New rules on mediation for separating couples that are now in force are broadly welcome, but contain worrying flaws because the Government has acted in indecent haste, said family law association Resolution.
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The Justice Select Committee has published a report expressing concerns over the Government's reform proposals for legal aid in England and Wales, with particular reference to the possible impact on family law cases.
A woman has lost her bid in the High Court to have her divorce settlement from her ex-banker substantially increased.
The European Commission is proposing EU-wide rules to bring legal clarity to the property rights for married international couples and for registered partnerships with an international dimension.
Recent research has shown that over a third of parents are reluctant to leave an inheritance to their married children because they don't want their child's spouse to benefit from the gift in the event that the couple divorce.
Resolution, the family lawyers' organisation, has warned that a lack of properly accredited mediators may mean that some divorcing couples will be unable to comply with the recently announced requirement to seek mediation.
From April, anyone setting out to contest the terms of their separation in court will first be required to consider mediation, under a new protocol agreed with the Judiciary.
Recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics reveal that in 2009 the divorce rate in England and Wales decreased by 6.3% to 10.5 divorcing people per thousand married population, compared with 11.2 in 2008. The 2009 divorce rate is the lowest since 1977, when there were 10.3 divorcing people per thousand married people.
Government proposals to cut legal aid risk creating devastating consequences for families and children, said family law association Resolution, as the coalition government consultation on legal aid reform closes.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a millionaire must increase the divorce settlement to be paid to his ex-wife by £3 million, bringing the total value of her settlement to £8 million.