Will my family court case still go ahead during COVID19 Pandemic?
April 23rd 2020Amy Fallows Associate Solicitor in our Family Law Department provides some helpful advice. The coronavirus has significantly affected the court system but it hasn’t closed it completely. Court staff have been working round the clock to maintain access to justice. This means that it is still possible to make a court application in the family court and many court hearings are still going ahead. The use of technology Court applications…
Deputy District Judge lands family law role with leading legal firm
April 20th 2020A DEPUTY District Judge who specialises in family law has landed a top job with a leading legal firm. Amy Fallows has joined Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors as an associate solicitor specialising in family law. Amy, 44, a part-time Deputy District Juge in the county court and family court in Manchester, Liverpool and across the North-West, is well known for her family law expertise. She advises on all aspects of family…
The concerning rise in domestic violence due to COVID-19
April 20th 2020Amy Fallows Associate Solicitor in our family law team provides some advice to those who find themselves in this situation. Recent statistics show that reports of domestic violence and killings have doubled since the COVID-19 lockdown, this is the highest it has been in the last 11 years and is of great concern. Even for healthy relationships, the lockdown poses a challenge. For those relationships that are already toxic, or…
Moving in together? Some things to consider …
April 16th 2020Taylor Chanter Solicitor in our Family team sets out some points to consider when moving in together. Covid-19 has presented a lot of those partners in a non-cohabiting relationship with a big decision to make in respect of whether or not they should move in together. With the current lockdown measures that are in place and the corresponding rules around social distancing, a lot of couples faced the prospect of…
How cohabitants can protect their finances if their relationship breaks down
February 27th 2020Cohabiting couples don’t have the same legal rights as married couples, which can cause major problems if their relationship breaks down. Many cohabitants think ahead and draw up a living together agreement that sets out in advance how their assets should be shared if they separate. This can help prevent confusion that often leads to bitter disputes. Couples without such agreements may have to start from scratch to assess who…
When court action becomes necessary in divorce cases
January 27th 2020Court action is generally considered to be a last resort in divorce cases. It’s much better to reach an amicable agreement over how you should divide the marital assets and reach a financial settlement. If that proves difficult, your solicitor is likely to suggest that you try mediation, arbitration or collaborative law services to overcome any problems. Sometimes, however, court action becomes unavoidable. This could be for several reasons. For…
Unmarried fathers – do you have parental responsibility for your child?
July 4th 2019By Laura Ousby Solicitor Unmarried couples often assume they have the same automatic rights as married couples but unfortunately, this is not the case. For unmarried fathers, one of the most alarming consequences is that they may suddenly discover they don’t have official parental responsibility for their children, even if they have been caring for them and looking after them for several years. We should perhaps clarify what is meant…
Getting contact with your grandchildren if their parents say no
June 20th 2019By Laura Ousby Solicitor Grandparents are playing an ever-increasing role in the lives of their grandchildren, often providing free childcare to enable parents to go out to work. Most of these relationships run smoothly to everyone’s benefit but occasionally, problems arise that break that family bond. The most likely cause is an acrimonious divorce or separation, in which children can become ‘weapons’ in the disputes between parents. This can spill…
How the Hague Convention can help if your ex-partner abducts your child
April 29th 2019By Laura Ousby Solicitor Disputes between parents over who their children should live and spend time with are among the most common causes of ongoing tension between couples after they separate. Most families manage to work out reasonable compromises over such issues but unfortunately, amicable agreements are not always possible and in some extreme cases, can lead to one parent abducting their children and taking them to another country. This…
No-deal brexit and family law
April 9th 2019By Laura Ousby Solicitor Family law may not immediately spring to mind when considering the impact of Brexit. Most of the news coverage focuses on the value of the pound, businesses, the NHS, interest rates and house prices. A no-deal Brexit will, however, affect the current family legal system as we know it. The government have made a number of provisions affecting family law that are expected to come into force…
