It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, as we were putting away the Christmas decorations, most of us had not heard of Coronavirus. Now here we are, half way through 2020 and it seems the world has turned on its head. We cannot downplay the...
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In many divorce cases, what should happen with the family home can be the most contentious issue. Often it is the most valuable asset within the marriage, although the pensions can sometimes exceed the value of the family home and it really depends on...
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has brought about seismic changes to the way that we as a society live our lives, changes that were unimaginable at the turn of the year other than in the minds of Hollywood directors (the film “Contagion” now...
Coronavirus and Child Arrangements The current unprecedented times are leading to uncertainty throughout British society. As family lawyers we are receiving a significant number of enquiries from separated parents about how and whether they should...
Family Law Group is actively following Government guidelines to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the risk to our clients, members of the public and staff of being exposed to the virus. Whilst taking these measures very seriously, we are still...
Family Law Group is actively following Government guidelines to prevent the spread of infection and reduce the risk to our clients, members of the public and staff of being exposed to the virus. To assist with this we are now encouraging our clients to...
Law professionals are questioning the treatment of domestic abuse victims within the family court environment and whether or not it provides a safe place for them during court cases. Judges holding “outdated views” on sexual violence and issues...
For those of us growing up in the 70s, whilst there were clearly single-parent families around, divorce was still the exception rather than the rule. It also often, and sadly, carried with it a social stigma, which could be all too apparent to those children...
A proposal for DNA testing of family members can arise in a number of circumstances, most commonly where there are questions over paternity (although occasionally maternity is tested too) when establishing contact and residence, or when determining a...
We are delighted to announce that we are now offering a discount on our fees to all Emergency Services & Armed Forces workers. We are offering 50% discount on the first hourly rate appointment for all family legal services (subject to...
It is not uncommon for a divorcing couple to have some property in another country, whether this is a holiday home in the sun or the alps, a property in your country of birth, or an investment in commercial property or assets abroad. ‘The term...
With family units becoming more diverse, there has been an increased demand in lesbian couples seeking fertility treatment, when couples’ thoughts turn to children. The law relating to legal parenthood and parental responsibility is an important...
Husbands, wives and civil partners can find themselves abandoned through a variety of different situations. Sometimes the reason is obvious, such as a forced marriage, a scam marriage where one person was simply seeking a visa, an abusive marriage or...
According to the most recent Home Office Statistics in 2018, there were 1,764 cases of forced marriage involving Government intervention. Forced marriage is a crime that goes under the radar, yet is quite common and should be brought into the open more when...
What is Honour-Based Violence? Honour-based violence is a violent crime or incident which may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of a family or community. Honour-based violence is often linked to family members or acquaintances who...
It may seem a little soon to be talking about Christmas and for many that is true. But when it comes to resolving child arrangements over the Christmas holidays now really is the time to plan ahead. Many people leave child arrangements until it...
What is Legal Aid? Legal Aid is a publicly funded scheme operated by the government to allow people on low incomes to access legal advice without the fees attached. How Do I Know if I Will Qualify? Whether you qualify for Legal Aid will firstly be...
I have recently concluded a financial dispute arising from a divorce using Arbitration as an alternative to a Court final hearing. As a solicitor who has been dismayed to see clients embroiled in unnecessarily lengthy, costly and protracted Court...
I have recently handled an unusual case where the issue for consideration was whether parental responsibility could be removed from a married father. In order to consider whether parental responsibility can be removed, the question that must first be asked...
When couples separate and divorce, part of that process will involve dividing the assets from the marriage and making two households out of one. ‘Dividing up cash, savings and the family home are relatively straightforward,’ says Amanda...
A law firm in the heart of Cambridge has changed its name, following a merger. CB4Law, which is on Milton Road has merged with Family Law Group, a law firm specialising in family law with offices across the Midlands and Home Counties. Family Law Group is...
Throughout the country many family lawyers will be readying themselves for one of the busiest times of the year following disastrous summer holidays. It is estimated that more than 40 per cent of marriages end in divorce, and it is following the summer...
The law often unearths worthy tales of note for all to learn from. Some are just stories where people shake their heads, and move on without a thought, but others have deeper lessons for all of us. One such recent tale hit the national newspapers and...
What is your position and what do you do on a day-to-day basis? I am a solicitor advocate. I work in collaboration with solicitors in the office to prepare cases for clients for presentation to the court. I do the court advocacy, advise the client on...
What is your position at Family Law Group and what do you do on a day-to-day basis? As a Solicitor at specialist family law firm Family Law Group ( www.familylawgroup.co.uk ), I provide legal advice on all aspects of family law. This extends to...
Families now come in all shapes and sizes, and children may live with parents who are cohabiting, married, separated or divorced. They may be part of a step-family, live with adoptive parents, grandparents, other relatives or a special guardian. If you have...
Taking your child abroad is an exciting time and one where you will hopefully make memories of a life time. Before going outside of the UK, there are always lots of things that you must think about first. Unfortunately it is not as simple as just packing a...
Sometimes when the family court orders a payment to be made by your former spouse to settle a financial claim in divorce proceedings, the money owed is not always handed over when it should be. Where this happens it can be difficult to know what to do....
When it comes to qualify of life studies, the Scandinavians always seem to be head of the league tables, with some of the bigger so-called developed countries lagging well behind. The reason that the Swedish, Danes and Norwegians are always at the forefront...
Family Law Group believe that a recent change in divorce law, will have a profound effect on families not just in the region, but across the country. Amanda Brown of Family Law Group welcomed a government announcement this week that will...
During any separation or divorce, one of the primary concerns will be the impact on any children. It is unavoidable that change will occur in everybody’s lives, and there may be the time when you decide that a relocation is appropriate. ...
Access to credit is now easier than ever and this has led to a culture of, ‘putting it on the plastic,' being seen as very much the norm in today’s society. Average household debt is around £8,000 per person in the UK, and this figure...
You may feel overwhelmed with the changes you are facing as you go through a divorce, and quite often going from a household with two incomes to one can be a struggle. If you do not own a house or have other assets, it can be tempting to cut costs and...
Talk: The Science of Conversation by Elizabeth Stokoe A Book Review written by Michael Cork, Mediator I purchased this book to read and review after I attended a training event provided by the author. Elizabeth was the sole presenter on a day that had been...
Today National Family Mediation Week draws to a close. Here at Family Law Group we have a team of mediators offering mediation services across our offices, along with solicitors who can guide and advise you on the mediation process. But what exactly is...
A shocking tale of a woman who killed her husband with a hammer over eight years ago has resurfaced recently as her family support her bid to be released from prison. The case of Sally Challen is well worth broadcasting to the general public as its...
If you are separated or divorced, you will probably have an arrangement with your ex-partner dealing with where your children live and how often they see their other parent. However, a specific issue might arise not covered by this agreement and on which you...
The festive season is over and sadly, with it, are many marriages as the New Year always sees solicitors kept busy with new divorce cases. It is not the most festive tale with which to start 2019, but it’s a message that needs to be told to those who...
Milton Keynes Family Law has recently been involved in a case where a Local Authority placed two children with two separate adoptive families. The unusual feature of the case was that the children involved were twins and at the conclusion of the care...
Splitting: Protecting Yourself while Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder; by Bill Eddy and Randi Kreger. I ordered this book when I saw that one of my mediation clients was reading it in the waiting room ahead of his MIAM....
Northants Family Law has recently been involved in a case which included an application under Family Procedure Rules 2010 Rule 12.75 for the disclosure of redacted documents to the media and/or the client’s MP. The team had represented the...
If you own, or have an interest in, a business and are thinking about getting divorced or dissolving your civil partnership, you need to think carefully about the impact this may have on your livelihood. Depending on how your affairs are organised,...
Whilst a person can be deprived of their liberty at any age and in any place, there are certain rules and regulations in place when children or young persons are being deprived of their liberty. There have been two recent cases which set out the law and...
Family Law Group is strengthening its team, with three young lawyers awarded new positions in the business. Nottingham Family Law are toasting Kerry Avis, who recently qualified as a solicitor, alongside her colleagues Aimee Booth and Will Matheson, who...
In the past few weeks, many recognised news outlets have commented that the heterosexual divorce rate has hit a 45 year low. For those readers who scan the headlines but don’t delve deeper into the story it is a headline, which paints a rosy picture...
As a step-parent who is getting divorced or going through separation, you may feel confused over what rights you will have in relation to your step-children especially if you have spent many years living as a family and have grown to love them as your...
In this latest blog article, Family Law Group looks at the idea of extending civil partnerships to include sibling couples. There has been much comment and debate in the press over a recent court victory by a man and woman who won the right to have a civil...
Why did you become a Solicitor? I became interested in studying law when I was at school. I was attracted to what I perceived to be the exciting drama in the courtroom and it was always my intention to aim for the criminal bar. English...
An unhappily married women in her 60s who today lost a Supreme Court appeal to be granted a divorce, shows an outdated system in need of change, say family law experts. Mrs Owens, 68, wanted the court to grant her a divorce from her husband of 40 years....
The average household in the UK now has debts of around £58,000 according to The Money Charity. Trying to keep on top of this can be a major source of stress and according to the relationship counselling service, Relate, debt is cited as the...
One of the region’s leading divorce specialists has called for the law to be overhauled to stop couples needlessly blaming the other for relationship breakdown. Family Law Group commented that the current laws in place means that all divorces need to...
The discovery of an affair, concern about an expected inheritance being squandered or pressure from family or associates to protect your business interests are all possible reasons you might consider making a postnuptial agreement. Like a prenuptial...
Men suffering domestic abuse should not be afraid to seek help and should look for support, claims one of the region’s leading family law experts. Simon Leach, of Nottingham Family Law, said he hoped publicity surrounding the case of Alex Skeel, whose...
As part of any discussion regarding family finances following divorce, it is important to consider pensions. As Simon Leach, family law expert with Family Law Group in Nottingham explains, this is particularly so if compared to your former spouse you...
If you are going through a divorce, or are trying to agree child arrangements or settle care proceedings, it can be difficult to bite your tongue when things do not go your way. The temptation to share your frustrations can be even greater when the...
A leading law firm specialising in family law has continued its expansion, with the appointment of a solicitor with more than 25 years’ experience in this field. Rachel Maclean has joined Nottingham Family Law, where she reacquaints herself with the...
A Nottingham law firm has given a helping hand after thieves stole equipment from a voluntary group helping the region’s deaf. Nottinghamshire Deaf Society suffered two break-ins at its headquarters in Nottingham city centre on Thursday, March 8 and...
The relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren can be very special and one that most parents fully support. On occasions, however, access can be cut off or restricted, causing hurt and upset. In the first of a two-part series of...
A Thought Leader article published in the December 2017 edition of Lawyer Monthly. My name is Simon Leach and I am the Managing Director of Family Law Group, a regional law practice specialising in family law. Our firm started in 2005, having...
Christmas is a magical time of the year for children. There is the anticipation of the presents they may receive, the relief of having a few weeks off school and the excitement of seeing friends and family. The hopes of what Christmas may bring...
Research released this week by The Nuffield Foundation indicates that many couples pretend adultery has been committed in order to quicken divorce proceedings. The research shows that the process needs overhauling, states a Nottingham firm of family law...
This article is designed to provide a useful guide to the subject of vulnerable clients and witnesses. Vulnerable Clients As Solicitor Advocates, we are the main link between the Court and our clients. It is therefore a key element of...
One of the most frequently asked questions of our mediation team is from clients enquiring whether they qualify for Legal Aid for their MIAMS or mediation meetings. This article aims to clarify the situation in light of changes to the law that stipulate...
In a successful mediation, everyone works cooperatively to reach a fair settlement of their dispute. So what are the key elements to keeping your mediation on track? Here are ten rules to follow: Participation Participation and being...
In a bid to make the divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships process easier for separating couples to understand, the government introduced a new set of forms to apply for divorce or dissolution in August this year. It is possible that, because of...
When couples separate, most of the arrangements regarding children can usually be resolved between the parents amicably. However, in rare cases, the relationship between the parents may have broken down to such an extent that one parent feels compelled...
What are fact-finding hearings? In proceedings involving children, the Family court will see if agreement can be reached on all relevant issues at the early hearing in any case. If this is not possible, the court will make its decision at a...
If you are receiving spousal maintenance from your former husband, wife or civil partner you may be able to ask for an increase in payments if your circumstances have changed and your former spouse or partner can afford it. Amanda Brown, family law expert at...
Leading family law experts have warned that a call for civil partnerships for heterosexual couples shows that the law is not doing enough for people who live together. Family Law Group comments that society is beginning to demand legal changes, which will...
For unmarried, separated or divorced parents, taking your child on holiday this summer may require careful negotiation with the other parent. This is especially likely if you do not have parental responsibility for your child entitling you to take...
Sarah Lockson, from our Nottingham office can now provide Life Coaching for anyone going through a separation or divorce and who is struggling to get their life back on track. Sometimes the fear of making changes or having to start again can...
A recent government decision to scrap the time limit for submitting Legal Aid applications is very welcome news for all family law experts. The current five-year time limit will be removed completely according to the Ministry of Justice after...
An introduction to Siobhan Thompson, Associate Solicitor In work I am a Children Panel Member and Solicitor, whilst outside of work I am a family girl, bit of a thrill seeker and adrenaline junky. I love being adventurous, body building, music and...
Over the past 20 years cohabiting couples have become the fastest growing family type in the UK, with some 3.3 million couples now choosing to live together without getting married. Many people in this situation mistakenly believe that if they split up or...
Family Law Group were proud to be VIP guests at the first ICA (Innovate/Collaborate/Accelerate) conference in Milton Keynes on 29 March 2017 held by Jeanius Consulting and Marketing By Us at the Open University. With Milton Keynes recognised as one of the...
One of the most frequently asked questions of our mediation team is from clients enquiring whether they qualify for Legal Aid for their MIAMS or mediation meetings. This article aims to clarify the situation in light of recent changes to the law that...
A fascinating insight into the thinking of one of our country’s most eminent and erudite judges. He raises several questions which go far beyond the connection between child protection and adoption. ...
Unacceptable behaviour from a former partner, such as threats of violence, stalking or harassment, does not have to be tolerated. Simon Leach, family law solicitor at Family Law Group in Nottingham explains how you could obtain a court order called an...
One of the biggest concerns for any parent who has separated or divorced will be household finances, particularly when there are children to provide for. If you are concerned that the financial arrangements you have made with your former spouse or partner...
Family Law Group keenly await the ruling of the Court of Appeal in the case involving a woman struggling to divorce her husband, as reported by BBC News. Dan Cooper of Milton Keynes Family Law Group comments, "For many years lawyers have...
Refuge, the leading voice for campaigning against domestic violence, has been named Family Law Group’s Charity of the Year. The growing law firm will fundraise for the charity over the course of the year, with the aim of raising as much money as...
Ben Clulee Senior Associate Solicitor with Family Law Group gives his recent experience of representing a client of Gambian origin on an application made by a local authority for a Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Protection Order within the Family Court. In...
The Christmas and New Year period can be a difficult time for many people; it is an opportunity for family and friends to get together, but it can add to the pressures when a marriage is in trouble. For most family lawyers, January is one of the busiest...
Fixed term contracts could be the answer for some people looking to secure their future, claims leading family law experts. Agreements lasting for up to a decade have been discussed in the national press, leading to speculation that people may be tempted to...
Abusive relationships come in many forms. Most people would probably recognise a violent relationship and may even know a friend or relative who has been the victim of physical violence. However, it may not be quite so easy to recognise an abusive...
For most, Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and an opportunity to spend quality time with the family. It can also be an incredibly emotional time of the year, particularly for those parents who are no longer together. One of the most difficult...
Competition can stifle encouragement and limits thinking, according to Nancy Kline in her book, "Time To Think." The essence of our mediation practice is about working in collaboration to help our clients find the best solutions for their family....
Family Law Group Mediation work towards a WIN-WIN situation for all clients and here is a short story about negotiation to illustrate the point. Many years ago, a man died and left his camels to his three sons; one-half to the oldest, one-third to the...
When love is in the air and your thoughts turn to moving in together, the last thing on your minds will be the practicalities of splitting-up. When married couples divorce there are specific laws that give rights and obligations towards each other, and...
Parents with financial stakes in the purchase of homes for newly married children are behind a rise in pre-nuptial agreements, claims a leading family law expert. Simon Leach, of Family Law Group said the agreements, which protect assets that couples have...
Amanda joined the family team in 2001, which then became Family Law Group in 2005. When Amanda joined, it became apparent to her that she would be joining a focused and highly competitive team, so needed to be the very best at what she did. Amanda is a...
Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 commonly referred to as Brussels II Revised or ‘BIIR’. BIIR has been used to transfer Public Law Proceedings concerning children to other jurisdictions within the European Union. The general rule under...
When you have taken the difficult step of deciding to separate or divorce, working out your future arrangements for your children, property, maintenance payments and shared business interests can lead to a great deal of anguish. If you have not come to an...
One of the many issues to be resolved upon divorce or separation is what happens to the assets of the marriage, such as who retains the house or whether it should be sold. On the other hand, you also need to decide what happens with any debts of the...
American research into divorce trends has found that divorce is seasonal with immediate spikes in marriage breakdowns after the summer and winter holidays, which is in line with British relationship break ups, claims a leading family law expert. The US...
Local charity Macmillan Cancer Support is set to benefit thanks to the fundraising efforts of a local firm of Solicitors, Nottingham Family Law. The Nottingham based solicitors will be putting their baking skills to the test by holding a coffee morning...
Raj Chahal, a Senior Associate in the Private and Public Law Children department of Family Law Group in Nottingham, has secured accreditation as a specialist in Private Law Children and Domestic Abuse. Resolution is an association of Solicitors committed to...
The legal structure of Britain will not be altered for some “considerable time” following the decision to leave the European Union, says a leading Family Law expert. Simon Leach of Family Law Group said now that the dust is beginning to settle...
More has to be done to save marriages in light of alarming report Dealing with previously happy couples splitting up is never easy even for those of us who are in the midst of sorting out marriage break-ups. Like all responsible family law experts, we...
With the school holidays upon us, many parents will be preparing themselves for six weeks of juggling their work commitments and spending time with their children. For divorced or separated parents, being able to rely on each other for backup...