Family Law

The Hague convention – International Child Abduction

Article by Ayeisha Khandia – Head of Family Department at Fountain Solicitors Many of you may have heard of the Hague convention but never been sure of what it really is and how it could affect you. In brief, The Hague Convention on the civil aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 is unlike other laws […]

UK supreme court to consider impact of fraud in divorce settlements

Varsha Gohil and Alison Sharland seek to reopen cases, claiming ex-husbands misled divorce courts about true value of their assets. Alison Sharland received £10m from her ex-husband when they divorced, believing it was half his fortune, before coming to the conclusion that his Manchester software company was worth many more millions of pounds. Her case […]

Cohabitation – What Does it Mean Legally for You and Your Partner?

The sad fact is that there may be no legal protection for you, if you split up with your cohabitation partner. With more than 6 million cohabiting couples in the UK, this leaves a lot of people legally vulnerable. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been with your partner 1 month or 80 years, if you […]

Are we failing parents whose children are taken into care?

Social services can remove child after child from the same mother, without her being offered the help she needs to become a good-enough parent. The result is heartbreak, and very expensive – but now judges are calling for a new approach. It is now well understood that women whose children are taken from them by […]

Law body appeals for introduction of no-fault divorce and cohabitation rights

A family law body is urging the government to introduce blame-free divorce and property rights for cohabitees, The Guardian reports. A nationwide organisation of family lawyers dedicated to non-confrontational divorce, separation and other family issues is prompting the government to play catch-up by introducing blame-free divorce and property rights for cohabiting couples. The family law […]

Sham Marriages – The Home Office Crackdown

By Ramzan Sharif – Solicitor at Fountain Solicitors A sham marriage, or marriage of convenience, or a sham civil partnership describes a marriage or civil partnership entered into for immigration advantage by two people who are not a genuine couple. A sham marriage or civil partnership is to be distinguished from a marriage or civil […]