October 08, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Whether you’re just venturing into the process of getting divorced or are right in the middle of it, sometimes it can feel like things are going nowhere. Discussions can go round in circles without reaching an agreement, sticking points can cause delays and complications, or at times communication can be completely non-existent.
So what do you do when you’re feeling stuck?
Well, before you do anything, make sure to seek professional legal advice so you know exactly where you stand and what your options are. From there, you can start to make a plan and break down the process into more manageable steps.
If you and your ex are at ...
October 06, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
A new report from the Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA) and the Pensions Policy Institute has found that there is significant inequality between men and women when it comes to pensions and divorce.
The report analysed the pensions of almost 30,000 people aged 30 and above and found a significant gap in post-retirement wealth between men and women across age groups, and less than 15% of couples have pensions that are more or less equal.
Married men were found to have the largest pension wealth, with the disparity between the sexes ranging from £46,000 to over £170,000.
Men aged 45-54 had a median pension wealth of £86,000 compared to £40,000 for women. This increased to £185,000 for men ...
October 04, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Deciding to change your name following divorce can feel like a significant moment of closure for those who choose to do so. Perhaps you changed your surname to your partner’s name when you got married, or chose a double-barrelled combination, or something else entirely. Perhaps you now want to go back to your previous name, or start completely afresh with a new name!
You can, of course, simply start calling yourself by a brand new name whenever you want and don’t need any particular documents to do so in general social circumstances. However, difficulties may arise if you need to use your name for official purposes – in which case you may want to go down the legal route ...
October 01, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
The divorce process is moving one step further towards becoming completely paper-free with the switch to online applications via the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (MyHMCTS). This is a welcome development, making applications quicker and simpler.
As of the 13th of September 2021, all legal representatives must now submit applications for divorce using the MyHMCTS online portal. There was a brief transitional period through to the 4th of October in which paper applications would still be processed, but going forward, the new digital process is mandatory for all applications except the dissolution of civil partnerships and judicial separation.
My HMCTS launched in 2018 with the aim of simplifying and speeding up the ...
September 08, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
There are concerns among family law professionals that the increasing popularity of cryptocurrency may lead to the non-disclosure of digital assets during divorce settlements, since tracking down these types of funds can be more difficult than other finances.
According to a recent survey, approximately a fifth (19%) of all Brits have invested in cryptocurrency – approximately 9.8 million people. Some of the main reasons given for this interest were the belief that its importance and value will increase in the future, and that the interest rates of traditional savings options are too low. Cryptocurrency is more popular with younger investors: 40% of those aged 18-24 and a quarter (24%) of those aged 35-44 have bought at least one type ...
September 05, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
‘Birdnesting’ is a term for divorced parents who take turns looking after their children in the family home rather than dividing their co-parenting between two separate places. The practice has been gaining popularity, particularly among millennial parents, due to concerns over children’s wellbeing after divorce, the financial pressures of single parenting, and a more collaborative approach to separation.
The basic concept is that each guardian spends their agreed-upon parenting time or custody in the family home – just like birds who take turns flying in and out of the nest to take care of their chicks. Rotating homes in this way has been common since the 90s in Sweden, where equally shared child custody is the norm, but is ...
September 03, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
The option for no-fault divorce (the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020) is due to be introduced on the 6th of April, 2022. It was originally scheduled to come into effect in the autumn of 2021 but has been set back to ensure for necessary implementations of the new provisions.
In 1990 the Law Commission Report on the Ground of Divorce found that the current UK system was unfair, discriminatory, unnecessarily inflammatory and confusing for litigants, as well as producing worse outcomes for children and exacerbating family conflict. Couples who are forced into assigning blame via one of the five ‘facts’ for divorce can find themselves feeling the need to defend allegations they believe to be unfair, or ...
September 01, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
The pandemic has seen a boom in pet ownership with approximately 3.2 million UK households welcoming a new pet into their home since the first lockdown in March 2020. As loving pet owners ourselves, we know how much joy and comfort they can bring to a family—but as family lawyers, we also know how tricky it can be to decide what happens to a beloved pet after divorce.
According to a 2014 study by the Blue Cross, a quarter of all UK divorces involved disputes over pets, and with the sharp increase in animal ownership over the past year this issue could become even more common among divorcing couples.
Most people consider their pet as a member of their family, ...
August 08, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Having different opinions isn’t the end of the world—most spouses disagree about plenty of things and still remain happy together—but when there’s an inability to communicate about those differences, or a refusal to compromise over how to deal with them, then you may end up with a problem. Even the smallest issues can build resentment over time when there’s a breakdown in communication, and eventually this can lead to the irreconcilable differences that result in divorce.
Because of the complex nature of relationship breakdown, sometimes it can be difficult to unpick where these disagreements even began, but most issues generally stem from one of three main types of relationship incompatibility:
Incompatibilities ...
August 06, 2021 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Making a will probably isn’t up there on your ‘exciting things to do’ list – it’s probably not even half way up your ‘important but not very fun things to do’ list. It’s one of those things that gets put off and deprioritised and on and on until we get to the current statistics of less than half of the UK adult population having a professional will in place.
The younger you are, the easier it is to feel as if you’re invincible and the need for a will is a far off consideration, but you’re never too young to protect your future. And it’s even more important if you are single or unmarried as the law does not ...