Parental Alienation

  Unfortunately, when parent separate, parental alienation can occur.  This is where a child has been manipulated, coerced or otherwise pressured to side with one parent over another.       Parental alienation is not always obvious and can be difficult to spot, but its effect on children is highlighted by CAFCASS as abusive and […]

Parental Responsibility

Parental responsibility is defined under 3 (1) Children Act 1989 as being: “all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property”. But what does that mean in practical terms? Parental responsibility (PR) can be acquired in different ways. Generally […]

SUMMER HOLIDAY READY

With the summer holidays fast approaching many of you will be thinking about booking a holiday abroad.  However, for those of you who are separated then if you want to take your child/children out of the jurisdiction (abroad) then you will need the consent of anyone who has parental responsibility (usually the other parent).  The […]

Family Law Costs

Do you need Family Law advice but are concerned about the cost implications? We not only offer the traditional option whereby you are charged at the solicitors’ hourly rates and therefore pay for exactly what work is required and completed on your matter but we also offer various fixed fee packages and are even able […]

Domestic Abuse Assistance

The Department for Work and Pensions appreciate that victims of domestic violence are sometimes in financial difficulties and have recently published a guide providing information for victims of domestic abuse about the support offered by DWP (Domestic violence and abuse: help available from DWP) This includes special conditions for: Housing Benefit Jobseeker’s Allowance Employment and […]

Meal Ticket for Life?

On divorce/dissolution one of the main concerns of the spouse with a lower earning capacity is their ability to meet their future income needs. There was a lot of press coverage in the not too distant past about the higher earner no longer being a meal ticket for life, but how do the family courts […]

101 Questions Answered about Separating with Children

Brearleys is on the Family Law Panel for non-profit organisation Only Mums and Dads and has had the opportunity to contribute to their new book. 101 Questions Answered about Separating with Children is an invaluable first source of legal know-how to help every separating or divorcing parent. For more information please follow the link below. […]

How to Propose a Prenup this Valentines Day

Valentines Day is usually a day associated with love, chocolate, romance and maybe even a marriage proposal. If you are thinking of proposing, you may want to consider protecting your existing financial position by way of a prenuptial agreement. Arguments about finances are one of the major causes of marital breakdown and therefore it is […]

SEPARATION AGREEMENTS AND WHY YOU NEED ONE

Not everyone is ready to divorce when they separate, but still need to deal with and protect themselves in respect of the financial consequences of the breakdown of their marriage. This can be done by entering into what is a called a ‘Separation Agreement’ which is a formal document setting out the agreement reached in […]

January Divorce Special Offer

January sees divorce rates spike throughout the UK and as a result of this we have a special offer with fixed fee divorces starting at only £275.00 plus VAT throughout January. Once Christmas is over, children return to school and new year’s resolutions are made, but for many it is also an end to their […]