 2011
Inherited wealth ‘protected’ from divorce
In a report published by The Telegraph this week, the High Court has awarded a wife, after 25 years of marriage, only £4.3million pounds in a divorce where the total wealth was between £21million and £24million. The reason given for this unequal sharing of wealth was that much of the Husband’s wealth had been inherited from his family and so the court felt it should remain with him.
15 July 2011
Is any divorce an “easy” divorce?
This has been a busy week for commentators on Family Law issues. Yesterday, Sir Paul Coleridge, a senior Family Court Judge, remarked that obtaining a divorce is now easier than getting a driving licence. Was this an exaggeration or is it really true?
8 July 2011
Are "shot-gun" civil partnerships responsible for the rise in dissolutions?
Celebrations are continuing in New York where, later this month (24 July 2011) it will be possible for same sex couples to marry in the state of New York for the first time following the state Marriage Equality Act coming into force.
29 June 2011
No such thing as a common law
Contrary to common belief, there is no such thing as a common law husband or wife in England, and the remedies available to separating cohabitants are far more limited (and complicated) than those of divorcing couples. Unmarried couples have to rely on a mixture of property and trust law when trying to prove an interest in a family home which is not registered in their name.