The announcement that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are to divorce has caused headlines across the world. For many years they seemed the perfect couple but now they’re preparing to do battle over custody of their children and possibly several other matters as they strive to reach a settlement that is fair to both of
A wife has been granted a divorce settlement that is fair to her husband but reflects her lavish lifestyle during the marriage. The case involved a couple who had been married for 12 years. The husband was from Saudi Arabia and the wife was an American. Their matrimonial home had been in England, and the
Update: Ely v Robson [2016] EWCA Civ 774 This case involved a property dispute following several years of cohabitation. Mr Ely, the Claimant, solely owed the property in which both parties cohabited. In 2005 the parties separated, but they continued to live in the property together. Ms Robson’s elderly aunt also resided with them, as
Self-help disclosure essentially describes the situation that most family solicitors have faced, where your client helps themselves to potentially confidential documents that belong to their partner. During divorce proceedings this is particularly common. Clients often believe that it is entirely innocent and perhaps even legal to take a peek at the odd email, letter or
A new scheme has been launched to encourage the use of arbitration in family disputes involving the welfare of children. The Family Law Arbitration Children Scheme was set up four years ago to help families resolve financial issues. Now the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators, which runs the scheme, wants to extend it to cover
A wife has been awarded more than £1.5m in a divorce settlement that acknowledges her contribution to the marriage but protects the wealth her husband had accrued before they met. The case involved a husband and wife, currently aged 83 and 67, who began cohabiting in 1998 and married in 2000. At the time of
A court has ordered that a nine-year-old girl who was abducted by her father should be returned to her mother. The case involved an English father and a Polish mother who had separated after a long relationship. Following a dispute over their daughter’s residence, the English court declared that the child had become habitually resident
The Brexit vote appears to have sent the whole country into a spin. The Prime Minister has resigned, the Tories are embarking on a leadership battle and most of Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet has resigned. However, what does it mean for ordinary families who are separating on a practical basis? There have been a number
A wife has been told to accept a divorce settlement that provided her with £2m in cash plus the exclusive right to live in a valuable London flat for the rest of her life. The case involved a couple who both came from wealthy families. The husband had a well-paid job but the wife did
A judge has outlined why it would nearly always be wrong to secretly record children’s conversations as a way of gathering evidence in family proceedings. The issue arose in a case involving a dispute between a father and mother over the residence of their daughter. The father and his new partner wanted to know what