Government Ministers announced that the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which will allow married couples to divorce without assigning blame, came into force on 6th April 2022. This is much later than originally planned, apparently to allow time for the necessary computer system changes to be made to HMCTS’s online divorce systems. The “no…
No-one expects to get divorced, but the sad reality is that 50% of marriages end in divorce. Once a decision has been made to separate and get divorced, it is important to think about the financial consequences of your separation and decide what to do with your assets, such as joint bank accounts, cars, houses…
The basis of the current divorce law: Currently, in order to get a divorce in England and Wales, you need to show that your marriage has irretrievably broken down. This is the only ground for divorce and is demonstrated by using one of the following 5 facts: That one party to the marriage has committed…
Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, is in the news on a daily basis. More and more people are investing in these alternative assets, as well as NFT artworks and tokens. But what happens when these assets are held by one person in a marriage? What part do they play in the settlement agreement of…
The Court does need to be involved to formalise the divorce process; however, it is possible to resolve the majority of issues (for example matrimonial finances) amicably and by consent. Agreeing matters by consent can provide parties with more control over the outcome and can save tens of thousands of pounds in legal fees. We…
For many separated or divorcing families, this Christmas period may be the first school holiday where everyone is living separately. Organising time with your family can become complicated and this can lead to tensions between parents and children alike, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. If this is the first separated Christmas it…
In a recent Supreme Court Judgement, the Court found that an aristocratic couple who had commenced divorce proceedings in Scotland could continue the wife’s claim for the matrimonial finances to be considered in England. Does this lead the way to divorce tourism? The facts of the case Charles Villiers and his wife Emma Villiers were…
What is an FDR? An FDR (Financial Dispute Resolution) Hearing is one of the stages of a matrimonial financial remedy application. Most commonly these occur during Court proceedings and the Judge will offer his or her evaluation of the likely outcome of the application. It therefore acts as a good indication of what may be…
Lockdowns and social distancing measures have caused court closures, which will increase delays where there are already backlogs. Further disputes involving supply-chain issues, employment disputes and other commercial matters emerging from the pandemic will further increase the backlog of cases. Courts are using video conferencing technology to conduct hearings, but another way to bypass the…
The Marriage Story is a film about a couple and their marriage break up. It is available on Netflix and has been nominated for Golden Globes and Academy Awards. It is based around a couple, Charlie (played by Adam Driver) and Nicole (played by Scarlett Johansson) who decide that their marriage is no longer working…
