Family Law Newsletter – Spire Barristers
‘Issue #35 of Spire Barristers’ Family Law Newsletter: edited by Connie Purdy and Taz Irshad; news and Case Reviews by Georgina Dalton.’
Spire Barristers, 22nd July 2020
Source: spirebarristers.co.uk
Category: divorce
My ex has made an application for a Child Arrangements Order – now what will happen to me and my kids? – Becket Chambers
‘Many parents find it difficult to agree on the arrangements for their children after separating. This can be an extremely stressful and upsetting situation for everyone concerned. The priority should be to shield the children from arguments wherever possible but what should you do when you receive an application for a Child Arrangements Order and what does that mean for your children?’
Becket Chambers, 22nd July 2020
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
Treatment of pensions on divorce – Law Society’s Gazette
‘In July 2019, the Pensions Advisory Group (PAG) published its essential guide to the treatment of pensions on divorce. The report is available on the Nuffield Foundation website. The impact of the report can be seen in the weight attached to it in three recent decisions concerning the treatment of pensions on divorce.’
Law Society's Gazette, 20th July 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Financial Remedy Update, July 2020 – Family Law Week
‘Sue Brookes Principal Associate, Family Lawyer, Collaborative Lawyer and Mediator for Mills & Reeve LLP considers the important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during July 2020.’
Family Law Week, 13th July 2020
Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk
Supreme Court hands down judgment in Villiers v Villiers – Parklane Plowden Chambers
‘Charles and Emma Villiers married in 1994. They moved to Scotland the following year and lived there throughout their married life. The couple separated in 2012, when the wife and the parties’ daughter left the former matrimonial home and moved to England, where the wife continues to reside. Mrs Villiers issued a divorce petition in July 2013 on the basis of her habitual residence for 12 months preceding the presentation of the petition.’
Parklane Plowden Chambers, 1st July 2020
Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk
Negligence claim over divorce assets ruled to be time-barred – Law Society’s Gazette
‘The Court of Appeal has upheld a law firm’s case that a £125,000 professional negligence claim against a firm for its handling of a divorce was issued too late. In Holt v Holley & Steer Solicitors (a firm), judges held that any alleged cause of action happened in the lead-up to divorce proceedings being finalised, and this was the starting point for the six-year limitation period.’
Law Society's Gazette, 8th July 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Villiers v Villiers – Blackstone Chambers
‘This appeal concerned the jurisdiction of an English court to make a maintenance order in favour of the wife (“W”) pursuant to s.27 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (“MCA”) in circumstances where the parties lived for most of their marriage in Scotland and the divorce proceedings issued by the husband (“H”) were conducted in Scotland.’
Blackstone Chambers, 1st July 2020
Source: www.blackstonechambers.com
Is COVID-19 a Barder Event? Considering the enforceability of financial settlements in light of COVID-19 – Thomas More Chambers
‘The potential short and longer-term consequences of the COVID-19 crisis upon the global and national economy are now well-known. Financial remedy practitioners have been anticipating a number of queries from clients potentially seeking to make an application to set aside their concluded financial settlements, because of the effect current events have had or may have upon their finances. Questions therefore arise about whether or not the effects of COVID-19 are capable of being treated as a Barder Event by the family courts, and thus to act as a basis to revisit final financial remedy orders.’
Thomas More Chambers, 6th July 2020
Source: www.thomasmore.co.uk
Appeal judges reject divorcee’s negligence claim – Legal Futures
‘The Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling that a negligence claim brought by a woman against her law firm over its work on her divorce was out of time.’
Legal Futures, 8th July 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
Divorce ruling gives ‘untrammelled licence’ to go forum shopping – Law Society’s Gazette
‘A Scottish aristocrat has lost a Supreme Court appeal regarding the finances of his divorce in a ruling that will reignite debate on forum shopping.’
Law Society's Gazette, 1st July 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Divorce bill reaches final stretch of parliamentary marathon – Law Society’s Gazette
‘Proposed legislation removing fault from the divorce process could be days from receiving Royal assent as it goes through the remaining stages of its parliamentary journey today [17 June].’
Law Society's Gazette, 17th June 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
Pensions in Needs-Based Financial Remedy Proceedings – Becket Chambers
‘The issue of pensions in financial remedy proceedings is a complex area and has been subject to much change over the years. As many of you will be aware, the Pension Advisory Group (“PAG”) published a comprehensive report, “A Guide to the Treatment of Pensions on Divorce” in July 2019. It was a much-welcomed publication that provided definitive guidance on the approach to pensions in financial remedy proceedings.’
Becket Chamber, 11th June 2020
Source: becket-chambers.co.uk
‘No-fault’ divorce bill backed by MPs – BBC News
‘A bill introducing “no-fault” divorces in England and Wales has been backed by MPs.’
BBC News, 8th June 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Parenting Plans & Child Arrangements Orders: Maria Scotland & Gemma Lindfield – 5SAH
‘When the family breaks down and there are children, whether the parents are married or not, the parents are advised to try to reach an agreement on where the children will live: whether they will live with one parent and spend time with the other parent or else share their time between their separated parents’ homes. Older children are often able to make decisions for themselves or make arrangements to go between homes themselves once their parents live apart – so called “voting with their feet”. Younger children and babies cannot and they need their parents to make arrangements in their best interests for them. These parents are advised to try and reach an agreement in writing, called a “parenting plan”.’
5SAH, 28th May 2020
Source: www.5sah.co.uk
Parents fight in court over whether children should return to school in England – The Guardian
‘Separating parents are fighting each other through the courts over whether their children should return to school as lockdown is eased, a leading family lawyer has revealed.’
The Guardian, 2nd June 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
Recognition of foreign marriage—implications of (Padero-Mernagh v Mernagh) – Family Law
‘Cases involving bigamy are relatively rare, and the judgment of Williams J in Padero-Mernagh v Mernagh provides a useful analysis of the relevant law in that regard. Of particular note, however, is the way in which the final hearing was dealt with remotely, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.’
Family Law, 28th May 2020
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
New tax changes that may impact on divorcing couples – Family Law
‘The start of the new tax year has understandably almost arrived unnoticed due to the pandemic, however, there are some pretty big changes which came into effect from 6 April 2020 which may particularly impact divorcing couples.’
Family Law, 22nd May 2020
Source: www.familylaw.co.uk
Financial Provision for Adult Children in England and Wales and in Italy – Pump Court Chambers
‘This article considers a recently-handed down case making financial provision for children where one was over the age of 18 at the time of making the application and another child was over 18 at the time of judgment and compares the position with that in Italy, where provision for children can include adult children as a matter of course.’
Pump Court Chambers, 11th May 2020
Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com
Oligarch’s wife brings son into high-stakes divorce case – The Guardian
‘It is proving to be a very modern divorce. Armies of lawyers and advisers; hundreds of millions of pounds at stake; priceless art; a superyacht; a key lieutenant switching sides; the son dragged into the proceedings by his mother. No wonder some involved have likened it to The War of the Roses, the dark Hollywood comedy about a feuding couple starring Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas.’
The Guardian, 10th May 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
