July 15, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
Some people feel that choosing to draw up a prenuptial agreement reveals a cynical view of marriage – or even perhaps raises flags on an already rocky relationship – but a prenup needn’t suck all the romance out of your nuptials! In fact, the opposite could well be argued; when you’re organising a wedding or civil partnership, your future together is in the forefront of your minds, for better or for worse, so isn’t it better to plan for every possible outcome together? Being able to discuss the ‘what ifs’ and come to a sensible, fair decision if the worst should happen surely ...
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: ...
March 23, 2015 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
The end of a marriage doesn’t necessarily mean the end of your family – when you have children, it’s important to work together with your ex to minimise the impact of separation. Collaborative family law is an effective out-of-court method of dispute resolution for parents, encouraging them to work through their differences and pave the way for successful co-parenting in the future.
Choosing to separate out of court gives parents a far better chance of a positive relationship with each other afterwards as it offers the chance to come to their own decisions about the division of assets ...
November 11, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog Justice Minister Chris Grayling faced outrage in the press earlier this year for a policy that banned books being sent to prisoners, and now is the recipient of widespread criticism over cuts to legal aid. Solicitors are now taking Grayling to a judicial review, concerned that recent changes to the family law system are detrimental to parents going through the process of separation.
Despite the Justice Minister asserting that reforms are “going exactly to plan”, the House of Commons Justice Committee is undertaking an investigation of the results of the legal aid cuts made by the coalition in April 2013. Funding support for
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 ...
May 22, 2014 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog
When kids are involved in a divorce or separation there’s a lot more to think about than your relationships with your ex. Helping your children to understand and cope with the transition can be tough, and despite the title of this blog post I’m afraid it’s never going to be ‘easy’. However, there certainly are ways to make it less painful on all of you. Here are ten of them:
1) Be honest from the outset: children know when they’re being lied to – even if you think hiding the truth will protect them from being upset – and while they don’t necessarily ...
December 30, 2013 | Posted by :
J Morris |
Blog In the midst of a divorce, positivity can be hard to find, but taking an optimistic and open approach to separation may help you find an even more beneficial outcome for your family. There are several alternatives to court which provide extra support and understanding for couples going through separation, including collaborative family law, mediation, and arbitration.
Finding a way to get past a betrayal or a difficult relationship can feel insurmountable, but over time – and with the right help – working through the issues of your marriage during your divorce can help you to move on afterwards.
Mediation, arbitration and family law all offer ...
