Understanding civil partnership laws in the UK

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Matthew

When they were first intrduced, civil partnerships received a lot of attention, and provided an opportunity for same-sex partners to receive many of the legal rights that had previously only been available to married couples. While many same-sex partners might feel that a civil partnership would be a great way to formalise their relationship, it’s important to understand exactly what is involved, particularly as these arrangements are still relatively new and continue to evolve, as this article points out.

Understanding civil partnership laws in the UK | FamilyBlawg

“As a gay or lesbian couple, you desire the same rights as heterosexual couples when it comes to building a family and creating a home where you feel safe and …www.familyblawg.com/…/understanding-civil-partnership-law…”
http://www.familyblawg.com/civil-partnerships/understanding-civil-partnership-laws-in-the-uk/

If you’re looking to formalise your relationship and create a legal bond between you and your partner, it’s always a good idea to get some guidance on the best way to go about doing this. An experienced Family Law Solicitor will be able to advise you of the benefits and pontential shortcomings of a civil partnership with regards to your particular situation.

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Separated, But Living Together

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Matthew

Even thought they feel their marriage may be over, it is becoming more and more common for ‘separated’ partners to continue living in the same house. The main reason behind this is the poor economy, and partners unwilling or unable to move into separate accomodation while their divorce is finalised, according to this article.

Living Together Apart: When Divorce Makes It … – The Huffington Post

“PARIS – Some take over the couch or sleep in the guestroom; others still share the conjugal bed, albeit in an icy atmosphere. As divorce has gone mainstream, …www.huffingtonpost.com/…/living-together-apart-whe_n_156…”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/31/living-together-apart-whe_n_1560003.html

While in the past some couples might have stayed together because they felt that it was too expensive to get divorced, these days many husbands and wives are still going ahead with their plan to end their marriage, even if it means they still have to share the marital home throughout the process. If you’re in this situation, or are planning to get divorced, make sure you get professional advice from a Family Law Solicitor.

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Social Networking Becoming Important in Divorce Cases

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Matthew

With over 750 million users across the world it's no big surprise that Facebook, as well as other social media platforms, has such an influence on so many areas of our lives – including our divorces. This story from the US suggests that more and more family lawyers are using posts, updats, pictures and tweets as evidence in their divorce cases.

Divorce Lawyers Key In on Social Networking

"According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, more than 80 percent of divorce lawyers are saying they've seen an increase of content posted to sites like Facebook being used as evidence. Karen Conti, a law professor at the University of …CBS Local"
http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/06/08/divorce-lawyers-key-in-on-social-networking/

A good Divorce Solicitor will understand the impact of anything that's said or shown on these kind of social media sites and that's just one of the reasons why it's important to get professional advice from a Family Law Solicitor if you are thinking about getting divorced.

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There’s an App for…Divorce?

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Matthew

It seems there really is an app for everything, with this news story from the US detailing some of the latest apps on the market that are designed to help couples through a divorce. It seems that the latest technology has the ability to make every part of our lives easier – and that includes the ending of a marriage.

I don't anymore: Apps to help with the details of divorce

"Although June is often a good month for weddings, there really is no good time for divorce. And it always comes at a cost — emotionally and financially. There are several apps to help you prepare and manage the business of divorce."
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-divorce-iphone-app-20120608,0,1148616.story

While these kind of apps may provide some benefits, as the article is quick to point out, they are no replacement for professional advice from an experienced Family Law Solicitor, particularly as a lot of these apps are likely to be more about marketing individual law firms rather than providing reliable and accurate legal advice.

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Advice On Dealing With Parent’s Divorce – Video

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Matthew

When parents get divorced it’s often the children that suffer, particulalry if they are still relatively young. It can be difficult for them to know how to deal with parents splitting up, and with there mum and dad often wrapped up in their own problems, sometimes what the children need can get overlooked. There’s plenty of good advice about how parents can help make their divorce easier on their children, but what makes this advice more interesting is the fact that it comes from someone who’s been there.

Mark Cefalo, Jr. Offers Advice On Dealing With Parent’s Divorce In YouTube Video

“Dealing with your parent’s divorce as a teen is never easy, but it helps to know you’re not alone. In the video above, 16-year-old YouTube star Mark Cefalo Jr.offers teens a primer on what it’s like when parents divorce. Cefalo, who says his parents …”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/08/mark-cefalo-jr-divorce_n_1578617.html

Often children might have questions or fears that they are afraid to voice to their parents or an adult, and advice from their peers like Mark is bound to be a lot more relevant. Plus it helps them to ralise that they’re not the only ones feeling the way they do and things will get better.

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UK to Outlaw Forced Marriages

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Matthew

The UK has a rich diversity of ethnic cultures and for many of these, arranged marriages are a big part of their tradition. However, it's important to make the distinction between arranged marriages, where the two parties are free to choose whether to go through with the marriage or not, and forced marriages which, according to the government, are little more than slavery.

UK crackdown on forced marriages

"The British Government is to crack down on forced marriages, reported to be widely prevalent among families from the Indian subcontinent, by making them a criminal offence under a new law to be introduced in England and Wales."
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article3505554.ece

There is a fine balance to be struck between respecting the culture and traditions of the ethnic groups that make up the UK and making it clear that in our modern day society, there is no place for forced marriages.

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Divorce Facts You Ought To Know

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Matt

If perhaps you are beginning to feel as though divorce may be the only way to solve your marriage issues, it is crucial you learn a little more about what ‘getting divorced’ will involve. It’s always a good idea to speak to a professional, and our Divorce Solicitors in Birmingham will be able to offer the help and advice you need, however here is some general information that may be useful.

Grounds For Getting Divorced
Despite the fact that many people might assume that anyone who is married can get a divorce, throughout England and Wales there are a variety of requirements which will have to be met. First of all, you have to have been married for longer than 1 year, and then you need to demonstrate that your relationship has failed for one of the following reasons:

  • Desertion
  • Unreasonable behaviour
  • Separation for 2 years
  • Separation for 5 years
  • Infidelity

How Long Does It Take?
Every single divorce is different. Some involve children, while others don’t; and some may be quite amicable, whilst others may be fiercely contested. There’s no fixed time period for how long it will be until you are granted your Decree Absolute – the best case scenario may be a month or two, although some divorce processes can take years.

Costs
Whilst there will be standard fees charged by the courts for processing your divorce case, a large percentage of your legal costs are going to be accounted for by your divorce solicitor’s costs. These are going to vary depending on length of time it takes to arrive at a settlement, how complicated your case is going to be plus the fees charged by your lawyer. Although solicitors’ fees can vary this should not be the key criteria for selecting your legal representation. It’s much more important to employ a solicitor that’s best suited to handling your specific circumstances.

Divorce Alternatives
Separation could be a more appropriate alternative to divorce and one that leaves you with options for the future. If you decide this is the best way forward, according to your situation, it can certainly be a good idea to formalise a number of aspects of the separation. If you have kids then custody arrangements can be drafted, plus some kind of financial arrangement might be helpful.

When you find yourself dealing with a divorce or any other Family Law matter you’ll need to get the best advice available. Our Family Law Solicitors Birmingham office will offer the help and support you need and have a range of services to accommodate most budgets.

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What Your Divorce Process Might Cost You

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Matt

The ending of your marriage can be emotionally draining enough without having to worry about divorce costs. In terms of exactly how your economic assets are going to be split up and what, if any, financial assistance will need to be paid, each and every situation is different; however there are numerous costs that are associated with every divorce.

Exactly How Much Will A Divorce Process Cost?
Any time you’re getting divorced in England, there are some standard court costs that all couples will have to pay, and after that in most situations there’ll be the cost of employing a solicitor.

Divorce court costs – Once you petition the court for a divorce, the cost of submitting the petition is currently £340. At the end of the process there is also an additional fee for the Decree Absolute of £40. There could be other similar court costs as well. For instance, if you and your former partner have come to an arrangement concerning your finances and are wanting a ‘clean break’ divorce, you would need to file a Consent Order with the courts, which carries an additional £45 fee.

Solicitor Costs – Exactly how much your solicitor is going to cost you will depend on your case. The more complex it is and the longer it’s going to take to finalise, the more time a solicitor will need to spend on it. Most lawyers charge an hourly rate, meaning complicated cases involving arguments over matters like child custody and money can see costs run into the thousands. However, an easy and uncomplicated process may only cost a few hundred pounds.

Legal Aid Divorce
For people who might find it difficult to meet the monetary cost of a divorce, Legal Aid could be an option. However, not everyone is qualified to receive Legal Aid, which is intended to help just those most in need.

The expense of dealing with a Family Law matter or a divorce case can be stressful. Our team of Birmingham Family Law Solicitors can advise you about the different financing options and solutions available so you can concentrate on addressing the real issues.

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A Closer Examination Of Cohabitation

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Matt

Throughout England and Wales an increasing number of couples are choosing to live with each other with out marrying each other or entering into a civil union. This cohabitation might be prior to some form of formal union, or perhaps the partners may simply prefer the convenience associated with cohabiting. In any event, something that every single one of partners in this kind of situation must know is they don’t share the same safeguards under the legal system as married people or people in a civil union.

Lots of cohabiting couples believe there’s such a thing as a ‘common law marriage’, which is applicable to all couples living with each other. However, they could be astonished to discover this is in fact incorrect in Britain. The majority of partners that are simply cohabiting live with each other without a lot of the security available to married couples and also civil partners, which can create problems in the event the partnership comes to an end, or one of the individuals dies.

Cohabitation and Property
Regrettably, it is very probable that there exists a lot of cohabiting couples who’re unaware of how risky their present legal situation could be. To prevent this kind of situation, partners should look into the most suitable course of action while looking to buy a home with one another.

Exactly How Cohabitation Influences Finances
By means of being married along with civil unions partners receive a certain measure of legal security in relation to their money affairs when the relationship comes to an end. They can in most cases expect to be given their share of any shared assets, and may even end up being given maintenance on a regular basis. This is not the reality with cohabiting couples.

Cohabiting Parents
Anytime a legitimately married husband and wife have a baby they are recognised as the parents of their baby and therefore enjoy the responsibilities and rights which come with that. When it comes to cohabiting couples, the dad will have absolutely no legal rights to his baby except if he is present when the birth is officially documented, or all of the appropriate papers are provided that will verify he is the daddy.

Cohabitation Agreement
A growing number of partners are opting to work with our Family Solicitors Birmingham office to draw up a cohabitation agreement so as to help stay clear of possible complications with homes and finances. Some partners may even opt to do this once they have split up, although in such cases the arrangement is like a standard separation agreement.

A recent review of all the legal guidelines regarding the splitting up of partners who happen to be neither in a marital relationship or in a civil union, implies that it is very likely that the legislation may be changed before long.

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What To Expect From Our Birmingham Family Solicitors

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Matt

Whenever there’s a family dispute of any sort, it can affect all those concerned; so when these differences are important issues like splitting up, divorce, and child custody, many people really aren’t able to handle these issues by themselves.

By using the services of expert and experienced lawyers similar to those located at our Family Solicitors Birmingham office, you will have all of your options spelled out to you, and obtain the assistance you require in order to pick the right approach for you and your family.

Our Birmingham Divorce Solicitors can help you with a variety of Family Law issues, such as:

Divorce Cases
Facing a divorce can be an emotionally demanding prospect. Our group of Birmingham Family Solicitors will help as well as guide you through the entire process, offering the representation you may need, as well as helping to ensure that any stress and anxiety is going to be kept to a minimum.

Separation
With any separation there are always a number of legalities that must be sorted out. Our experienced team of Birmingham Family Law Solicitors have the skills and experience to advise you of the most effective strategy as well as the important legal procedures that accompany it.

Maintenance
Trying to get by on a reduced income after you and your husband or wife have split up can be difficult. Our Birmingham Family Solicitors can provide assistance and important information on the best approach to obtain the necessary economic help you need.

Custody
Child Custody is a difficult issue for lots of mothers and fathers who’re going through a divorce process. It could be the most emotionally charged element of the whole process, therefore the right guidance and help is necessary. Our Birmingham Divorce Solicitors can help you to understand all of your legal rights, and make sure everything is settled with the least amount of stress for you and your children.

Child Support
Bringing up children is hard enough, and it could be even more challenging if your family earnings are lessened following a divorce. Our team of Birmingham Divorce Solicitors will ensure that you receive all of the economic help that you’re entitled to as a single parent.

International Divorce
The experienced team of international Divorce Solicitors from our Divorce Solicitors Birmingham office will help you to straighten out all of the intricacies and regional concerns that accompany any divorce where different countries of origin, international employment and foreign assets may be an issue.

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Increasingly more partners who are eager to avoid long and costly court cases are looking at ADR. This consists of processes like Collaborative Family Law or Mediation which are quite often a far more amicable approach to achieving an agreement. Our Birmingham Family Law Solicitors have been trained in ADR and are able to provide recommendations on whether this strategy is suitable for your situation.

Cohabitation
There’s usually a lot of misunderstanding over the legal rights of both sides when a couple who have been living with each other choose to go their separate ways. In contrast to partners who are husband and wife or are in a civil union, cohabiting couples do not have the same rights and lawful protection. Our Family Law Solicitors Birmingham office will be able to give you advice about the most effective approach to secure your future in the event of a breakdown in the relationship.

Protection Orders
Quite often marriages just don’t work out, but should they ever turn violent you have got a right to be protected against violence. Our Birmingham Family Law Solicitors will help you to put the lawful safeguards in place to stop the physical violence so that you and your kids can feel safe.

Prenups
Some people may have significant property and assets which they’re bringing with them into the partnership or civil partnership. In order to help protect these possessions in case of a divorce or separation our Birmingham Family Solicitors can provide you with help and advice with regards to a prenuptial arrangement.

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