Our family law experts are welcoming the extension of funding that will allow more couples from across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire to access mediation. The Ministry of Justice has made a further £5.4 million available, in vouchers up to the value of £500, for participants in family mediation who Read more…
We are welcoming the introduction of a new voucher scheme that will enable more local couples to access mediation. Vouchers are now being offered by the Ministry of Justice, up to the value of £500, for participants in family mediation who are not eligible for legal aid. Dawn Lowry, a Read more…
Commercial litigators, like our colleagues in many other legal fields, sometimes recommend mediation as a way to resolve disputes. It’s not suitable for everyone or every case, but if it has been suggested to you, please don’t dismiss the prospect. You may feel you want your day in court, but Read more…
In just 20 years, the number of unmarried couples living together in the UK has doubled. Many of these cohabitees own joint property and bank accounts and the vast majority have children. Unfortunately, the odds a cohabiting relationship will break down are as high as they are for marriages or Read more…
Both parents of a child have equal rights and responsibilities provided that they have Parental Responsibility for that child pursuant to Section 2 of the Children Act 1989.There is a misconception that a mother automatically has more rights than a father because she gave birth to the child. When a Read more…
When couples separate, there are a number of ways to reach an agreement about children and/or financial issues. We have come a long way from the notion that involving solicitors will aggravate an already difficult situation. Our role is to advise on the quickest and cheapest way to facilitate a Read more…
The court fee for obtaining a divorce or civil partnership dissolution is set to rise from £410 to £550 from April 2016.This is an increase of over 34%. In an initial consultation on court fees the Government wanted to raise the fee up to £750, a whopping 80% increase. This idea Read more…
The first working Monday of the New Year is commonly known among solicitors as Divorce Day – or D-Day for short. It is the day on which enquiries from people seeking advice about separation are at their peak, following the stresses and strains of the festive season. We want to Read more…
It is said that the breakdown of a long term relationship is as stressful as a family bereavement. Having spoken to thousands of people going through this experience, I have no doubt it is true. This emotional turmoil makes it all the harder to consider the practicalities of a separation, Read more…
The Resolution Manifesto for change in the family justice system covers 6 key areas. We will now look in more detail at the proposals. Protect vulnerable people going through separation This proposal relates to two issues: the availability of some initial advice for people going through a separation and changes Read more…