Given the success of the vaccine rollout amongst our adult population, it is natural that thoughts have recently turned towards how children can be best protected.

Individuals with parental responsibility have the right to be involved in important decisions that impact their child’s life, including areas such as education, health and religion.

A fully digital divorce and financial remedy system for individuals and legal representatives has been put in pace by HM Courts & Tribunals Service.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021, designed to strengthen support for victims of domestic abuse and to raise greater awareness of the devastating impact that abuse has.

The most important principle is that your children should grow up having a relationship with both their parents whether those parents live together or apart. This need to maintain a relationship with both parents will need to be at the forefront of all your decision making.

With couples spending more one-on-one time with each other than ever before, the pandemic has, unsurprisingly, resulted in increased levels of enquiries regarding family law disputes, including divorce and disagreements relating to children. However, the sheer volume of enquiries, particularly those relating to separation and divorce, has surpassed expectations and shows no sign of slowing down.

When couples separate it can be an incredibly difficult time with much uncertainty.  Often pets will be involved which can lead to arguments arising over practical arrangements such as who will keep the pet.  According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic a staggering 3.2 million households in the United Kingdom have acquired a pet which brings the total number of households with pets up to 17 million.

Divorce can be traumatic for all involved, however siblings can sometimes strengthen their relationship by going through this shared experience.

After 30 years of campaigning by family law group Resolution and other bodies, Parliament passed the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 in June 2020. There is no set date for when this legislation will come into force and No Fault Divorces become a reality in England and Wales, however the Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland has indicated that the changes will likely not take effect until autumn 2021 as ‘time needs to be allowed for careful implementation’.   

Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered the 2021 Budget, which extended several Coronavirus support schemes and outlined plans for the country’s post-pandemic recovery.

Separation is never easy, but if you and your former partner own property together, the situation can be even more complicated.

If progress is not being made, or if mediation breaks down or perhaps mediation was not deemed suitable for the parties at the initial intake session, then the parties should speak to their solicitors about the other options available to them.