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Human rights: Flesh and blood

Andrew Powell and Linzi Bull examine the weight to be given to sibling relationships in public law proceedings The Supreme Court noted there was a clear distinction between the rights of those family members, such as parents, who are directly involved with the upbringing of the subject child, and siblings who do not play a …
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Non-court dispute resolution: Cutting the Gordian Knot

Claire Yorke suggests that a hybrid approach to resolving financial issues on divorce or dissolution may provide a solution even in more complex cases Where the parties are not able to reach a solution through non-court dispute resolution alone (as would always be preferable), one may draw on the advantages of both court proceedings and …
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Variation: Reduced circumstances

Kathryn Cassells considers how the courts may approach an application to vary a lump sum order where the applicant’s disclosure is unclear and their financial woes are of their own making While both quantum and the timing of payments is variable, case law suggests that the court will only vary quantum in exceptional circumstances, not …
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Scotland: Tips and traps

In the conclusion to a two-part analysis, Fiona Turner and Noel Ferry analyse key differences as to financial provision in Scotland when compared with England and Wales In Scotland, if the value of an asset has crashed post-separation, this is irrelevant when establishing the extent of matrimonial property which should be shared, as will be …
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Marriage: A match made in heaven?

Sarah French looks at the Law Commission’s proposed changes to wedding ceremony requirements The Law Commission proposals aim to ensure that fewer weddings fall foul of the current laws, where at present a marriage may be invalid where performed according to religious rites that do not fulfil the current marriage law criteria. The Law Commission …
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Children: Forewarned is forearmed

Sarah Wood-Heath highlights the value of pre-conception agreements and the weight that will be given to such agreements by the courts The real benefit of preparing a pre-conception agreement is the value it holds in ensuring that all involved are aware of each other’s legal status, rights and responsibilities in advance of conception. Choosing to …
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Schedule 1: The rich are different?

Schedule 1 claims are often associated with significant wealth, but Vikkie Chetcuti suggests that they may provide useful remedies in more modest cases Given the range of orders available to applicants, it is not only the former partners of the very wealthy who can make use of Schedule 1. According to the Office for National …
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Scotland: Keep the heid

In the first of a two-part consideration, Fiona Turner and Noel Ferry compare divorce and dissolution in England and Wales and in Scotland Divorce or civil partnership dissolution proceedings can be brought in Scotland immediately after a wedding or civil partnership registration, rather than waiting one year as in England and Wales. With increasingly different …
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International focus: The wedding and the sequel

Caroline McNally and Chantelle Woo explain why having two marriage ceremonies can have unintended consequences It is very important to ensure that the marriage ceremony is carried out in a proper manner and that all the procedural steps are conscientiously observed. Since early 2020, the world has been experiencing the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, which is …
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Financial provision: A long shot

Ellie Foster looks at the potential ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic and the likelihood of a successful application based on Barder There have been pandemics historically but does the immediate and ongoing impact on the global economy of Covid-19 put the 2008 crisis in the shade such that its scale could never have been foreseen? …
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