Married at first sight UK has become a reality TV sensation with viewers across the UK tuning in to watch couples tie the knot with complete strangers for a daring television experiment. As this series draws to a conclusion we consider the real life question of what can you do if you realise shortly after…
The court can make the following orders under section 8 of the Children Act 1989:- a child arrangements order; prohibited steps order and a specific issue order. A child arrangements order is an order specifying with whom a child shall live and when the child spends time with another. A prohibited steps order prevents a…
Maintenance pending suit (MPS) is financial support paid by one spouse to the other after divorce proceedings start until the divorce is finalised and a final adjustment of finances is made between the parties. Similar provisions apply to those in civil partnerships. Reasons for applying for maintenance pending suit Genuine need is the most common…
If you get divorced or dissolve a civil partnership, your pension assets should be taken into account as part of any financial settlement. Pensions should not be ignored as they are often the most significant asset after a house. The courts are able deal with pension arrangements in one of 3 ways:- Pension Sharing order:-…
The Law Commission has launched a consultation on provisional proposals to reform the law governing how and where couples can get married. The consultation period will run until 3 December 2020. The provisional proposals for reform are: • to allow weddings to take place outdoors, for example on beaches, in parks, in private gardens and…
An infant approval hearing is sometimes referred to as a Damages Approval Hearing and takes place after settlement has been reached in respect of a child’s damages (compensation) following a personal injury claim. Unlike in an adult’s personal injury compensation claim, it is not enough for the Claimant to simply accept a settlement amount and…
Court Protection from domestic violence; – Non-molestation orders and occupation orders. There have been many recent reports in the press about the increase in domestic violence that has occurred as a result of the pandemic. If you are a victim of domestic violence you can apply to the court for an “injunction” to protect you…
The Remarriage Trap The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 sets out the rights of a spouse to seek a share of the matrimonial assets and maintenance. Buried deep within this legislation is the ‘remarriage trap’. Put simply, if you divorce and then remarry without first having made a claim for a financial order in the divorce…
A child is any person under the age of 18. In civil proceedings, a child must have a litigation friend to conduct the court proceedings on their behalf, unless the Court otherwise directs. Often the child’s parent will act as a litigation friend although this does not have to be the case. The litigation friend…
APPLYING FOR A GRANT OF PROBATE When a loved one dies, it can be difficult to know what to do in respect of dealing with the deceased’s property, money and possessions. If the deceased left a valid Will the Executor named in the Will can apply for a ‘Grant of Probate’; if there was no…