Child Arrangement Orders (CAOs) are court orders which regulate where a child is to live, and how much time they spend with their parents. They replaced the traditional residency orders and contact orders in 2014. However, what happens when one party does not adhere to arrangements included in a CAO? What recourse does a parent
The much-lauded Domestic Abuse Bill has fallen at Committee Stage as a result of the pre-election pro-rogation, with no clear commitment for it to be carried forward into the next parliament. The purpose of the Bill was to increase awareness around domestic abuse, improve the experience of victims in navigating the justice system and in
The Law Society has considered the question of whether offers made “without prejudice save as to costs” should be considered under “conduct” when the court is assessing whether to make a costs order against a party in financial remedy proceedings. Currently, the courts will consider any open offers made by the parties when assessing liability
Deed Poll A change of name by deed poll is a legally recognised process of changing or amending an aspect of your name, and can be distinguished between a ‘unenrolled’ and ‘enrolled’ deed poll. If you’re aged 16 or over, it’s your decision whether you wish to legally change your name and you are able
A husband has won his appeal against a judge’s decision that allowed his wife a second chance to improve her divorce settlement. The case involved a couple who had been married for several years and had one son. At the final hearing of the wife’s application for a financial settlement, the husband proposed that she
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has issued guidance on how couples should deal with cross border divorce after the UK leaves the European Union. It says that if your divorce is making its way through the courts in England or Wales at the time the UK leaves the EU then your case will continue under
A wife was entitled to a financial settlement from her husband that reflected British law even though their divorce was granted abroad. That was the decision of the High Court in a case involving an Omani man and Lebanese woman. The couple had been married for 12 years and had lived a luxurious lifestyle in
A husband has failed to overturn what he considered an unreasonably generous divorce settlement imposed after a judge held that he had misled the court. The case involved a couple who married in 1995 and separated in 2016. They had three dependent children. The wife had looked after the home and worked part time. She
A man has reduced his periodical payments to his ex-wife after he argued that his business income was not a matrimonial asset. The couple married in 1988 and had four children who are all now adults. The family had a good standard of living thanks to the husband’s successful business. After they divorced it was
A mother has lost her appeal against a special guardianship order which placed her children in the care of their paternal grandparents. The case involved children who had been the subject of a child protection plan due to parental neglect. A residency order was made and the children lived with their parental grandparents. The mother