Family Law guides and insights
Plain-English articles, guides and updates from our family law team. For advice on your own situation, visit our Family Law services or request a callback.
12 articles · View all News & Insights
No-fault divorce: do you need a solicitor?
No-fault divorce made ending a marriage simple. But the divorce and the financial settlement are two separate things, and getting divorced doesn't end money claims. Here's what matters.
My ex won't follow our child arrangements order: what can I do?
Your ex won't stick to the child arrangements order? What counts as a breach, how enforcement works, what the court can do, and what you should not do.
The common law marriage myth: what unmarried couples need to know
Living together for decades gives you no automatic rights - common law marriage doesn't exist. What cohabiting couples can actually claim, and the steps that protect you.
How Are Pensions Dealt With in a Divorce Settlement?
Pensions are often one of the largest assets in a divorce — sometimes worth more than the home — yet they are easily overlooked. They can be shared, offset against other assets,…
Living apart together. What are the consequences for family law?
This article looks at this phenomenon and asks, ‘Are these people free from the reach of family law?’
Hudson v Hathway - Court of Appeal Decision On Constructive Trusts
This cases deals with the rights of parties to a property in cohabitation disputes. Is detrimental reliance required?
Video: What Does The Term 'Shared Care' Mean in Family Law?
Shared care is one of the most misunderstood terms in child arrangements. It does not always mean an equal split of time — here is what it actually means.
Who Pays Household Bills During Separation? We Discuss Your Options
We discuss the importance of maintaining mortgage, rent and utility payments before a decree absolute.
How Do You Annul a Marriage: How Is It Different from Divorce?
We explore the difference between divorce and marriage annulment - and how you annul a marriage.
What Is Spousal Maintenance and When Is It Awarded?
Spousal maintenance is regular financial support paid by one former spouse or civil partner to the other after divorce. It is separate from child maintenance and is awarded where one person cannot…
What Is a Civil Partnership? Rights, Differences and How to End One
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship giving a couple broadly the same rights as marriage. Since December 2019 it has been open to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
What Is the Legal Difference Between Marriage and Cohabitation?
Marriage and civil partnership give couples a wide set of automatic legal rights. Cohabiting couples gain almost none of them, however long they live together — and there is no such thing…