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Family Law

Divorce Day 2025

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What is Divorce Day? It is believed that couples are more likely to end a relationship after spending the  festive period together, therefore the first working Monday of the new year is referred to as ‘Divorce Day’.

Navigating Pensions in Divorce Proceedings

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It can be a challenging prospect trying to deal with pensions in divorce proceedings. However, it is an asset that your spouse can make a claim over when considering how to divide the finances of the relationship.

The Queen and Domestic Abuse

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On Monday 11th November, ITV released a documentary entitled “Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors” which told the story of several domestic abuse survivors and detailed the Queen’s work to raise awareness about the prevalence of

What is a Section 7 Report?

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A Section 7 Report is a court-ordered document prepared under Section 7 of the Children Act 1989. It is ordered when parents cannot agree on arrangements for children’s care, usually only if there are any aspects of

TOLATA Claims

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If you are an unmarried couple who is cohabiting and upon separation you have a dispute regarding a property or land that is jointly owned or have a financial interest in, your principal remedy is to apply

What is Special Contribution in Matrimonial Finance?

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In divorce under English Law, the Court begins with a 50:50 starting point when considering a financial settlement. The court then decides whether there should be a departure from equality. Contribution is one of the factors which the court

What are Legal Services Payment Orders?

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The financial remedy process that accompanies divorce proceedings can be very expensive, especially as each party will often have their own legal costs to pay. These fees can prove difficult to meet for those who earn significantly

LGBTQ+ Families – who has parental responsibility?

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For opposite-sex parents, the question of who has parental responsibility for any child may be easily answered. However, the same cannot be said for LGBTQ+ parents, who may face certain obstacles in obtaining parental responsibility. With June

What is Civil Mediation, and how can it help me?

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Often, court proceedings can be very costly and time-consuming, including solicitor fees, court fees and the hassle of navigating the court system. This can leave parties stressed and financially worse off. To try and minimise the court’s

What is Arbitration?

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If you have reached an impasse in respect of a family law dispute, it may be tempting to make an application to the court to resolve the matter. However, there are other forms of dispute resolution which

‘Raneem’s Law’

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The Labour Party have introduced the idea of a new law called ‘Raneem’s law’ – named after Raneem Oudeh, who was murdered at 22 years old alongside her mother Khaola Saleem. Ms Oudeh and Ms Saleem were

What is new to Family Law in 2024?

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As the new year has begun, here is what you can expect to see in the year of 2024. Media in the Family Court (The Transparency Pilot): For decades there have been calls for more transparency in

Divorce Day 2024

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Family Law Practitioners receive a higher volume of calls in and around the first working days of the New Year from people deciding to take steps to end their marriage and issue a divorce application. This has

How Much Is My Public Sector Pension Worth?

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For many people, a large part of the Divorce process will revolve around how their financial assets will be divided. However, for those who work in the public sector, the value of their pensions has been unusually

Beware of the Remarriage Trap

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Dissolving your marriage may feel like the end of a very long and turbulent road, and that you have finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel. However, should you remarry, you may fall foul

Romantic Contracts: Pre-nuptial Agreements

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Divorce solicitors and Valentine’s Day are not typically topics mentioned in the same sentence.  However, as pre-nuptial agreements become more widely used, what better time to consider preparing a pre-nuptial agreement than Valentine’s Day, when many couples

“Divorce Day” 2023

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Divorce Day 2023 We know that the New Year is typically a time for reflection, and this includes thinking about relationships. Often, this period sees an increase in couples deciding to end their marriage or civil partnership.

What is a ‘Nesting’ arrangement?

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What is a ‘Nesting’ arrangement? A ‘nesting’ arrangement is a type of shared care arrangement in respect of children, after parents have separated. With nesting, the children stay in the family home and the parents move around

GOOD DIVORCE WEEK (28 Nov – 2 Dec ’22)

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‘Good Divorce Week’ is an annual campaign by Resolution, a community of family solicitors and other professionals who work with families and individuals promoting a non-confrontational approach to resolving family issues, including divorce, the financial aspects of

No-fault divorce: Important dates

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The no-fault divorce is to be introduced on Wednesday 6th April 2022. The Government have now published key dates, including cut off dates in relation to existing applications under the existing legislation . We have been notified

Impact of divorce on Wills & LPAs

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According to the latest figures the current rate of marriages ending in divorce in the UK is 42%. When going through divorce proceedings it is important to review and consider your Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorneys,

No fault divorce: what is it?

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The first working day of January is usually referred to as ‘Divorce Day’. This is because, historically family solicitors receive the greatest number of enquiries about starting divorce proceedings. This year, however, there is speculation that ‘Divorce

Change in Court fees

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Generally, when an application is made to the Court a Court fee is required. As of 30th September 2021, the HMCTS have raised their Court fees in respect of Family matters. Therefore, the Court fees are now:

Do I need a Consent Order?

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We are often asked if a Consent Order is needed in divorce proceedings the answer is yes, it is advisable and recommended. A Consent Order is a document that is entered into willingly by both parties and it

How do I complete a Form E?

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When you are going through a separation, your first thought might be to start divorce proceedings, but it is important to try and reach an agreement in relation to the finances at the same time. This can

Special Guardianship – An Agenda for Change

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In August and November 2019, I wrote articles considering whether Special Guardianship Orders required reform. The case of Re P-S (Children) [2018] EWCA Civ 1407 spurred the need for change. Developments continue within this area of law. Recently,

What is the role of mediation in family law matters?

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When a relationship breaks down, many issues can need resolving such as finances, divorce proceedings and often child arrangements. Sometimes it can be difficult to resolve these issues with your former partner and conversations may become heated.

‘Thank you so much. We needed your help and support in such a vulnerable time in our lives.’

‘Although our partnership was under unpleasant circumstances, working with you make it a pleasure! I can’t thank you enough for making these months a positive experience as I always was assured of your support in the background. I will not hesitate to recommend you highly to anyone who needs your services.’

‘Having had experience of your organisation, my confidence in you grew. I would have no hesitation in asking you for any necessary representation in the future. Relatives and friends have already been told of my satisfaction. Thank you and well done!’

‘I am perfectly satisfied with the way the case was handled. My solicitor was very efficient, easy to communicate with and was very clear on what the outcome would or could be and who worked well.’

‘Thank you for your kindness. Sometimes it is not easy when you are trying to express how you gave us happiness. A very big thank you!’

‘I cannot fault my experience with Johnson Astills Solicitors. Throughout this difficult time I was made to feel secure, supported and validated – money can’t actually buy these things.’