Church of England bishops refuse to back gay marriage – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2023 in Church of England, clergy, homosexuality, marriage, news by tracey

‘The Church of England has rejected demands to allow clergy to conduct same-sex marriages but is proposing that couples who married in a civil ceremony may have their union blessed in church.’

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The Guardian, 18th January 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Church of England bishops refuse to back gay marriage – BBC News

‘Church of England bishops have refused to back a change in teaching to allow priests to marry same-sex couples, sources have told BBC News. The Church of England’s bishops met on Tuesday to finalise their recommendations after five years of consultation and debate on the Church’s position on sexuality.
Their proposal will be debated at the Church’s equivalent of a parliament – the General Synod – next month.’

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BBC News, 18th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Scientology and exemption from rates: Church of Scientology v Ricketts (VO) – Law & Religion UK

Posted January 12th, 2023 in apportionment, charities, education, marriage, news, rates by sally

“In The Church of Scientology Religious Education College Inc v Ricketts (VO) [2023] UKUT 1 (LC), the issue in the appeal was whether two buildings used by the Church of Scientology in London were exempt from non-domestic rating under the exemption covering places of public religious worship and related church premises. The key to the relevant exemption was that the hereditament concerned had to be, or include “a place of public religious worship”. The Upper Tribunal noted that in R (Hodkin) v Registrar General [2013] UKSC 77, the Supreme Court had ruled that the Scientologists’ London chapel was a place of meeting for religious worship within the meaning of section 2 of the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855 and should be registered for the solemnisation of marriages under the Marriage Act 1949.”

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Law & Religion UK, 10th January 2023

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Financial Remedy Update, August 2022 – Family Law Week

Posted August 26th, 2022 in bills, divorce, families, family courts, financial provision, Law Commission, marriage, news by tracey

‘Nicola Rowling, Professional Support Lawyer, Emily Elvin-Poole, Associate and Caitlin Levins, Trainee Solicitor at Mills & Reeve LLP consider the most important news and case law relating to financial remedies during July 2022.’

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Family Law Week, 23rd August 2022

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Government urged to end ‘legal limbo’ for unmarried couples – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 10th, 2022 in cohabitation, families, government departments, Law Commission, marriage, news by sally

‘The government should improve legal protections for unmarried couples by introducing a scheme proposed by the Law Commission 15 years ago, a cross-party group of MPs has recommended.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 9th August 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Islamic Marriage and the Legal System: Mahr/Dowr – Family Law

Posted August 8th, 2022 in families, Islam, islamic law, marriage, news by tracey

‘Tahir Khan, barrister, provides some useful legal and practical guidance on Islamic mahr/dower and its validity and recognition under English Law, together with some of the challenges and difficulties that face practitioners when confronted with such matters.’

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Family Law, 4th August

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Law Commission unveils plans for reforms to “confusing, out-of-date and restrictive” weddings law – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 20th, 2022 in families, Law Commission, marriage, news by sally

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales has set out its recommendations to reform weddings law, proposing a fairer system that it says will give couples more choice over where and how their wedding takes place.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 19th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Law Commission Marriage Review – timeline – Law & Religion UK

Posted July 19th, 2022 in families, Law Commission, marriage, news by sally

‘The final report of the Law Commission on how and where people can marry in England and Wales was published on 19 July 2022. The Commission was asked by government to conduct a review of marriage in December 2014, and we have followed the progress of the initiative in a series of posts, links to which are reproduced below.’

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Law & Religion UK, 18th July 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Your sand in marriage: plans to relax wedding rules in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted July 19th, 2022 in families, Law Commission, marriage, news by sally

‘Couples could soon marry on a cruise, in their kitchen or during a day out at the beach under proposals to tear up current restrictions on where weddings can be held.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Article by Tonicha Allen and Anna Chambers: No Fault Divorce, Help or Hindrance? – Park Square Barristers

Posted May 23rd, 2022 in chambers articles, divorce, families, marriage, married persons, news by sally

‘On the 6th of April 2022 to the delight of many family practitioners, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020) instigated a momentous change to divorce proceedings. No fault divorce is now a legitimate way to end a marriage.’

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Park Square Barristers, 11th May 2022

Source: www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk

Withholding religious divorce controlling and coercive behaviour: Moher – Law & Religion UK

‘In 2021, the UK Parliament passed amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill and the Serious Crime Act which stipulated that withholding a Get can constitute a violation of those laws. The draft statutory guidance under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognised that withholding a religious divorce both by Muslim and Jewish husbands may constitute controlling or coercive behaviour and a form of spiritual abuse which could lead the husband to be imprisoned. This development was in reaction to various calls for action to tackle the issue of ‘chained wives’ in religious communities.’

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Law & Religion UK, 17th May 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Levi Bellfield: Raab says granting marriage request ‘inconceivable’ – The Guardian

‘Granting Levi Bellfield’s request to get married in prison is “inconceivable” unless serious safeguarding concerns are addressed, Dominic Raab has said. Bellfield, who murdered Marsha McDonnell, Amelie Delagrange and Milly Dowler, is engaged and has requested a prison wedding, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed.’

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The Guardian, 12th April 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

2022 c. 28 – Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022

2022 c. 27 – Approved Premises (Substance Testing) Act 2022

2022 c. 26 – Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022

2022 c. 22 – Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022

2022 c. 20 – Professional Qualifications Act 2022

2022 c. 17 – Local Government (Disqualification) Act 2022

2022 c. 36 – Nationality and Borders Act 2022

2022 c. 34 – British Sign Language Act 2022

2022 c. 32 – Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

2022 c. 29 – Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022

2022 c. 24 – Cultural Objects (Protection from Seizure) Act 2022

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 – Law & Religion UK

‘The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 (‘2022 Act’), originally a private Member’s bill introduced by Sajid Javid and Pauline Latham, has now become law. The Act will be brought into effect by Regulations, which are pending. The headline is that the Act will amend the Marriage Act 1949 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to raise the minimum age at which people can enter into a marriage or civil partnership in England and Wales from sixteen to eighteen. This brief post will focus, however, on exploring the new criminal offence the statute creates and the three implications of the legislation that remain unresolved.’

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Law & Religion UK, 10th May 2022

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Some practical pitfalls with England’s new divorce law – Family Law

Posted April 29th, 2022 in divorce, families, family courts, marriage, married persons, news by tracey

‘From 6 April 2022 England and Wales has a new divorce law, so-called no-fault. It is the most significant divorce law change since 1969. It introduces an entirely new basis of obtaining a divorce and a new timetable. It will have different consequences for the applicant and the respondent. It allows joint petitions and joint applications for the final divorce. Service will be invariably by email as default service method. In any event, divorce itself is now an almost entirely online process. Nevertheless, however welcome this new law, there are significant flaws in its operation and application, particularly with the adverse impact on the respondent. This note looks at some of these pitfalls in practice.’

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Family Law, 28th April 2022

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Boost for public safety as four justice bills receive Royal Assent – Ministry of Justice

‘The government delivers on its pledge to protect the public better and restore confidence in the criminal justice system as four major bills became law today (28 April).’

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Ministry of Justice, 28th April 2022

Source: www.gov.uk

New law raises minimum marriage age to 18 in England and Wales – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2022 in age of consent, children, civil partnerships, marriage, news, young persons by sally

‘The legal age of marriage and civil partnerships has been raised to 18 in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 26th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Outdoor civil weddings and partnerships here to stay – BBC News

Posted March 15th, 2022 in civil partnerships, consultations, coronavirus, licensing, marriage, news by tracey

‘Outdoor civil weddings and partnerships are being legalised permanently in England and Wales. Until last summer, non-religious ceremonies had to be held inside or in a permanent outdoor structure. The rules were relaxed to allow for more guests while coronavirus social distancing measures were in place.’

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BBC News, 15th March 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Wedding laws are outdated and restrictive, new research suggests – The Independent

Posted March 8th, 2022 in diversity, Law Commission, marriage, news, reports by tracey

‘Wedding laws in England and Wales are outdated and restrictive, according to research from the University of Warwick and Exeter.’

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The Independent, 8th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Nelson man jailed for killing son-in-law’s mother over marriage feud – BBC News

Posted February 14th, 2022 in assault, families, homicide, imprisonment, marriage, news, sentencing, wounding by sally

‘A man who killed his son-in-law’s mother with an axe after his daughter’s marriage ended “acrimoniously” has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 12th February 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk