Family law
Same-sex marriage legal in Northern Ireland from today
13th January 2020
By Lenore Rice As of today, Monday 13th January 2020, same-sex couples can register to marry in Northern Ireland, and couples who married previously outside Northern Ireland will now have their... Read more
Why is 6th January 2020 referred to as Divorce Day?
6th January 2020
By Lenore Rice The first Monday of January has for some years now been referred to widely in the media as Divorce Day because family law solicitors and mediators throughout Northern... Read more
Wilson Nesbitt is the first NI law firm to gain a GDPR Certification
5th November 2019
We're delighted to announce that Wilson Nesbitt has become the first Northern Ireland law firm to gain a Certification in GDPR, underlining our continuing commitment to protect the data of... Read more
Wilson Nesbitt confirmed as finalist for 2019 GNI Legal Representation Award
28th October 2019
We are delighted to be confirmed as one of the finalists for the 2019 GNI Legal Representation Award. The GNI Mag Awards gala evening will take place at the Crowne Plaza... Read more
Update on NI law changes in respect of marriage, civil partnerships and abortion
24th October 2019
By Lenore Rice There have been significant changes to the laws in Northern Ireland by virtue of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 and the failure to restore the... Read more
Farming Estate Planning - replacing promises with written agreements
17th October 2019
By Lenore Rice Approximately 70 per cent of adults in Northern Ireland do not have a Will, with many trusting that the rules of intestacy will result in their assets eventually... Read more
Domestic violence crimes reach another record high in Northern Ireland
14th October 2019
By Lenore Rice The number of domestic abuse crimes in Northern Ireland reached their highest 12 month total since records began. There were 16,575 domestic violence crimes recorded between July 2018 and... Read more
Domestic violence-related homicides in UK at 5 year high
13th September 2019
By Lenore Rice There were 173 deaths as a result of domestic violence in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK last year, a significant jump up from the 141... Read more
Cohabitation is the fastest growing family type in the UK
12th August 2019
By Lenore Rice The number of people cohabiting in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK has increased by 25.8% in the last 10 years according to new figures from... Read more
New research shows change in most common reasons for divorce
9th August 2019
By Lenore RiceThe most common reasons for divorce historically focussed on the behaviour of one or both spouses, but new research suggests that people are now more inclined to separate... Read more
Divorce case highlights complexity of dealing with maintenance and assets split
31st July 2019
ByLenore Rice A recent financial remedy application that came before the Family Court highlights the difficulties of separating out complex assets following divorce, identifying the difference between needs and standard of... Read more
Safeguarding your Will against challenge
22nd July 2019
By Lenore Rice According to a recent survey conducted by a prominent life insurance company, 24% of residents in the UK would be prepared to contest the Will of a loved... Read more
No-fault divorce option takes another step forward
8th July 2019
By Lenore Rice Last month, Lord Chancellor David Gauke introduced the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill to the House of Commons, and last week the Bill reached the committee stage. The... Read more
High Court rules to allow trust to treat illegitimate child as beneficiary
8th July 2019
By Lenore Rice The trustees of a discretionary settlement worth £80m have received permission from the High Court to treat one of the settlor’s descendants as a beneficiary, despite being born... Read more
Wills Legal Guide - Part 4
5th July 2019
By Lenore Rice At Wilson Nesbitt we wholly understand that writing a Will is a difficult thing to even think about, as we are very aware that nobody really wants to... Read more
Inheritance dispute relies on Court to decide order elderly couple passed away
5th July 2019
By Lenore Rice The estate of an elderly couple who were both discovered having passed away in their homes is being disputed by their stepdaughters. The dispute, currently being heard in... Read more
Wills Legal Guide - Part 3
4th July 2019
By Lenore Rice In the second part of our Wills Legal Guide, we looked at the initial steps involved in writing a Will, such as listing your beneficiaries and estimating the... Read more
Number of Domestic Abuse Cases in Northern Ireland at Record High
4th July 2019
By Lenore Rice New statistics published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland reveal that the number of domestic abuse incidents in Northern Ireland are now at a record high. The statistics,... Read more
Advice on Contesting a Will
4th July 2019
By Lenore Rice How to contest a Will We are largely able to pass on our estate in a Will as we please, but there are circumstances where certain people will have... Read more
Wills Legal Guide - Part 2
3rd July 2019
By Lenore Rice In the first section of our Wills Legal Guide, we explored the various reasons for writing a Will, including what happens to your assets and to your beneficiaries... Read more
The Myth of Cohabitation and How it Affects Wills
3rd July 2019
By Lenore Rice One of the reasons that people so often put off writing a Will is that they assume that their assets will pass to their ‘common law’ partner. This... Read more
Wills Legal Guide - Part 1
2nd July 2019
By Lenore Rice Why make a Will? Writing a Will can give peace of mind to you and those closest to you if the unthinkable should happen. While no one wants to... Read more
How a Will protects your beneficiaries
2nd July 2019
By Lenore Rice Why write a Will? Sometimes one of the reasons that people don’t have a formal Will is that they believe that the matter of inheritance will simply work itself... Read more
Divorce Legal Guide - Part 4
28th June 2019
Meet the Team By Lenore Rice At Wilson Nesbitt we understand that every divorce is different, and so the care and attention given to seeing through each divorce case is tailored to... Read more
Ensuring the well being of children during and after a divorce
28th June 2019
By Lenore Rice In a separation or divorce involving children it is absolutely paramount to ensure and maintain their wellbeing throughout and after the divorce proceedings. Here are somethings you will... Read more
Divorce Legal Guide - Part 3
27th June 2019
By Lenore Rice In the second part of our Divorce Legal Guide, we looked at how to begin a formal divorce process, from the presentation of evidence to the lodging of... Read more
Divorce Legal Guide - Part 2
26th June 2019
By Lenore Rice In the first part of our Divorce Legal Guide, we looked at an introduction to the divorce process and how it works, as well as exploring some useful... Read more
Dividing digital assets in divorce proceedings
26th June 2019
By Lenore Rice The division of marital assets is one of the main elements of divorce proceedings, as both parties endeavour to separate their inevitably entwined lives and prepare for the... Read more
Divorce Legal Guide - Part 1
25th June 2019
By Lenore Rice Making the Decision The decision to consider divorce is not one which is taken lightly, and usually comes when a marriage has moved from being in difficulty to having... Read more
How to avoid court in divorce proceedings
25th June 2019
By Lenore Rice A common belief is that animosity is unavoidable in divorce proceedings, but that simply isn't true. While a divorce is obviously a difficult situation, the ultimate goal of divorce proceedings is... Read more
Six fold increase in NI children waiting for mental health appointment
20th June 2019
By Daren Johnston New figures show that the number of children in Northern Ireland waiting for access to mental health services has increased by more than six times the figure from... Read more
Criticism of delays on new domestic abuse legislation in Northern Ireland
19th June 2019
By Lenore Rice In 2017/18 the number of domestic abuse incidents recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland amounted to one every 17 minutes, a record high. These statistics illustrate... Read more
No-fault divorce option moves closer for England and Wales
17th June 2019
By Lenore Rice David Gauke, the Justice Secretary, has pledged an end to “unnecessary mudslinging” in the divorce process as he introduced the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill to the... Read more
Are you considering thinking about maybe writing a Will?
13th June 2019
By Lenore Rice Writing a Will can give peace of mind to you and those closest to you if unthinkable should happen. While no one wants to prepare for death or future... Read more
Survivors of domestic abuse at risk of serious mental health problems
7th June 2019
By Lenore Rice New research, undertaken and published by Birmingham University, indicates that women who experience domestic abuse are three times more likely to develop a mental health problem. A new study... Read more
Legal Aid modernisation promises to deliver faster process
6th June 2019
The Legal Services Agency (LSA) is in the finals stages of preparation for the launch of its new digital case management system LAMS on 1 July 2019. Currently, the system... Read more
Falconer regrets vilifying legal aid solicitors to curb expenditure
3rd June 2019
By Lenore Rice Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor from 2003 to 2007, has admitted his regret over the campaign to curtail the legal aid budget which led to widespread condemnation of... Read more
No-fault changes could remove resentment from divorce
3rd June 2019
By Lenore Rice A recent survey conducted by Grayson Solicitors has found that half of people in England and Wales believe that a “no-fault” option would shorten the current divorce process,... Read more
Cuts to legal aid risking quality of decisions in domestic abuse cases
16th May 2019
By Lenore Rice The former head of family courts in England and Wales, Sir James Munby, has said that cuts to legal aid had led to more people representing themselves, and... Read more
Private pension wealth most significant asset in high-net-worth divorces
3rd May 2019
By Lenore Rice New research into the breakdown of assets of divorcing couples with net financial wealth of £1million or more has revealed that private pensions make up 43 per cent... Read more
Divorce reform in England and Wales to lose need for blame and consent
9th April 2019
By Lenore Rice Divorce law in England and Wales will undergo its most significant reform in 50 years with the removal of the need to allege adultery or unreasonable behaviour to... Read more
PSNI officer says legislation needed to tackle domestic abuse
3rd April 2019
By Lenore Rice Supt Clive Beatty, a senior PSNI officer, has said that legislation to tackle psychological and emotional abuse, such as that introduced in England and Wales, is needed to... Read more
Domestic abuse levels at record high in Northern Ireland
2nd April 2019
By Lenore Rice The number of incidents of domestic abuse reported to the PSNI in 2018 was the highest since records began 15 years ago, and experts say there is still... Read more
The potential implications of a divorce on a family-run business
20th March 2019
By Lenore Rice The goal for any divorce is to find a way to disentangle two lives that had grown increasingly more intertwined with each year of marriage. That includes a... Read more
Some tips on making divorce proceedings more amicable
28th February 2019
By Lenore Rice While news articles on divorce tend to focus on high profile splits and drawn-out court battles over money and custody of children, the majority of divorces in Northern... Read more
Over 3,000 children in care in Northern Ireland
14th February 2019
By Lenore Rice The number of children recorded as living in care in Northern Ireland reached a record high in 2018. Over 3,000 children are the subject of a Care Order, and... Read more
Remarrying couples often unaware that marriage revokes a Will
29th January 2019
By Lenore Rice There is a general lack of understanding about writing a Will, and what happens to your estate if you don't have one, but another aspect that very few... Read more
Unreasonable behaviour most common reason for divorce
9th January 2019
By Lenore Rice Divorcing couples most commonly cite unreasonable behaviour to prove that their marriage has irretrievably broken down, according to the latest figures on divorce from the Office for National... Read more
We can help you with your resolutions for 2019
31st December 2018
The first month of the year is usually when we most consider the things we are determined to achieve in the year ahead, and they are usually a list of... Read more
The Divorce week myth
31st December 2018
By Lenore Rice The first working week of January has come to be reported as ‘Divorce week’ in the media because family law solicitors often report a large increase in the... Read more
Government consultation to consider introduction of no-fault divorce
7th September 2018
By Lenore Rice England and Wales could be moving towards a no-fault divorce system with an announcement expected that a government consultation will consider how to remove “unnecessary antagonism” from the divorce process. The anticipated... Read more
Cohabitation and the law - steps for couples to protect their family
6th September 2018
By Lenore Rice Living together, or cohabiting, is on the increase with approximately 3.3m cohabiting couples in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. That equates to one family in... Read more
Case win for Northern Ireland unmarried mother could help 1.2million couples
31st August 2018
By Lenore Rice A Northern Ireland woman has won her case before the Supreme Court challenging whether the denial of Widowed Parent's Allowance (WPA) to unmarried partners is incompatible with human... Read more
Supreme Court Owens decision keeps no-fault divorce in spotlight
25th July 2018
By Lenore Rice While the decision of the Supreme Court in the Owens v Owens case was to dismiss the appeal of the wife wanting to divorce her husband, the reluctance... Read more
Supreme Court overturns decision to increase divorce monthly payments after 16yrs
17th July 2018
By Lenore Rice The Supreme Court has overturned a Court of Appeal decision to increase the monthly maintenance payments that were set when a couple divorced 16 years previously. following an... Read more
Prepare to Relax - Your Holiday Checklist
9th July 2018
Well, the summer holidays are finally upon us, and many people across Northern Ireland gearing up to jet off somewhere much more reliably sunny. There’s a lot to think about... Read more
Supreme Court ruling on civil partnerships for heterosexual couples
28th June 2018
By Lenore Rice The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the Civil Partnership Act 2004, which is only applicable to same-sex couples, is not compatible with the European Convention on Human... Read more
No-fault divorce campaigners await Owens v Owens decision
26th June 2018
By Lenore Rice The Supreme Court heard the case of Owens v Owens on 17th May, in what was the first time that the highest court considered the divorce provisions in... Read more
Over a thousand pounds raised by our marathon teams
14th May 2018
Our marathon relay teams were very delighted to hand over a cheque for £1,240 to Brian Shanks of the Simon Community NI. The team would like to thank everyone who made... Read more
MPs move to guarantee grandparent rights after divorce
8th May 2018
By Lenore Rice MPs are moving to enshrine in law the right for grandparents to see their grandchildren after a divorce. The bid to amend legislation to cover a child's right to... Read more
Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme explained
10th April 2018
By Lenore Rice The PSNI responded to 29,676 incidents of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland in 2017, the highest amount in 13 years. Of those incidents 12,803 contained one or more... Read more
NI judge calls for longer jail terms for domestic violence cases
22nd February 2018
By Lenore Rice A Northern Ireland judge has highlighted the need for longer jail sentences for domestic violence in a case in which he gave a man an 8 month jail... Read more
Judge describes protracted divorce case as scandalous waste of time
2nd February 2018
By Lenore Rice A family court judge has described the protracted divorce case of a couple who have already spent almost £2million on solicitor fees as a "scandalous waste of court... Read more
Divorce Day and the continuing myth about Christmas separations
4th January 2018
By Lenore Rice The first working Monday of the New Year has rather unfortunately been dubbed Divorce Day in recent years, as it is a day that divorce solicitors see an... Read more
Increasing number of enquiries about prenuptial agreements
10th November 2017
By Lenore Rice Divorce and family law solicitors are reporting an increase in the number of people making enquiries about pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. There are a number of reasons why someone... Read more
Divorce payout appeal fails as wealth was obtained before marriage
5th September 2017
By Lenore Rice The Appeal Court has refused a woman’s bid to increase her £3.5million divorce payout from her property tycoon husband, in a case that illustrates the difference between wealth... Read more
Woman denied divorce to challenge fault based system at Supreme Court
17th August 2017
By Lenore Rice A woman who was refused a divorce by both the High Court and the Court of Appeal says she will tell the Supreme Court that she should not... Read more
Belfast woman arrested after fleeing to Spain with daughter
10th August 2017
By Lenore Rice A Belfast woman who took her 5-year-old daughter to Spain without the father’s consent has been arrested pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant. The girl’s Senegalese born father reported... Read more
PSNI launch summer domestic abuse campaign
11th July 2017
By Lenore Rice PSNI are urging victims of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland to make a report to the police, as they prepare for another summer period of increased incidents of... Read more
Landmark divorce ruling says length of marriage should affect assets split
14th June 2017
By Lenore Rice A Court of Appeal ruling has been described as a "sea change" to how a basic principle of asset division in matrimonial law is applied in divorce cases,... Read more
Bid to take divorce maintenance payment case to Supreme Court
6th June 2017
By Lenore Rice A man is bidding to raise funds to take his divorce maintenance payment challenge to the Supreme Court, in order to change the "outmoded and dangerous" courts that... Read more
Call for money disputes to be separated from divorce process
1st June 2017
By Lenore Rice A senior family law figure has called for financial disputes to be removed from the divorce process and dealt with separately in order to reduce the pressures on... Read more
Divorce refusal appeal will go to Supreme Court
25th April 2017
By Lenore Rice The case of a woman who was refused a divorce from her husband by the Court of Appeal last month will now be taken to the Supreme Court,... Read more
Parents warned about mobile phone videos in custody cases
10th April 2017
By Lenore Rice Divorce solicitors are seeing an increase in the number of parents producing videos of their children taken on mobile devices and tablets to support their case for custody... Read more
Some useful divorce advice for the Brexit split
4th April 2017
By Lenore Rice There is very little news in the UK at the moment that doesn't involve Brexit, or speculation on its repercussions on different aspects of our daily life. The... Read more
Criticism of judge's comments on vulnerability in domestic abuse case
28th March 2017
By Lenore Rice A judge has commented that a woman who was made to swallow bleach and pills and beaten with a cricket bat by her husband was not vulnerable, because... Read more
Prenups allow couples to choose the sort of marriage they want
27th March 2017
By Lenore Rice A Supreme Court Justice has spoken of his support for binging pre-nuptial agreements, saying that couples "should be allowed to elect the sort of marriage which they want." Lord... Read more
Wife loses appeal against refusal of divorce on grounds of unhappiness
24th March 2017
By Lenore Rice Tini Owens, aged 66, has lost her appeal against a family court refusal to grant her a decree of divorce from her husband of 39 years. The appeal court... Read more
Judge urges agreement on divorce case lasting longer than the marriage
21st March 2017
By Lenore Rice A judge has urged a couple to reach agreement on their divorce settlement as the case has now lasted six times longer than the actual marriage itself. Marilyn Levesque... Read more
New figures reveal extent of unpaid child maintenance backlog
20th March 2017
By Lenore Rice Approximately 1.2million people in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are owed child maintenance payments according to new figures revealed by the Victoria Derbyshire programme. The figures... Read more
Divorce settlement appeal challenges asset-sharing principle
3rd March 2017
By Lenore Rice A woman has appealed a High Court decision to award her husband £2.7million as part of their divorce settlement, saying that the equal sharing of assets should not... Read more
More parents using discretionary trusts to protect family assets from divorce
16th February 2017
By Lenore Rice New research suggests that more people are using discretionary trusts to protect gifts of money or assets to their married children in the event of a future divorce. Discretionary... Read more
Wife denied divorce as allegations were flimsy and exaggerated
15th February 2017
By Lenore Rice A 65-year-old woman has told the Court of Appeal that she should be allowed to divorce her husband of 37 years after a previous judge ruled that her... Read more
Deliberate parent alienation after divorce is a form of abuse says Cafcass
13th February 2017
By Lenore Rice Parents who deliberately manipulate their children against the other parent following a divorce are guilty of "abuse", says Anthony Douglas of the Children and Family Court Advisory and... Read more
Northern Ireland woman wins landmark pension case
9th February 2017
A Northern Ireland woman has won a landmark legal case that could have significant impact on the rights afforded to cohabiting couples. Denise Brewster lived with her partner Lenny McMullan for... Read more
Woman who spent divorce payout to be maintained for life
6th February 2017
By Lenore Rice A woman has successfully requested an increase in the monthly maintenance payments she receives from the man she divorced 15 years ago, after spending the £230,000 lump sum... Read more
Case decision shows prenups are binding for better or for worse
31st January 2017
Family law solicitors in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK know that until quite recently prenuptial agreements weren't always worth the paper they were written on when it... Read more
Decree absolute issued 4 years after filing for divorce
27th January 2017
By Lenore Rice Four years after filing for divorce, a decree absolute has been issued in respect of the marriage of the Laura Ashley boss, Dr Khoo Kay Peng, and his... Read more
Divorce among over 55s increases as overall rate falls
24th January 2017
By Lenore Rice Women over the age of 55 are the only group to see an increase in the divorce rate in the past ten years, according to new figures from... Read more
Using pre-nups to protect company in event of a divorce
18th January 2017
By Lenore Rice Pre-nuptial agreements are increasingly prominent among business owners in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in recent months, as people take action to make sure developments... Read more
The Divorce Day myth continues
3rd January 2017
By Lenore Rice Divorce Day is fast becoming a fixed calendar date in the media world, with articles about an increase in divorce enquiries appearing every year in the first week... Read more
Family Law solicitors continue call for no fault divorce
22nd November 2016
By Lenore Rice Divorce solicitors and mediation groups in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are continuing to call for the introduction of 'no fault' divorces, which was first... Read more
Over-50s divorces increasing demand for rental property
4th July 2016
By Lenore Rice The number of people over the age of 50 who are renting a property has increased significantly in the last 5 years, according to new research. Over a third... Read more
Five things to avoid when considering divorce
24th June 2016
By Lenore Rice If you are considering a separation or divorce you no doubt have many questions and concerns. How you set about divorcing is very important for the future relationship... Read more
Caution for parents who left 1yr old in car in 25C heat
9th June 2016
Two parents, aged 24 and 28, have been fined by police and told to work with social services after they left their one-year-old son in their car at a retail... Read more
Relate charity concern at report on distressed relationships
25th May 2016
By Lenore Rice The charity that provides counseling services for couples in the UK, Relate, have described the findings of a report suggesting 18 per cent of couples in the UK... Read more
Divorce rate among over-50s up 75 per cent in 20 years
13th May 2016
By Lenore Rice The number of couples over 50 getting a divorce has increased by 75 per cent in 20 years according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics... Read more
Widow stood to earn £6m from divorce but got £36k in Will
9th May 2016
By Lenore Rice A woman is contesting the Will of her husband who died while they were in the middle of divorce proceedings from which she expected to receive a £6million... Read more
Lineker calls for mathematical solution for divorces to reduce legal costs
29th April 2016
By Lenore Rice Ex-footballer Gary Lineker has called for a "mathematical equation" to help resolve divorce settlements to replace lengthy court proceedings that run up huge legal bills. Mr Lineker, who has... Read more
Appeal Court judge sends warning on divorce tourism
18th April 2016
By Lenore Rice An appeal court judge has expressed her frustration at 'divorce tourism', saying that the UK courts are "not here to provide a top up for every foreign divorce". Lady... Read more
Figures reveal high dependency on NI courts to resolve child custody issues
15th April 2016
By Lenore Rice There were over 10,000 child contact and residence orders submitted to Northern Ireland Courts over the past 3 judicial years, prompting calls for increased promotion of mediation for... Read more
95 per cent of divorcing couples opt for court over mediation
8th April 2016
By Lenore Rice The government's attempt to make divorcing couples attend mediation before going to court in England and Wales has been labelled a failure, after new figures revealed that only... Read more
Wife who gave up career to raise family given 90pc of assets in divorce
22nd March 2016
By Lenore Rice A family court judge has awarded a woman 90 per cent of the family assets, saying her 20 years away from her career in order to raise a... Read more
Father prosecuted for leaving 2yr old in car alone for 5 minutes
14th March 2016
By Gary Adair There are calls for more clarity on the laws governing the age at which children can be left unattended, after figures showed that 500 people in England and... Read more
Judge allows 'significant figure for wine' in child maintenance payments
11th March 2016
By Lenore Rice A family law judge criticised a woman's request for child maintenance to cover the cost of wine when entertaining her child's friends parents, but disagreed only with her... Read more
President of Family Division says 'digital divorces' will begin in 2017
2nd March 2016
By Lenore Rice The President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, told guests at an annual dinner of the Family Law Bar Association that online divorce cases are planned "for... Read more
Judge awards co-habiting partner of 18 years share of property
17th February 2016
By Lenore Rice A judge has awarded a woman her deceased partner's share of the property they lived in together for 18 years, after it had originally passed on to his... Read more
Cohabiting partner of 18 years sees share of house go to estranged wife
8th February 2016
By Lenore Rice A women who cohabited with her partner for 18 years has gone to court to fight against the decision to give her deceased partner's share of their property... Read more
Celebrity's wait for divorce highlights pitfalls of marrying abroad
20th January 2016
By Lenore Rice It is becoming increasingly common for couples from Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to get married abroad, but the case of singer Cheryl Fernandez-Versini highlights... Read more
Divorcing parents encouraged to give a voice to their children
6th January 2016
By Lenore Rice Divorce solicitors and charities are encouraging separating parents to improve how they communicate with and involve their children in the divorce process. Family law solicitors are already beginning to... Read more
The truth about Divorce Day and why enquiries increase in January
4th January 2016
By Lenore Rice The very unfortunate name of 'Divorce Day' was coined several years ago and has been used ever since to refer to the first Monday of the New Year,... Read more
Reports of increase in domestic abuse incidents in NI over Christmas
30th December 2015
By Lenore Rice There are concerns that domestic abuse in Northern Ireland increased significantly over Christmas after one policing area dealt with 20 incidents of domestic-related violence over a 4 day... Read more
PSNI dealt with domestic violence call every 20mins in Christmas 2014
22nd December 2015
By Lenore Rice Police were contacted in respect of an incident of domestic violence in Northern Ireland every 20 minutes during Christmas day last year. In Northern Ireland and the rest of... Read more
Divorce case to consider legal limplication of 'for better or worse'
21st December 2015
By Lenore Rice A husband who is appealing the financial settlement awarded to his wife as part of their divorce is asking the courts to consider the legal implications of his... Read more
Thousands of divorce settlements could be revisted after software error
17th December 2015
By Lenore Rice An error in the software used to calculate financial terms for divorces could mean that thousands of settlements in England will need to be revisited. The error with Form... Read more
Abortion law in Northern Ireland ruled incompatible with human rights
16th December 2015
A High Court judge has ruled that the current abortion laws in Northern Ireland are incompatible with human rights law, but says that it is up to Stormont to decide... Read more
Survey reveals children's attitudes to their parents divorce
8th December 2015
By Lenore Rice A survey by the family law organisation Resolution reveals some interesting views about divorce by the children of separated parents. Perhaps surprisingly, 82 per cent of children aged between... Read more
Advice for separated parents planning their first Christmas apart
23rd November 2015
By Lenore Rice The holiday season can take a lot of careful planning at the best of times - getting the right gifts, dedicating equal time around two families in the... Read more
Online system proposed for compensation and divorce cases in NI
28th October 2015
By Gillian Crotty Solicitors dealing with divorces and compensation cases are being asked to consider the introduction of an online dispute resolution system in Northern Ireland. Holland and British Columbia in Canada... Read more
Maintenance arrangements agreed by parents increased in 2015
20th October 2015
By Lenore Rice More children are benefiting from maintenance arrangements agreed directly between the parents according to new figures released by the Department for Work & Pensions. There were 34,000 effective Family... Read more
Number of children in care in Northern Ireland at record high
19th October 2015
By Lenore Rice The number of children in care in Northern Ireland is at its highest level since records began 20 years ago. There are currently 2,875 children in the care system... Read more
Landmark divorce ruling aims to tackle dishonesty about finances
14th October 2015
By Lenore Rice The Supreme Court has allowed two women to have their divorce settlements revisited because of dishonesty by their spouses in respect of the total value of their assets. Alison... Read more
Divorcing couples fight more over possessions than children
21st September 2015
By Lenore Rice More couples going through a divorce fight over possessions than the children, according to a new survey by Big Yellow Self Storage. Perhaps not surprisingly, the most common thing... Read more
Injured war veteran at risk of losing compensation in divorce
21st September 2015
By Lenore Rice A war veteran who was left severely brain damaged when the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan is now facing the... Read more
Divorce judge seeks to make example of husband's 'blatant dishonesty'
1st September 2015
By Lenore Rice The judge in a High Court divorce case has sought to make an example of the 'blatant dishonesty' of a husband by making him pay his ex-wife's legal... Read more
Study suggests women are twice as likely to initiate divorces
25th August 2015
By Lenore Rice A new study suggests that women are twice as likely as men to initiate a divorce, with the author of the research suggesting that gender imbalance when it... Read more
First divorce case following Ashley Madison data breach
21st August 2015
By Lenore Rice It has been reported that the first divorce case has been instigated following the theft of user details from the Ashley Madison website, which is a service for... Read more
Man gave false DNA sample to avoid child maintenance payments
4th August 2015
By Lenore Rice A man has been handed a suspended jail sentence and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, after it was discovered that he provided a fake... Read more
Landmark NI court warning on domestic violence statement withdrawals
28th July 2015
By Lenore Rice A Northern Ireland judge has issued a stark warning to domestic violence "bullies", saying that the withdrawal of a statement from a victim will no longer automatically mean... Read more
Divorced woman refuses to leave marital home despite court ordered sale
27th July 2015
By Lenore Rice A woman is refusing to leave her £2million martial home following her divorce, despite the court ordering that the property should be sold with the proceeds split between... Read more
Ex-wife is awarded all assets in rare divorce case judgment
20th July 2015
By Lenore Rice Family law courts normally approach the division of assets in a divorce case from a starting point of aiming for equality, but in one rare case an ex-wife... Read more
Father withdraws case against runaway mum Rebecca Minnock
24th June 2015
By Lenore Rice Rebecca Minnock, who ran away with her son after losing a two year long custody battle has been told by a judge that she "owes her liberty" to... Read more
Number of spouses revisiting divorce settlements doubles
16th June 2015
By Lenore Rice Last year the number of spouses going to court to revisit their divorce settlement more than doubled, with 29,060 court hearings compared to 14,690 in 2013. The so-called 'double... Read more
Judge criticises runaway mother for custody battle publicity stunt
15th June 2015
By Lenore Rice Rebecca Minnock, who ran away with her 3 year old son, Ethan, after losing a custody battle with his father Roger Williams, has appeared in court after handing... Read more
Mother still on the run after custody decision goes against her
12th June 2015
By Lenore Rice A woman who was involved in a custody battle with her ex-partner over their son remains in hiding with her 3 year-old after the court ruled that the... Read more
Cheap divorce cost doctor's wife her £3.2million home
11th June 2015
By Lenore Rice A doctor's wife has described how she lost her £3.2million property as a result of trying to cut costs during their divorce. Norma Wilson was a nurse and a... Read more
Judge likens millionaire divorce battle to boxing match
9th June 2015
By Lenore Rice The judge who presided over the divorce of Ekaterina and Richard Fields has likened the divorce hearing to a "boxing match", and criticised the £1million spent by the... Read more
Legal aid cuts could result in unsafe child contact arrangements
8th June 2015
By Lenore Rice A new study looking at contact applications lodged by parents after a divorce or separation raises concerns that legal aid cuts have removed the option of going to... Read more
Supreme Court to consider how much dishonesty in divorce is acceptable
8th June 2015
By Lenore Rice The appeal case of Alison Sharland and Varsha Gohil has begun at the Supreme Court, with both women arguing that they and the courts were misled by their... Read more
Ex-wives challenge divorce payouts over concealment of wealth
27th May 2015
By Lenore Rice Two ex-wives will go to the Supreme Court to challenge the divorce payouts they received because they have subsequently learned that their husbands lied about the full extent... Read more
More grandparents seek legal advice on access to grandchildren
20th May 2015
An increasing number of grandparents are seeking legal advice on how to get access to spend time with their grandchildren following a divorce or family feud, according to new figures. The... Read more
Millionaire US lawyer wins divorce custody battle over piano
19th May 2015
By Lenore Rice Divorce cases in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK can occasionally throw up the bizarre and peculiar when it comes to couples fighting over their assets,... Read more
Divorce should take longer says most senior female judge
9th April 2015
By Lenore Rice The most senior female judge in the United Kindgom, Baroness Hale of Richmond, has suggested several reforms to divorce laws, including that it should take longer for couples... Read more
Man sues ex-wife after learning ex-boyfriend was father of their son
16th March 2015
The Central London County Court is hearing a damages claim from a man who says his ex-wife admitted that he was not the father of their son, and that it... Read more
One in three victims of domestic abuse can't get legal aid
12th March 2015
By Lenore Rice The Justice Select Committee say that legal aid changes in England and Wales are preventing a third of domestic abuse victims getting access to a solicitor because they... Read more
Ex-wife allowed to claim against millionaire 20 yrs after divorce
11th March 2015
By Lenore Rice A landmark divorce case ruling in the Supreme Court has paved the way for a woman to claim money from her ex-husband 20 years after they separated. Kathleen Wyatt,... Read more
Grandparents encouraged to mediate for contact with grandchildren
3rd March 2015
By Lenore Rice Grandparents who are trying to get contact with their grandchildren after a divorce should turn to mediation rather than the courts, says Jane Robey, CEO of National Family... Read more
Wife divorced from millionaire told by judge to get a job
24th February 2015
By Lenore Rice The ex-wife of a millionaire has been told by a judge that she needs to stop living off her ex-husband's money and to go "get a job". Tracey Wright... Read more
A quarter of divorces involve a dispute over a pet
16th February 2015
By Lenore Rice New research suggests that 1-in-4 divorces in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK involve a dispute over who should keep the family pet. According to the research... Read more
Court rejects Will request to keep children from father
16th February 2015
By Lenore Rice The children of an English woman who died from cancer will be returned to their father in Australia despite her Will stating that she considered it would be... Read more
Northern Ireland solicitors react to proposed legal aid cuts
10th February 2015
It has been claimed that under the proposed legal aid cuts some family law solicitors would earn less than minimum wage, prompting the chair of the Bar Council in Northern... Read more
Fifty Shades of Grey criticised for 'glamorising' domestic violence
10th February 2015
By Lenore Rice The book trilogy 'Fifty Shades of Grey' was an unlikely mainstream success with readers across the world, and the movie adaptation being released on Valentine's days is expected... Read more
Divorce among over-50s is up but negligence on Wills remains
28th January 2015
By Lenore Rice The number of people over the age of 50 having a divorce has increased by 85 per cent since 2000, yet there is still the same negligence as... Read more
Facebook used as evidence of infidelity in third of divorces
21st January 2015
By Lenore Rice A partner's use of Facebook is cited in a third of all divorce cases in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, according to research, and is... Read more
Divorced father must take children to mass as part of contact order
20th January 2015
By Lenore Rice A child contact order issued by a judge following a divorce case requires the father to take his kids to mass when he has custody of them, even... Read more
US couple criticised by judge for having a 'fiasco' divorce
9th January 2015
By Lenore Rice The dispute of a couple involved in a divorce in the US revealed so much 'horrible' behaviour that the judge said they were having a bad impact on... Read more
Legal help to fulfill your New Year's resolutions
6th January 2015
A new year is upon us, and according to surveys and polls, over half of us have made some kind of resolution for 2015. As ever, health and finances top... Read more
Divorce Day - it has nothing to do with Christmas
5th January 2015
By Lenore Rice For several years now, the first Monday of the new year has become known as 'divorce day' in legal circles, as most family law solicitors see a spike... Read more
Divorce case decision opens door for genius wealth protection
16th December 2014
By Lenore Rice The High Court judgement in a divorce case involving a wealthy couple could result in the creation of 'genius wealth' protection. The Court was hearing the divorce case of... Read more
The landmark case looking at wealth earned after a divorce
9th December 2014
By Lenore Rice There is a landmark case being heard at the Supreme Court being watched with much interest as it looks at the issue of a former spouse's right to... Read more
110 domestic abuse incidents in Northern Ireland every day
8th December 2014
By Lenore Rice Over the past year there has been an average of 110 domestic abuse incidents and crimes reported to the police in Northern Ireland each day, but with a... Read more
Mum told 6 children she was popping out and then flew to Australia
28th November 2014
By Lenore Rice Parents often query at what age they can leave their children at home alone in order to do some errands, or go out for the evening, but one... Read more
Wife could earn £100m settlement by moving divorce to UK
27th November 2014
By Lenore Rice London can continue it's reputation as the divorce capital of the world as yet another big money divorce could potentially be moved there to secure a larger divorce... Read more
Why modern life for over-50s makes writing a Will a necessity
26th November 2014
By Lenore Rice Surveys consistently conclude that approximately 7 out of every 10 adults in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK do not have a Will, and there is... Read more
Divorce study highlights need for a managed separation
24th November 2014
By Lenore Rice A new study into the impact of divorce on children by the the association of family law solicitors, Resolution, highlights the need to manage the separation as carefully... Read more
Wife feels short-changed by $1billion divorce settlement
14th November 2014
By Lenore Rice In one of the largest divorce settlements in America, and the world, Sue Ann Hamm says she has been short-changed by the court that awarded her just $1billion. The... Read more
Social media evidence in divorce cases growing
10th November 2014
By Lenore Rice It wasn't that long ago that it seemed modern for sms text messages to be submitted as evidence of unfaithfulness in divorce cases. Fast forward to the current... Read more
David James memorabilia auction shows cost of divorce
7th November 2014
By Lenore Rice David James was an international professional footballer who earned approximately £20million from football and endorsements, but a costly divorce in 2005 led to him being declared bankrupt, and... Read more
'Employers should help employees going through divorce'
6th November 2014
By Lenore Rice Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said the government will "push" employers to intervene and support employees who are going through a divorce or separation. Mr Duncan Smith says... Read more
Mother loses appeal against decision to remove daughter
22nd October 2014
By Lenore Rice The Appeal Court in Belfast has upheld a decision to remove a teenage daughter from her mother and place her in a care centre in Dublin. We reported the... Read more
Lack of support for children who witness domestic violence
20th October 2014
By Lenore Rice It is estimated that 25 per cent of children in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK will witness domestic violence before they reach the age of... Read more
New NSPCC office in Belfast to tackle under-reporting
14th October 2014
By Lenore Rice The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is opening a call centre in Belfast, which it hopes will help deal with a problem with... Read more
Wife who sacrificed career challenges divorce settlement
14th October 2014
By Lenore Rice A woman who gave up her successful career when she became pregnant is appealing against the amount awarded to her in a divorce case, saying she should receive... Read more
Study says link between expensive weddings and divorce
9th October 2014
By Lenore Rice A new study suggests that there is a higher rate of divorce among couples who spend more on the engagement ring and wedding. With the rather long title of... Read more
Increase in use of prenups by small business owners
6th October 2014
By Lenore Rice Pre-nuptial agreements are often considered to be a marriage contract for the wealthy, a precaution to be taken to protect existing assets, but there has been an increase... Read more
Couples hide money from each other in case of divorce
2nd October 2014
By Lenore Rice New research has revealed that a significant number of middle-aged couples are concealing the full extent of their finances from each other, with some saying they are hiding... Read more
Divorce tourism accused of clogging up UK family courts
30th September 2014
By Lenore Rice Yet another international couple are involved in a dispute to see if their divorce should be handled in the courts in UK, which is generally a favoured option... Read more
Divorce more likely among couples who meet online
26th September 2014
By Lenore Rice Married couples who meet online are three times more likely to divorce according to a new study, and also have a bigger chance of separating within the first... Read more
Judge suggests better not to date before divorce
23rd September 2014
By Lenore Rice The ruling of a judge in a divorce case came with a rather new suggestion that spouses should avoid dating before their divorce is finalised as it may... Read more
70 domestic abuse calls to PSNI every day
19th September 2014
By Lenore Rice Police in Northern Ireland are receiving 70 calls relating to domestic abuse incidents every day, and while that number in itself is cause for concern, a senior judge... Read more
Northern Ireland court removes child from mother
16th September 2014
By Lenore Rice The High Court in Northern Ireland has approved the removal of a child from her mother, and for the 13-year-old girl to be housed at a centre in... Read more
Aviva warns people to plan for possibility of divorce
12th September 2014
By Lenore Rice Couples are being advised to plan for the worst case scenario of divorce and create a financial plan to avoid thousands of pounds in costs in the event... Read more
Inheritance disputes causing older couples to divorce
22nd August 2014
By Lenore Rice Divorce solicitors in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are seeing an increase in divorces among older couples who cannot agree on inheritance issues, and in... Read more
Jail for attack on cars over farmland lost in divorce
15th August 2014
By Neil Logan A Northern Ireland man has been sentenced to 9 months in prison after using a digger to damage two cars in a dispute relating to farming land he... Read more
Marriage tax break might cause parents to resist divorce
14th August 2014
By Lenore Rice In April next year married couples will be able to benefit from a £1,000 tax break, but the policy has come under criticism from a number of quarters,... Read more
Farmers turning to pre-nups to protect family legacy
5th August 2014
By Lenore Rice There has been an increase in enquiries about prenuptial agreements from farm owners since the status of the pre-marriage contracts gained more strength in Northern Ireland and the... Read more
Wife wants jail for husband who won't pay divorce settlement
29th July 2014
By Lenore Rice The ex-wife of a man said to be worth £40million has asked the High Court to send him to prison because he has not paid any of the... Read more
Study says Facebook use is a predictor of divorce rate
3rd July 2014
By Lenore Rice A new study says that people who use social media are 32 per cent more likely to consider divorce, and that the use of sites such as Facebook... Read more
Children of divorce cut contact with father to please mother
3rd July 2014
By Lenore Rice Children of a divorce will say they don't want contact with their father in order to please their mother, says child psychologist Penelope Leach in her book Family... Read more
Parents of obese child arrested on suspicion of neglect
6th June 2014
By Lenore Rice The parents of a 11-year-old boy that weighs 15-stone were arrested on suspicion of neglect and cruelty. It is understood that teachers at the school the boy attends raised... Read more
Divorce solicitors can request access to Facebook accounts
5th June 2014
By Lenore Rice Divorce solicitors are turning to social media accounts to look for evidence of hidden wealth during divorce proceedings, and can request permission from the judge to access the... Read more
Mother loses child residency because of lifestyle
28th May 2014
By Lenore Rice A court has ruled that a mother should no longer have residency rights in respect of her daughter because of her "degrading lifestyle" which was considered to be... Read more
Court allows husband to challenge divorce ruling
28th May 2014
By Lenore Rice An Appeal Court has given a husband a chance to try to rescue his marriage by granting his appeal against a divorce decree nisi that was issued by... Read more
Jail term for millionaire's 'flagrant contempt' in divorce case
22nd May 2014
By Lenore Rice Businessman and property tycoon Dider Thiry has been given a 4 month jail sentence for contempt of court in respect of his multi-million pound divorce case. Mr Thiry and... Read more
Planning a holiday abroad - some legal issues to consider
19th May 2014
By Lenore Rice The summer holidays will soon be upon us and it is increasingly common for families to go abroad, but there are certain legal issues to consider before packing... Read more
One domestic abuse incident every 19 mins in NI
16th May 2014
By Lenore Rice Domestic abuse levels in Northern Ireland are increasing according to new statistics which reveal that there were 27,000 domestic abuse incidents reported to the police in 2013. The figures... Read more
Belfast court decision on abducted boy overturned
16th May 2014
By Lenore Rice The UK Supreme Court has overruled a decision by the Belfast Court of Appeal in respect of a Lithuanian woman living in Northern Ireland who was alleged to... Read more
Family law solicitors see rise in pre-nuptial agreements
12th May 2014
By Lenore Rice Solicitors specialising in family law and divorce in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are reporting an increase in inquiries in respect of pre-nuptial agreements. A recent... Read more
Legal aid in spotlight after fraud trial halted
1st May 2014
The role of legal aid has been brought into the spotlight once again after a serious fraud trial in England was brought to a halt because the defendants said they... Read more
Study suggests divorce more likely if wife falls ill
1st May 2014
By Lenore Rice A study of 2,700 marriages over a 20 year period found that a third of those relationships ended in divorce, and that in half of those divorces the... Read more
Research suggests divorce link to use of Twitter
25th April 2014
By Lenore Rice New research suggests that extensive use of Twitter and other social networking sites can have a damaging effect on relationships, and can increase the likelihood of infidelity and... Read more
Man says he signed divorce document without his glasses
16th April 2014
By Lenore Rice A High Court judge has been told by an unnamed 'rich Arab' that he was not wearing his glasses when he signed a divorce document that required him... Read more
MP Nigel Evans legal aid rethink after costly defense
14th April 2014
By Neil Logan MP Nigel Evans, who was cleared of a number of sexual charges, has said that he has had to re-think his stance on legal aid cuts after spending... Read more
Proposal to criminalise emotional cruelty to children
1st April 2014
By Lenore Rice The government is considering reforming child neglect laws in England and Wales to criminalise emotional cruelty to children. The charity Action for Children has previously campaigned for a 'Cinderella... Read more
Report criticises police approach to domestic abuse
31st March 2014
By Lenore Rice A new report by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary has criticised the response of police forces to claims by domestic abuse victims. The report looked at 43 police forces... Read more
Paltrow-Martin divorce terminology sparks discussion
26th March 2014
By Lenore Rice The divorce of a high profile celebrity couple such as actress Gwyneth Paltrow and singer Chris Martin was always going to attract a huge amount of mainstream media... Read more
High Court tells mother to return son to father in Spain
14th March 2014
By Lenore Rice A woman who returned to England with her son in breach of an order by a Spanish court has been told that she must return the boy to... Read more
Guide for parents who are separating
10th March 2014
By Lenore Rice After a separation a couple will sometimes find that they disagree on many things, but without exception, if there were children as a result of a relationship both... Read more
Survey reveals extent of domestic violence in Europe
6th March 2014
By Lenore Rice A survey of 42,000 women in Europe has revealed that one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, and Northern Ireland... Read more
Court puts husbands needs ahead of pre-nuptial agreement
5th March 2014
By Lenore Rice A High Court has nullified a pre-nuptial agreement because of the financial needs of a husband after his divorce from his wealthy heiress wife. Francesco Limata married Victoria Luckwell... Read more
Child custody battle lost because of permissive parenting
17th February 2014
By Lenore Rice A mother who was originally granted residential custody of her two children after a divorce has been criticised by the High Court for her 'permissive' style of parenting,... Read more
Divorce rate spiked as economy emerged from recession
10th February 2014
By Lenore Rice There were thirteen divorces every hour across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in 2012 according to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics. While... Read more
5 per cent of divorces end within first year
10th February 2014
By Lenore Rice A new survey suggests that 5 per cent of divorces occur within the first year of marriage, with one of the main reasons for the quick-burn relationships being... Read more
Challenge to pre-nup signed 1 year before divorce fails
6th February 2014
By Lenore Rice A wife who signed a pre-nuptial agreement with her wealthy husband just 15 months before their divorce has failed in her attempts to have it disregarded in order... Read more
House husband and investment banker in £11m divorce dispute
30th January 2014
By Lenore Rice A stay-at-home husband has filed for divorce from his investment banker wife and the two are disputing the marital assets estimated at £11million, and in what country the... Read more
Judge's despair at divorce case that has already cost £1m
27th January 2014
By Lenore Rice A High Court Judge has voiced his despair at a divorce dispute which has already run up legal costs of £1million despite only being at the preliminary stage. Nicholas... Read more
Domestic violence victims at risk of losing children says charity
20th January 2014
By Lenore Rice The Family Rights Group has carried out new research that suggests and increase in the number of domestic violence victims at risk of losing their children as a... Read more
Why January 3rd is 2014's Divorce D-day
3rd January 2014
By Lenore Rice For several years now a trend has been apparent that there is a large increase in divorces in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK after the... Read more
Divorced wife says husband cheated her out of millions
20th December 2013
By Gillian Crotty Alison Sharland is asking the Court of Appeal to allow her divorce settlement to be revisited because she believes her husband's dishonesty about the value of his computer... Read more
Parent child abductions likely to increase over Christmas
16th December 2013
By Lenore Rice Christmas is a difficult time for divorced parents and their children. Making arrangements that keep everyone happy isn't easy, and for many non-resident parents who don't get to... Read more
Why do divorce rates double over Christmas?
9th December 2013
By Lenore Rice Statistics on divorce regularly reveal a spike in the number of people separating in the month of January, so what is it about the Christmas period that pushes... Read more
Judge wants classes promoting monogamy to curb divorce
6th December 2013
By Lenore Rice Controversial High Court Judge Sir Paul Coleridge says married couples should take courses promoting monogamy in order to hold off divorce, and to protect their children from the... Read more
Ex-wife requests jail for husband who won't release assets
3rd December 2013
By Lenore Rice The ex-wife of former property developer Libor Krejci has applied to the High Court to have him imprisoned for failing to pass on assets as part of an... Read more
Lesson to learn from divorced Mum's passport ordeal
3rd December 2013
By Lenore Rice Couples who divorce should take note of the case of a UK woman who was suspected of abducting her own daughter because the surnames of their passports did... Read more
Deciding where children of a divorce spend Christmas
27th November 2013
By Lenore Rice There is very little about a divorce that isn't difficult for the children involved, but the Christmas holidays are perhaps the most challenging time of the year. Some divorced... Read more
Clare's Law to be rolled out across England and Wales
25th November 2013
By Lenore Rice A scheme which allows people to check if their partners have any history of domestic violence is to be rolled out across all of England and Wales, after... Read more
130,000 UK fathers have no contact with their children
20th November 2013
By Lenore Rice New research suggests that as many as 130,000 fathers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have no contact whatsoever with their children. After a divorce or... Read more
Investigator says 'broke' ex-husband worth £700m
6th November 2013
By Lenore Rice A financial investigator has addressed the High Court in the divorce case involving property tycoon Scot Young and his ex-wife Michelle. The judge is currently trying to assess... Read more
Northern Ireland's adoption laws need urgent reform
6th November 2013
By Lenore Rice The adoption laws in Northern Ireland are 30 years out of date according to the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) charity, and do "not fit... Read more
Duncan Bannatyne says prenups should be the norm
4th November 2013
By Lenore Rice Millionaire Duncan Bannatyne, a regular on the TV show Dragon's Den, believes that getting a prenuptial agreement should become "as much a part of the wedding planning as... Read more
Wife says she will settle for £300m divorce payout
31st October 2013
By Lenore Rice The High Court has begun to hear the divorce case of Michelle and Scot Young, and have been told by the businessman's estranged wife that she will "settle... Read more
180 Italian couples in UK divorce fraud
31st October 2013
By Lenore Rice The most senior family court judge is being asked to annul 180 divorces involving Italian couples after it was uncovered that they had fraudulently asserted residency in the... Read more
PSNI criticised for handling of domestic violence
29th October 2013
By Lenore Rice The Police Service of Northern Ireland has come under criticism for failing to implement improvements on how they deal with domestic violence three years after they were agreed... Read more
Divorcing couples offered free mediation service
23rd October 2013
By Lenore Rice Northern Ireland couples who are considering a divorce, but have not yet begun court proceedings, can avail of a free family mediation service which is being funded by... Read more
Owner of $3m apartment tells divorce court he's broke
21st October 2013
By Lenore Rice A husband who was battling a County Court order for him to pay £235,000 towards his wife's legal fees told the court that he owned a $3.3million apartment... Read more
PSNI handling 60 domestic violence call outs a day
15th October 2013
By Lenore Rice The Belfast Telegraph has revealed that the police in Northern Ireland are having to respond to 60 call-outs a day in connection with domestic violence. There were 27,000 cases... Read more
Sometimes older children should meddle in parents divorce
14th October 2013
Family law solicitors know only too well that when parents divorce safeguarding the interests of young children is the priority for everyone, and generally shapes all other aspects such as... Read more
New stats show women initiate divorce more than men
8th October 2013
By Lenore Rice New figures released by the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS) in respect of 2011 show that women petitioned divorce in 66 per cent of the cases that... Read more
Wealthy witnesses at Young divorce face questioning
3rd October 2013
By Lenore Rice A number of high profile wealthy business men will be cross-examined by divorce solicitors acting on behalf of Michelle Young after her ex-husband fails to protect his so-called... Read more
Child of divorce offers advice as charity ambassador
2nd October 2013
By Lenore Rice A 14 year old girl who watched her parents divorce at the age of 5 has become an ambassador for the charity 'Kids in the Middle', which helps... Read more
Stats suggest 7-yr itch has become 11-yr itch
2nd October 2013
By Lenore Rice Figures released from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) suggest that couples who eventually divorce are lasting in marriage longer before separating compared to 20 years ago. The infamous... Read more
NI adoption extension battle to go to Supreme Court
13th September 2013
By Lenore Rice The dispute over whether adoption in Northern Ireland should be extended to include gay and unmarried couples is to go before the Supreme Court in London, the highest... Read more
Divorced over 60s turn to equity release mortgages
12th September 2013
By Lenore Rice New research suggests that a significant number of over-60s divorced and separated couples are turning to equity release mortgages in order to split up their assets. One in 10... Read more
Dishonest tycoon sees divorce settlement ripped up
2nd September 2013
By Lenore Rice A business tycoon who reached a private divorce settlement with his wife after separating in 2009, without involving solicitors, has seen the agreement ripped up by a judge... Read more
Losing someone else's hair in your divorce
27th August 2013
By Lenore Rice Divorce settlements are regularly referred to in terms of severity - just how much does the arrangement push a previously wealthy person down into poverty - did they... Read more
MP found guilty of multiple domestic abuse charges
22nd August 2013
By Lenore Rice Scottish MP Bill Walker has been found guilty of 23 charges of assault in respect of incidents of domestic abuse involving 3 former wives and a step-daughter. The charges... Read more
People with siblings are less likely to divorce
16th August 2013
By Lenore Rice A new study suggests that people who grow up with a lot of siblings are less likely to divorce when they go on to marry. The study was carried... Read more
Court awards UK's biggest ever divorce payout
12th August 2013
By Lenore Rice The High Court has awarded the largest ever divorce payout in the UK in a contested marriage split. In the case known as M v M, the divorced... Read more
114 forced marriages involving mental disability
12th August 2013
By Lenore Rice A High Court case involving the forced marriage of a mentally incapacitated man has shone the spotlight on an otherwise relatively unknown issue. Last year the government's forced... Read more
Law Society criticises celebrity and DIY divorces
6th August 2013
By Lenore Rice The Law Society has hit out at celebrity divorces for giving the public an unrealistic view of the process involved, and also warns against the dangers of DIY... Read more
Increase in divorce among people over 60
6th August 2013
By Lenore Rice There has been an increase in the rate of divorce among people over 60 years old in England and Wales, while the rate among all other age groups... Read more
Lawson-Saatchi divorce granted in under a minute
31st July 2013
Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi were granted a divorce today at the London High Count in under a minute. The couple were married in 2003 but their 10 year marriage ended... Read more
Lawson-Sattchi quick divorce scheduled for tomorrow
30th July 2013
The divorce of celebrity couple Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi is due to take place at 10.30am tomorrow morning, with proceedings expected to be very quick. The couple are said to... Read more
English Tycoon's divorce will not be heard in UK
4th July 2013
The Appeal Court has upheld the decision of the High Court to prevent an English property tycoon's wife from divorcing him through the courts in England, because he convinced the... Read more
Public prefers gov involvement in child maintenance
2nd July 2013
A new survey reveals that the majority of the British public believes the government should be more involved in setting the level of child maintenance payable and enforcing it, instead... Read more
Guidance on asset freezing orders in divorce cases
2nd July 2013
A family court judge who was recently enraged at a divorce case in which the wife had successfully blocked her husband from dealing with £30million of assets has issued guidance... Read more
Divorce wife raided husband's safe for information
27th June 2013
A High Court judge has overturned a £20million asset freezing order on the grounds that the wife involved had illegitimately obtained financial information about her husband's wealth, by raiding his... Read more
Divorce settlements eating into pensions
24th June 2013
New research has revealed that pension sharing orders are becoming increasingly more common in divorce settlements in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Figures obtained by Hugh James Solicitors... Read more
'Thousands of fathers deprived of access to children'
19th June 2013
Author Louis de Bernières has spoken out about what he calls a relentless attack by society on fathers, and says that thousands of fathers are deprived of access to their... Read more
'Domestic violence was just a playful tiff'
17th June 2013
Pictures of art collector Charles Saatchi grasping the neck of his wife, TV chef Nigella Lawson, outside a restaurant caused outrage among campaigners against domestic violence, and they reacted even... Read more
Divorce ruling significant for wealthy couples
13th June 2013
The Supreme Court ruling in the divorce case involving an English wife and Nigerian oil tycoon could have significant implications for separating wealthy couples in Northern Ireland and the rest... Read more
Council fined for revealing adoptive parent details
10th June 2013
Halton Borough Council in Cheshire has been fined £70,000 after an employee mistakenly sent the address details of adoptive parents to the child's birth mother. The birth mother passed the home... Read more
Judge warning over divorce settlement calculations
28th May 2013
An important judgment has been delivered in respect of a divorce settlement, with the judge urging caution when estimating future income to calculate a financial order. The case in question involved... Read more
Husband fails to annul divorce from deceased wife
28th May 2013
A husband has failed in his bid to have his divorce from his now deceased wife annulled, despite his assertions that he was completely unaware that they had legally separated. Desmond... Read more
Facebook fall-out over domestic violence images
28th May 2013
Facebook has come under fire for refusing to remove images that activists say glorify rape and domestic violence. Facebook did take action in respect of some of the images brought to... Read more
Divorce settlement pension overpayment not to be repaid
20th May 2013
The Pensions Ombudsman has ruled that an overpayment of a pension in relation to a divorce settlement does not have to be paid back by the divorcee, as the divorce... Read more
Husband wins appeal against claim made 18yrs after divorce
14th May 2013
The Court of Appeal has found in favour of the man who was the subject of a claim for maintenance from the ex-wife he divorced 18 years previously. Dale Vince and... Read more
Bitter public split ends with 65 sec divorce
7th May 2013
It was the separation that showed the danger of taking to social media sites to get at your ex, yet despite being said to be 'at war', the divorce of... Read more
Second marriages less likely to end in divorce
29th April 2013
A new report by the Marriage Foundation suggests that second marriages are less likely to end in divorce than those couples tying the knot for the first time. Figures from the... Read more
Ex-wife claims maintenance 20yrs after divorce
26th April 2013
A former new age traveller who was penniless when he divorced his wife in 1992 is now facing a maintenance claim 20 years later, having now become a multi-millionaire. Dale Vince,... Read more
False allegations of domestic violence are rare
15th March 2013
A new report by the Crown Prosecution Service is hoped to dispel some of the myths around how many false allegations of rape and domestic violence are made each year. The... Read more
Landmark prenuptial agreement decision in US
13th March 2013
Prenuptial agreements have only recently been recognised by the UK courts, so there is to date very little case law on how the courts view them, and the circumstances that... Read more
Figures show increase in domestic violence
12th March 2013
New figures released by the Citizens Advice Bureaux indicate an 11 per cent increase in the number of people advising that they have suffered domestic violence. In the last three months... Read more
Northern Ireland man tricked wife into divorce
5th March 2013
A bizarre case before the Belfast High Court in Northern Ireland involved a wife who was unaware that her husband had divorced her. The husband, who cannot be named, successfully obtained... Read more
Domestic abuse of parents by children increasing
1st March 2013
Until recent years, domestic abuse was considered a problem that involved a wife being mistreated by her husband. Over the past years there has been an increase in the recorded... Read more
Figures reveal extent of unpaid child maintenance
27th February 2013
New figures released by the Child Support Agency have revealed that unpaid child maintenance in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK totalled £3.837billion as of December 2012. In the... Read more
£15m settlement ends 4 year divorce dispute
27th February 2013
The eventful 4 year divorce dispute between multimillionaire Vivian Imerman, often called 'The Man from Del Monte', and his wife Lisa Tchenguiz has finally come to an end, after the... Read more
10 year marriage ends over map-reading fight
26th February 2013
A man has lost his legal attempt to save his marriage after the court granted his wife a decree nisi on the basis of an argument they had about her... Read more
Billionaire's son regrets divorce war via Twitter
26th February 2013
The divorce of Ben Goldsmith, aged 32, and Kate Rothschild, aged 30, has become the sample case of what can happen when an acrimonious divorce is mixed together with social... Read more
Survey says hiding assets common during divorce
22nd February 2013
An online survey carried out by Onepoll suggests that couples attempt to hide their assets in nearly a quarter of all divorces in Northern Ireland and the rest of the... Read more
Unemployment and divorce factors behind debt
21st February 2013
Debt charity StepChange say that two of the factors behind the debt problems of the callers who contact them are unemployment and divorce. Of the just over 22,000 calls from adults... Read more
Half of divorces occur in first 10 yrs of marriage
11th February 2013
A half of all divorces in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK involve couples who have been married ten years or less, according to a new study. After ten... Read more
2 million victims of domestic abuse in 12 months
11th February 2013
There were 2 million cases of domestic abuse over the last 12 months according to a new report entitled 'Focus on Violent Crime and Sexual Offences 2011/12', and published by... Read more
Fifth divorce most expensive for Lord
21st January 2013
The fifth wife of Lord Northampton is to receive a £17million divorce settlement, after their 20-year marriage ended in separation. The Lord's marriage to Lady Pamela Northampton was his longest, but... Read more
Divorce cash struggle results in jail term
17th January 2013
A six month prison term has been handed to property dealer Scot Young by the High Court, who failed to provide details of his finances to explain the disappearance of... Read more
Claim that Facebook change will cause divorces
17th January 2013
With the word 'Facebook' already appearing in one in three divorce petitions in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, according to research by Divorce-Online, the same company is... Read more
Husband deceived over children wins damages
14th January 2013
A man who was tricked into believing that the two children he helped raise until they were teenagers where his has been awarded £25,000 damages after he sued his ex-wife. Factory... Read more
£2.5million per month divorce settlement
28th December 2012
January is traditionally the month of the year with the highest rate of divorce in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, which brings with it complicated issues of... Read more
PSNI campaign targets domestic abuse
20th December 2012
Along with many positive traditions over the holiday period, there is unfortunately a growing annual trend of an increase in incidents of domestic violence in Northern Ireland and the rest... Read more
Why do divorces increase after Christmas?
19th December 2012
Each year in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK there is a noticeable increase in the number of divorces in the weeks following Christmas, but what is it... Read more
Majority of people say divorce is too easy
18th December 2012
Ahead of the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) report on divorce a separate survey suggests that the majority of adults believe it is too easy to get divorced, and... Read more
Charity says system is ignoring teen fathers
17th December 2012
Teen fathers are being excluded from the lives of their children according to a new report produced by Barnardo's and Family Strategic Partnership 2012 group - which as well as... Read more
Hotel owner loses bid to cut wifes divorce payout
11th December 2012
Multimillionaire hotel owner Andrew Davies has lost his bid to reduce the £2.7million divorce settlement awarded to his ex-wife. Mr and Mrs Davies had created a successful hotel business, but Mr... Read more
Couple spend £1.3million in divorce court battle
11th December 2012
A divorcing couple has been criticised by three Court of Appeal judges after running up a combined legal bill on divorce solicitors and court proceedings totalling £1.3million. Mohammed Salim Alyami, aged... Read more
264 domestic violence arrests in 1 week
3rd December 2012
An operation carried out by the Metropolitan Police has resulted in 264 arrests on charges of domestic violence in just one week. The operation began on 26th November in support of... Read more
Third of UK divorces cite facebook
3rd December 2012
A third of divorce petitions in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK cite use of the social media site Facebook as a contributing factor to the breakdown of... Read more
4 Northern Ireland courthouses to be shut down
23rd November 2012
David Ford is continuing his rally to save money from the legal sector by announcing the closure of four courthouses in Northern Ireland over the next two years. The courts in... Read more
Plan to cut legal aid in NI civil cases
22nd November 2012
Justice Minister David Ford has outlined proposals to cut legal aid paid to barristers and solicitors in civil cases in Northern Ireland. Family law cases including divorce and child custody hearings... Read more
Pensions only feature in 15pc of divorce settlements
20th November 2012
New figures suggest that pensions are only discussed as part of 15 per cent of divorce settlements in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. In the eighth annual Scottish... Read more
Women close to divorce work longer hours
16th November 2012
New research suggests that women who feel they are at risk of divorce work longer hours to protect themselves from the fallout of a marriage separation. The research was published by... Read more
Survey reveals confusion on eligibility to adopt
12th November 2012
The British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF) has carried out a survey about peoples perceptions on adoption in an attempt to dispel some of the myths about who can... Read more
Accused walks free because of incorrect trial time
1st November 2012
A man accused of an act of domestic violence which left his then-partner heavily bruised has walked free from court without any hearing because the CPS told the victim the... Read more
Divorce case ruling protects company assets
29th October 2012
The Court of Appeal in England has reached a decision in a divorce case that could have huge implications for future divorcing couples in England and Wales if the line... Read more
How volatile divorces are helping the tax man
29th October 2012
It seems that the old adage that 'no-one wins in a divorce' may have to be amended, as the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is regularly benefiting from bitter separations,... Read more
Jail for fraud to lower divorce settlement
22nd October 2012
A man has been given an 18 month prison sentence for committing fraud and perjury in an attempt to deceive the divorce court about his assets, and thereby reduce the... Read more
Case update - celebrity guilty of harassment
10th October 2012
Celebrity comic Justin Lee Collins has been found guilty of harassing his ex-girlfriend Anna Larke, and has been sentenced to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work within the next... Read more
Is recession to thank for lower divorce rate?
9th October 2012
More couples are choosing not to divorce because of the costs involved, according to a specialist in divorce finance. Graham Campbell told the Telegraph that prior to the recession a third... Read more
Mother told to allow child contact or lose them
8th October 2012
The High Court in England and Wales has ruled that a mother intentionally prevented the father of her children from having regular contact with them, and has given her one... Read more
Celebrity comic accused of harassment
27th September 2012
An harassment case involving celebrity comic Justin Lee Collins deals with issues covered under the new expanded definition of what constitutes domestic abuse, though that definition will not be employed... Read more
Equal amount of cohabiting and married parents
25th September 2012
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the number of cohabiting couples with children has risen to equal the number of married couples with children for the... Read more
Divorcing couple exhaust assets on legal action
21st September 2012
A judge has criticised a divorcing couple who managed to squander most of their significant fortune in legal fees. Anna-Marie Harvey Kavanagh and Giles Kavanagh are both practising solicitors, and during... Read more
Law Society says shared parenting plans 'flawed'
11th September 2012
The Law Society in England has said that the government's proposals to amend the Children Act 1989 legislation to promote cooperative parenting is "seriously flawed", though welcomes the intention behind... Read more
Research on role of technology in divorce
29th August 2012
While some couples who divorce are using technology to improve their relationship with their ex-spouse, others are using it to continue their feud into new forums according to research by... Read more
What we can learn from celebrity divorces
20th August 2012
The tabloid news is full of celebrity divorce gossip, and while the articles may involve the lives of people completely divorced from reality, the manner in which they separate represents... Read more
Businesses criticise idea of sharing parental leave
9th May 2012
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have pledged that a new Children and Families Bill will give parents "unprecedented support", and that it will include the ability for fathers to share... Read more
Report blames courts for adoption delays
2nd April 2012
A new report by Ofsted says that the main reason for delays in the adoption process in England is the duration of court proceedings, which on average take 14 months. The... Read more
No change to allow unmarried NI couples to adopt
22nd March 2012
Attorney General John Larkin, QC, says that Northern Ireland adoption laws should remain unchanged until Stormont Assembly decides to intervene and change the legislation. Unlike their counterparts in Wales, Scotland and... Read more
Clarke warns of dangers of equal access rights for fathers
13th February 2012
Justice secretary Ken Clarke has commented on the dangers that could be caused by the newly announced government plans to encourage both divorced or separated parents to have contact with... Read more
1000 children wrongly adopted each year says MP
19th December 2011
Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming has claimed that 1,000 children are unnecessarily taken away from their families and put up for adoption each year. Mr Hemming was giving evidence to the... Read more
Supreme Court judge supports collaborative family law
1st December 2011
The Supreme Court judge Lord Wilson of Culworth has talked of his "profound commitment for alternative methods of resolution of family disputes" such as the collaborative law process, saying the... Read more
170 abuse claims in NI under police investigation
2nd November 2011
Figures released by PSNI show that they are currently investigating over 170 claims of clerical and institutional abuse throughout Northern Ireland. The majority of the abuse claims being looked into are... Read more
Divorce and tax: Principal Property relief
19th October 2011
By Lenore RiceSolicitor specialising in divorce at Wilson Nesbitt Couples who decide to divorce after a marriage breakdown are suddenly confronted with a number of important decisions around how to go... Read more
Landmark ruling on lottery wins and divorce
17th October 2011
The High Court has ruled on what is thought to be the first divorce case involving lottery winnings in England. The names of the couple have not been disclosed, but... Read more
Important case for cohabiting couples before Court
4th May 2011
The Supreme Court is to hear the case of Kernott v Jones this week, with the legal world watching on with keen interest in what could become a landmark decision... Read more
Government study reveals ethnic adoption disparity
27th April 2011
A new study which was published by the government last week seems to support previous criticisms among professionals that there is a disparity in the adoption system when it comes... Read more
More fathers jailed over missed child support
11th April 2011
An increase in the number of fathers being given prison terms as a result of missing child maintenance payments has been criticised as being disproportionate and counterproductive. At least 50 prison... Read more
Plans to charge for child support criticised
18th February 2011
Government plans to charge for the child support scheme have been heavily criticised by Gingerbread, the support group for one parent families. The new scheme proposes that couples agree on a... Read more
Adoption needs to quadruple says Barnardo's chief
28th January 2011
Outgoing Barnardo's chief Martin Narey says adoption is at an historic low in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and says levels need to quadruple if they are... Read more
Half of parents split before kids are 16
8th December 2010
A new report entitled 'Family Breakdown in the UK: it's not about divorce' says that half of all the children born in the UK today will see their parents separate... Read more
Vulnerable failed by the adoption system
8th November 2010
Yesterday saw the end of National Adoption week, a campaign designed to raise awareness and generally inform people about adoption in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. However,... Read more
Government considers compulsory mediation before divorce
18th October 2010
A government review due to be published in early 2011 is to recommend that divorcing couples should be obligated to go through a mediation stage before there is any court... Read more
Half of young couples demand prenuptial agreements
12th October 2010
A survey of 1,000 people by OnePoll has revealed that almost a half of young couples are requesting prenuptial agreements before they get married; 44% of those aged between 18... Read more
Chancellor announces cap on total benefits per family
5th October 2010
Chancellor George Osborne has told the Conservative conference that a ceiling limit will be introduced on the amount of benefits that can be claimed by one family in his efforts... Read more
Higher taxpayers to lose child benefit
4th October 2010
Chancellor George Osborne has announced that higher-rate taxpayers will lose child benefits from 2013, in what he described as a "tough but fair" move that could save the government £1billion... Read more
Cohabitation disputes on the increase
16th August 2010
Solicitors have reported an increase in the number of cohabiting couples taking legal advice after the collapse of a relationship; highlighting again the complex laws concerning cohabitation which many in... Read more
Business and Children lose out as Gov announces spending cuts
24th May 2010
George Osborne has today announced £6.2billion worth of spending cuts and has warned that there is much more to come. The cuts are being made to make a direct impact on... Read more
Recession hit fortune prompts divorce settlement challenge
14th May 2010
Racehorse owner and property entrepreneur John Livock is seeking to alter his divorce settlement with his former wife, Lucy Crawford, which granted her a lump sum of £665,000. ... Read more
Tycoon's wife to hand secret files to the taxman
11th May 2010
Michelle Young, the wife currently in the process of divorcing tycoon Scot Young, is to hand a computer disk containing hundreds of pages of emails and other documents detailing her... Read more
Tories would consider re-classifying civil partnerships as marriage
4th May 2010
The Conservative Party have today launched their Contract for Equalities, in which they say that, if elected, they will consider the possibility of re-classifying civil partnerships as marriage. The contract for... Read more
No special treatment for inherited farms in divorce
30th April 2010
A recent case at the High Court Family division has stated that there is no special treatment for long legacy inherited farms when it comes to divorce proceedings. The case involved... Read more
40% of young adults delay marriage because of high house prices
22nd March 2010
A YouGov survey commissioned by a housing campaign group, National Housing Federation (NHF), and involving 1,096 participants, has found that 40% of young adults say they are postponing settling down... Read more
Supreme Court to hear landmark 'Pre-nuptial' appeal case
22nd March 2010
The divorce settlement case of Radmacher v Granatino has become the case to watch for interested parties curious to see how much weight would be given to a 'pre-nuptial' agreement;... Read more
Lottery winner narrowly misses sharing fortune with ex-wife
18th March 2010
The story of Kevin Halstead highlights the potential problems that can arise out of failing to formalise a split between spouses when a dramatic change of circumstances arises. Bus driver Mr... Read more
Supreme Court decision changes when court can order a child to give evidence
5th March 2010
The Supreme Court decision in the appeal case of Re W has changed how family courts should approach the question of whether a child should be ordered to give live... Read more
Ex husband of 'Little Britain' star dies intestate
1st March 2010
Matt Lucas, the comedian and actor best known for his work on 'Little Britain' will not receive any of the £1million estate of his former husband Kevin McGee who took... Read more
Cohabitation among unmarried couples tends to be 'short lived'
22nd February 2010
A Christian think tank called 'The Jubilee Centre' has published a report providing an analysis of the most current cohabitation statistics. The report, Cohabitation in the 21st Century, used just... Read more
Large increase in divorce rates expected in 2010
4th January 2010
While the economy seemingly being on the up is good news for most, it is suspected that it might not bode well for lots of couples in the UK who... Read more
Reform judge recommends new legal rights for unmarried couples
7th December 2009
In his first interview since taking up the post as law reform watchdog, Lord Justice Munby championed the cause of unmarried couples and their need for new legal rights to... Read more
Solicitor assures no legal aid problem in Northern Ireland
3rd December 2009
Lenore Rice of Wilson Nesbitt solicitors in Belfast, Northern Ireland, confirmed that there "is no legal aid resources problem in Northern Ireland" like that being faced in England and Wales. Clients... Read more
Husband wins right to evict ex-wife from ?14million home
3rd December 2009
Charles Miller Smith, aged 70, and former chairman of ICI, won a court appeal to evict his ex-wife from their £14m Chelsea home on the basis that he was “hemorrhaging... Read more
Charities call for child protection referendum
13th August 2008
Children's charities Barnardos and the ISPCC released a joint statement yesterday urging the government to go through with it's pledge to hold a referendum on children's protection and rights. The... Read more
'Lower house prices mean lower divorce rates'
7th August 2008
A reduction in the value of properties may mean a slowing in the level of divorces taking place in Britain and Northern Ireland, according to a new survey.Savills Research found... Read more
'Consider the implications of divorce'
24th July 2008
Parents in Northern Ireland are being urged to consider the consequences of divorce on their children.Family solicitor and blogger Diane Benussi said on the Benussi blog that statistically, divorce can... Read more
Divorce 'does not have to be painful'
3rd July 2008
The process of getting divorced from a partner does not necessarily need to be painful, according to a family solicitor.Nicola Walker told the Birmingham Post that while divorces are popularly... Read more
Northern Ireland residents 'never too young to write a will'
27th June 2008
It is never too early to visit solicitors to draw up a will, according to Help the Aged.The charity has commented that whether or not to write a will depends... Read more
Consult solicitors in NI for civil partnership 'divorce'
25th June 2008
The laws governing dissolution - or 'divorce' - in a civil partnership are not quite the same as those for married couples and as such it is essential to consult... Read more
Northern Ireland divorce rate 'hits new high'
18th June 2008
The number of couples in Northern Ireland choosing to consult solicitors and divorce hit an all-time high in 2007.Statistics released by the government have shown that the number of couples... Read more
Conservatives propose divorce counselling centres
17th June 2008
The Conservative party has proposed the introduction of Australian-style family relationship centres to help counsel unhappy couples, it has been reported.According to the Times, David Cameron perceives the centres as... Read more
Officers 'to focus on domestic violence'
5th June 2008
Police officers in the Antrim area of Northern Ireland have revealed that one of their main priorities for the year will be cutting domestic violence, the Antrim Times reports.According to... Read more
UK 'divorce fair' for splitting couples
5th June 2008
Couples from all over the UK, including Northern Ireland, who plan to divorce are being invited to the country's first 'divorce fair'.Solicitors, counsellors and financial advisors will all be on... Read more
Trusts a 'great opportunity' for lessening inheritance tax
3rd June 2008
Well-planned trusts can prove a "very effective way" to reduce inheritance tax liabilities and ensure that as much of your wealth as possible is passed onto the next generation, according... Read more
Mothers recover financially faster from divorce
6th March 2008
While solicitors will note that women in Belfast and Northern Ireland who choose to divorce are usually much worse off financially, mothers may be recovering faster than they used to.Although... Read more
Domestic violence 'not being tackled'
4th March 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are seeing no let-up in cases of domestic violence in the province and now the government has been criticised for failing to protect females.While... Read more
Suspicious spouses engage spies
26th February 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are seeing an increase in the number of clients who use private detectives to spy on the partner they are looking to divorce.According to... Read more
Brides in favour of contracts for bridesmaids
5th February 2008
While solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are well versed in dissolving marriages where one partner has breached the contract, soon lawyers could see bridesmaids penalised for failing to fulfil... Read more
Absentee parents owe £71m
18th January 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland have had to administrate record numbers of separations and divorces in the past year, and as such more maintenance payments for children have been... Read more
Northern Ireland sees D-Day
14th January 2008
January 8th saw a record number of couples getting divorced, with solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland coping with their busiest day of the year for partners splitting up.Solicitors in... Read more
Affairs account for half of NI divorces
3rd January 2008
Affairs are the cause of half of all divorces that solicitors in Northern Ireland deal with, a higher proportion than in the rest of the UK.While only 27 per cent... Read more
Domestic violence packs a bigger punch
31st December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland have to deal with more cases of domestic violence than ever - and the problem is becoming so large that increasing numbers of women... Read more
NI pilots panic rooms
27th December 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may see many cases of domestic violence averted as the province is to trial the use of 'panic rooms'.As shown in the film of the same... Read more
Lists of assets help divorcing couples
17th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland find it much easier to sort out assets splits where full a list of what is shared has been made, but now experts say... Read more
Share-to-buy 'a lifeline' for divorcees
28th November 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland who help in divorce cases may see the same clients returning for share-to-buy house purchases, as the trend increases among those who would otherwise struggle to... Read more
Northern Ireland urged to focus on divorce rates
2nd November 2007
There should be investment in children in Northern Ireland to help combat divorce rates and teenage pregnancies, one expert will tell the Northern Ireland Assembly today. Solicitors in Northern Ireland... Read more
New child maintenance system looks promising
25th October 2007
The latest figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions show early signs that the new system of securing child maintenance payments may be working.With an increase in population,... Read more
Widow forced to settle with husband's ex-wife
11th October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland will have watched an unusual case with interest, as a woman whose husband died only hours after they married has been forced to pay £100,000 to... Read more
Life changes fuel endowment sales
9th October 2007
New research has shown that the most common reasons for selling an endowment policy in Northern Ireland are those which involve solicitors.According to aap, the endowment policy company, divorce settlements... Read more
Judge calls for assets split review
1st October 2007
Solicitors could see a change in divorce law after the most senior family judge in Britain and Northern Ireland has said that the law on assets splits should be reviewed.Sir... Read more
More divorce in Northern Ireland
5th September 2007
While the number of divorces in England and Wales dropped by 6.5 per cent in 2006, solicitors in Northern Ireland had to deal with nine per cent more divorces last... Read more
Children could benefit from cohabitee laws
7th August 2007
Solicitors have said that children of unmarried couples who separate could benefit from proposed changes to the law, which would allow cohabitees in Britain and Northern Ireland similar legal status... Read more
Cohabitees 'should' enjoy new rights
1st August 2007
The Law Commission has recommended that people who have cohabited and then split up should be given the same rights as married couples who divorce.If implemented, it could mean that... Read more
Domestic violence campaign hits NI streets
25th July 2007
More victims of domestic violence in Northern Ireland may be persuaded to visit their solicitors ad make their case known as a new campaign has just been launched by the... Read more
Divorcee must pay for ex's debts
20th July 2007
In the second case of its kind, divorcee Vivienne Avis may be forced to sell the home she has lived in for over 20 years due to the bankruptcy of... Read more
Northern Ireland unveils new domestic violence campaign
18th July 2007
Police in Northern Ireland are stepping up their efforts to tackle domestic violence, in a bid to encourage more people to report such incidents.The initiative will run for two weeks... Read more
Love not legally binding
13th July 2007
With the trend for people in love to live together and even have children without being married increasing, it is vital that people get their financial arrangements sorted out through... Read more
Children should be in on proceedings
2nd July 2007
Lord Justice Wilson, a senior judge in family law who sits in the Court of Appeal, has said that children should be included in legal proceedings so they can understand... Read more
Father jailed for CSA breach
27th June 2007
A solicitor has been imprisoned for failing to pay child support to his ex-wife for their three children, despite the fact that he looked after his sons half the time.Michael... Read more
Partners get 'divorcee' rights
12th June 2007
Cohabiters who separate are due to be granted similar rights to married couples who divorce, according to the Times.The new plans, which will be published next month, will mean that... Read more
DWP to enforce maintenance payments
7th June 2007
With solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland having to deal with an ever-increasing number of divorces, new legislation may mean that separated parents do not have to chase each other... Read more
Unmarried adoption bid quashed
5th June 2007
The Lord Chief Justice has quashed a bid by an unmarried couple to overturn the law banning those who are not wed to adopt children, the Belfast Telegraph reports.At the... Read more
More laws than ever during Blair years
4th June 2007
Solicitors in Britain and Northern Ireland will have had their work cut out for them over the past decade as statistics show that Tony Blair has passed a record number... Read more
More people waiting to get wed
29th May 2007
People in Northern Ireland are getting married older, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.While in 1996 only 28 per cent of brides were aged thirty or... Read more
Improvements to custody service that is failing fathers
23rd May 2007
Judges are being given new powers to impose community service orders and fines when contact orders are breached by resident parents in custody cases.From October 2007 the new legislation will... Read more
Solicitors seeing more unusual cases
14th May 2007
Around two million people seek legal advice a year and although some cases will always be in a solicitor's daily remit, people are increasingly seeking advice for more unusual matters.According... Read more
Concerns over domestic violence changes
11th May 2007
It has been claimed that changes to the domestic violence laws of Britain and Northern Ireland could make the problem worse.Solicitors across the country often report low numbers of domestic... Read more
Divorcees may fund ex's debts
10th May 2007
An unprecedented decision yesterday ruled that a divorcee would have to fund creditors when her ex-husband was declared bankrupt, the Times reports.Solicitors have predicted an influx of trustees in bankruptcy... Read more
Landmark judgement on common-law couple
26th April 2007
Solicitors across Britain and Northern Ireland will have been paying close attention to the case of Mr Stack v Ms Dowden, as judges ruled that the unmarried couple should have... Read more
More divorces due to infidelity
24th April 2007
Adultery was cited as the leading cause for divorce last year, accounting for 32 per cent of all splits, up from 29 per cent in 2005, according to a new... Read more
Splits cause pressure on housing market
3rd April 2007
High divorce statistics and reduced marriage rates mean that an increasing number of people are living alone, adding pressure to prices in the housing market, according to the latest reports.Mortgage... Read more
IFA shows domestic violence the red card
26th March 2007
The Irish Football Association has announced that it is backing a campaign to end domestic violence against women after it was revealed that there was a 90 per cent rise... Read more
Divorce 'costs £28k'
20th March 2007
New research has suggested that the average cost of divorce in Britain and Northern Ireland now stands at £28,000.According to figures released by insurance provider Norwich Union, solicitors are seeing... Read more
Divorce 'really can cost the earth'
19th March 2007
As the UK continues to see more celebrity and big-money divorces, ordinary couples are being given some advice on how to manage their finances in the event of a break-up.Divorce... Read more
'No fault' divorces mooted
12th March 2007
Solicitors in the UK are calling for the development of no fault liability in divorce cases.A lawyers' group has suggested that a 'no fault' divorce system should be introduced into... Read more
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