Registered partners and EU (dis)harmony

Mention the doings of the EU and most people’s eyes roll upwards or glaze over, particularly if it is a topic headed, snappily “Proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of decisions regarding the property consequences of registered partnerships”.  Despite this common reaction, sometimes the EU takes on difficult [...]

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Young love- will it all end in tears?

Although the overall number of divorces in England and Wales in 2009 fell to its lowest level since 1974, the divorce rate among 25-29 year olds was twice the national average. This latest information from the Office of National Statistics suggested that couples in their 20′s were the most likely group to divorce. As couples were [...]

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Mediation- the story so far….

The new changes in the way in which contested applications are to be dealt with are receiving the thumbs up from those in Manchester. The new rules mean that anyone setting out to contest the terms of their separation must first consider mediation. Mediators in Manchester have informed Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly that early signs indicate that a [...]

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From Cardiff with Love

To Cardiff for the 23rd National Resolution conference where family lawyers met to debate and discuss recent changes and issues in family law. High up on the agenda was the impact on the recent cases of Imerman v Tchenguiz [2010] EWCA Civ 908 [2010] 2 FLR 814. A workshop by Harry Oliver and Christopher Pocock QC of 1 King’s Bench [...]

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From Russia with love, or not

A Russian student has been awarded £2.8 million in a divorce settlement after an 18 month marriage. Elena Golubovich a 27-year-old fashion student married Ilva Golubovich, an international financier in August 2007. The couple, from rich Russian families, separated in July 2009 but not before they managed to spend £2million during the course of their marriage, which also [...]

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Granny power!

In a sweeping review of the family justice regime commissioned by the Government, it is being recommended for the first time that separating parents be expected to ensure that grandparents continue to have a role in the lives of their grandchildren. Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister last year said it was “crazy” that millions of grandparents lose [...]

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Congratulations on your new arrival, now about a divorce….

In a major review of the family justice system, former civil servant David Norgrove has suggested that upon new parents attending to register the birth of their child, that they be provided with a leaflet spelling out their parental responsibilities, in case of divorce or separation. Parental responsibility is a term under the Children Act 1989 that sets [...]

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Legal Aid Reform: How are Women Affected?

I attended the APPG meeting on ‘Legal Aid Reform: How are Women Affected?’ We heard from over a dozen speakers including Emma Scott, Director of Rights of Women, Linda Lee, President of the Law Society, Carol Storer of the LAPG and Richard Miller, Head of Legal Aid Policy at the Law Society. Richard highlighted how older women [...]

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Whaley v Whaley, Round 2. One for the girls?

Millionaire Athelstan Whaley appeared before the Court of Appeal last Wednesday in an attempt to overturn Mrs Justice Baron’s order made last year requiring him to transfer to his former wife Belinda two properties in Kent and to pay her a lump sum of £3 million. Athelstan’s basic presentation is that complying with the order will render [...]

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Un-named, but one for the boys?

The Telegraph reported last Wednesday (“Wife loses bid for bigger payout from estranged husband”, Victoria Ward) on an anonymised judgment handed down by Mr Justice Mostyn, resolving the financial claims of 2 divorcing Americans. At issue was the division of the family’s estimated wealth of £9.714 million.  The wife, aged 46, wanted her husband’s pre-marriage assets of £2.1 [...]

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