July 06, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
A recent report based on research by the University of Warwick examined nearly 200 family law case files from 2011 to investigate whether the family courts in England and Wales have a gender bias against fathers. Lead researcher on the project Dr Maebh Harding concluded that “contact applications by fathers were […] overwhelmingly successful”, with 88% of fathers who applied for contact with their children being awarded some kind of access.
Glen Poole, editor at online magazine insideMAN and author of Equality for Men responded to the study in the Telegraph, disputing the conclusion and maintaining that the role of single fathers is far from equal: ...
May 27, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
A family with happily separated parents is far healthier than a family with miserable married parents. And while the separation process itself may be difficult, in the long run, resolving the issues of a broken relationship will provide a more stable and positive environment for children.
If you’re worried about how your children will cope with the stresses of divorce, the family law team at Frances Lindsay & Co have a few suggestions for how to work through the hard times together and come out the other side stronger as a family:
Try a resolution-based method of separation like
March 28, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
The most commonly cited reason for divorce is ‘unreasonable behaviour’ which is a broad term that covers a range of complaints from a lack of communication to adultery. There are many ways for a relationship to break down, whether it’s due to slow-burning resentment or the effect of one unacceptable incident. Unfortunately, many people tolerate an unhealthy marriage for far too long before taking action, by which time both parties are miserable, and resolving their differences becomes difficult and protracted.
Couples often try to keep a failing marriage going for the sake of their children or to retain financial stability, which is completely understandable, ...
December 10, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Our Maidenhead and Beaconsfield offices will be closing at midday on the 23rd of December for the Christmas holidays, so if you’re in need of advice or services this month please get in touch within plenty of time! We will re-open at 8.30am on the 5th of January. If you’re mid-case, don’t worry – we will make sure that any outstanding action will have been sorted before we close, and nothing will happen over the Christmas period that will require further attention.
We hope you have a great festive period and can look back on 2014 with a sense of achievement, whether you’ve made major life changes, moved house, settled financial affairs, or started a ...
June 20, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
In April, a number of key changes came into effect for family law cases and private children’s issues. The Government has acknowledged that the sometimes adversarial environment of court may not always provide a positive arena for separating parents, and Sir James Munby, President of the High Court Family Division, is actively encouraging couples to seek help from mediator-solicitors for family-based alternatives to divorce.
Following the changes in the Children and Families Act 2014, anyone applying to court to arrange financial provision and care arrangements for children must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Appointment (MIAMS) before court proceedings can go ahead. These issues include where children will live ...
March 06, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
When you’re getting divorced, chances are you don’t want to waste any time (or money) sorting out the details. While the circumstances and complexity of your separation will greatly influence how long it takes you to complete proceedings, there are a few simple ways to ensure that your case goes as smoothly as possible. By working with your solicitor (and, if possible, your ex) to get all the details of your divorce set out clearly, you’ll be able to move forward with a minimum of disruption and stress.
Here’s our advice on avoiding unnecessary delays during your divorce:
Provide your solicitor with as much information and documentation as possible. For your case to proceed swiftly, your solicitor ...
February 10, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Celebrity couples are renowned for their break-ups, with every detail of their marriage and financial agreements being aired in public by the headline-hungry press. Perhaps it’s because of these high profile cases that many people assume pre-nuptial contracts to be something that is reserved for the rich and famous, or for couples who have a large disparity in earnings, but they can be much more than a simple protection of assets.
A nuptial agreement is a document that helps couples to settle any financial claims made against one another in the event of separation. The details of a pre or post-nup agreement can be confirmed before or after marriage, and while they ...
December 19, 2013 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Claims of adultery have halved since the 1970s according to recent analysis of patterns in grounds for divorce, while ‘unreasonable behaviour’ has become the most cited basis for separation – almost twice as likely as 40 years ago.
Unreasonable behaviour accounts for 47% of all divorces in the UK with examples ranging from unsociable spouses to financial quarrels. One possible reason for this shift in approach to divorce could be a change in attitude towards separation – there is far less stigma attached to getting divorced as there would have been in the 70s, and individuals are more likely to speak up about their spouse’s unreasonable behaviour and act upon it. With greater financial freedom for ...
September 05, 2013 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
When we get married, we hope it’s forever – most times we believe it. Unfortunately that’s not always the case and a marriage breakdown can be as devastating as bereavement. When a relationship comes to an end it can be the most stressful experience of a person’s life, but with the right guidance, knowledge and legal support, it is absolutely something that you can get through, and hopefully emerge the other side in a much better place.
At Frances Lindsay & Co in Maidenhead, our divorce solicitors are sensitive to the stresses divorce brings – we’ve been through it ourselves and have first-hand experience of the ...