Family Law

4.04.23

I have been kicked out – am I entitled to rent from my former partner?

Exclusion, compensation, and occupation rent When relationships involving cohabitation break down, it is very common for one party to leave the cohabited property, whether willingly or because they have no other choice. In such circumstances, the party that has left may be entitled to be paid rent by the remaining party to compensate for their…

9.12.22

Family law open evening

Brett Wilson LLP’s family law department will be holding an opening evening on 11 January 2023.  Those who attend will be able to have a free/no-obligation discussion with one of the firm’s specialist family law solicitors. The evening will run from 6.30-9.00pm and is aimed at anyone who requires help with any of the following…

3.11.22

Brett Wilson LLP ranked in The Times list of the top 250 law firms in England and Wales

Brett Wilson LLP has been listed in the Times Best Law Firms directory.  The directory lists the top 250 law firms in England and Wales (out of some 10,000 firms).  The firm is commended in the technology, media and telecoms category for its defamation and reputation management work. The firm’s entry can be found here….

14.10.22

Behind the veil of secrecy: the move towards transparency in Family Courts

For many years, Family Court cases have been shielded by stringent rules on confidentiality. Consequently, press reports have been rare, and in instances where high profile cases have seen a degree of press intrusion, reporting has usually been limited to a broad overview of the case. Despite this, the issue of transparency in the Family…

7.10.22

Legal Services Payment Orders: interim orders for your spouse to fund family law proceedings

Legal Services Payment Orders (‘LSPOs’) are a potential method for funding matrimonial disputes. What is an LSPO? An LSPO is an interim order used in proceedings where one of the parties to the marriage does not have the financial means to pay for legal representation and cannot secure a loan (usually because they do not…

Should I take a litigation loan to fund a divorce?

The legal costs in some matrimonial matters can be unaffordably high, particularly where there are significant assets at stake.  However, with the prospect of a financial settlement at the end of proceedings, litigation loans can present a solution. Family litigation funding process It is not uncommon for parties going through divorce proceedings and financial dispute…

12.08.22

The future of family justice?

The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has outlined long-term plans for the creation of a database that can be used in financial remedy claims to indicate likely outcomes. This comes as part of a project to streamline just results in a court system that is increasingly struggling to deal with claims in…

24.06.22

Family law: child arrangements FAQs

My child’s other parent and I were never married, is that a problem? No, the law treats the parent-parent and the parent-child relationship just the same regardless of whether the parents were ever married. Your rights to spend time with your child and to help make decisions for them are no different regardless of whether…

29.04.22

Matrimonial home rights: Where do I stand if my spouse owns our home?

Many married people do not appreciate that they may have legal rights associated with their home, even if they don’t own it. Below we consider what can be done to protect yourself whilst going through a divorce, or even if you have hit a rocky patch and just want some reassurance. My spouse owns our…

21.03.22

No Fault Divorce: An introduction

On 6 April 2022 the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 comes into force, and we embark upon a new era of “no fault” divorce. Below we consider the key features of the reform. What was the old law, and why is the new law a good thing? Under the current law, you have to…