Whether retirement is imminent or even some way off, pensions are still taken into consideration when dealing with assets on divorce, and can actually often be the largest asset to consider. Irrespective of who the pension belongs to, it is still an asset about which a court can make orders on divorce. This applies both ways, meaning each spouse will have a ‘claim’ against the other’s pension provision.

The last few years have seen a large change in the way spousal maintenance is viewed by the Courts.

As the Divorce Bill passes its second reading in the House of Commons we take a step nearer to No Fault divorce.

It is likely to be extremely worrying if you receive a letter from children’s social services headed “Letter before Proceedings”.

My colleagues specialising in domestic abuse have noted a marked increase in the number of enquiries since the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown.

The Charity Refuge has confirmed that The National Centre for Domestic Violence has already seen a 25% increase in calls and online enquiries to their service.

The recent measures being implemented across the country to tackle Coronavirus (COVID-19) have the potential to cause increased anxiety for those currently suffering or at risk of suffering domestic abuse.

As we all find ourselves in lockdown due to the spread of COVID-19 and navigating the ‘new normal’, many couples are facing the reality of a relationship breakdown. But what steps can you take at this particularly difficult time to protect your future?

We are often asked to advise relatives particularly Grandparents about “Special Guardianship Orders” but what are these orders and why would you need one?

The breakdown of a relationship can be an emotional time. There can be a lot of uncertainty and a lot of practical issues to resolve. For many people pets are an integral part of family and relationships.

According to the Office of National Statistics in the year ending March 2019, 1.6 million women and 786,000 men experienced domestic abuse. The number of women and girls killed in England and Wales had also risen to its highest level in 14 years with a 10% increase having been documented. Between March 2018 and March 2019 there were 241 recorded female victims of murder, manslaughter and infanticide with 48% of those victims being killed in a domestic homicide, and 38% of those victims being killed at the hands of their partner or ex-partner.

A consent order is a legally binding court order approved by a judge in divorce proceedings, filed after both parties have agreed their financial settlement. This is often without the need for either party having to attend at Court.