According to the Office of National Statistics in the year ending March 2019, 1.6 million women and 786,000 men experienced domestic abuse. The number of women and girls killed in England and Wales had also risen to its highest level in 14 years with a 10% increase having been documented. Between March 2018 and March 2019 there were 241 recorded female victims of murder, manslaughter and infanticide with 48% of those victims being killed in a domestic homicide, and 38% of those victims being killed at the hands of their partner or ex-partner.

A consent order is a legally binding court order approved by a judge in divorce proceedings, filed after both parties have agreed their financial settlement. This is often without the need for either party having to attend at Court.

We are being asked by our clients more and more frequently about the potential need for a pre-nuptial agreement. While some couples may find it difficult or awkward to approach the subject of a pre-nuptial agreement with their future spouse, a day will come in the not too distant future when it will be considered usual if not essential to discuss the need for a pre-nuptial agreement before the big day.

There are many reasons why it is important to try and have an amicable separation. We have highlighted our top three below:

On Monday 20 January 2020 Stalking Protection Order’s (SPOs) came into force allowing Police in England and Wales to apply for emergency orders aimed at protecting victims of stalking.

You can change your mind about divorce and cancel the proceedings, providing both parties agree. If you reconcile at any stage, even after the pronouncement of the Decree Nisi (the middle stage of the divorce), you can ask the Court to rescind the decree and dismiss the petition. This would give the effect of the petition never having been issued. This does, however, mean if the reconciliation does not work out and you do wish to pursue a divorce, you will need to issue a new petition and start the process from the beginning.

If you’re a parent, you’ll be familiar with how difficult it can sometimes be to get your children to accompany you to the shops or appointments. If only you could safely leave your child on their own and get those daily tasks done quickly. But where does the law stand with this?

The High Court has again delivered judgments in relation to applications by the Queen’s Proctor to set aside divorce decrees in four different cases on the ground that the petitions breached the 1 year bar. The 1 year bar is set out in section 3 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and states that neither party to a marriage may commence divorce proceedings before the couple have been married for 1 year.

A child may feel torn between both parents or angry and one or both parents for the relationship breaking down. Every situation will be different and depend on the unique circumstances of the family unit, but it should be everyone’s concern that the children are protected from any animosity between the parents.

If you are experiencing difficulties with a family matter, such as issues relating to a potential divorce and the associated financial aspects or issues concerning your children, you may be considering court proceedings. Before you can make an application to the court in relation to a family issue you must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM). There are exemptions available and these can be discussed with you if necessary.

To prepare for the First Appointment in financial remedy proceedings, each party must file with the Court and serve the other party a questionnaire in respect of their financial disclosure (Form E). When completing Form E, the parties have an obligation to the Court to give full, frank and clear disclosure. The duty is ongoing and includes a duty to disclose any material change in financial circumstances.

The breakdown of a marriage in any family is upsetting, but within a farming family a divorce can be particularly difficult to resolve.