On 21st October 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his intention to “ take presumption of contact out of law. ” At SH&Co. Family Law, Director Nicola Deakin explains what this potential change could mean for parents,...
Family
The What – What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)? A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a vital legal document that lets you choose a person (or several people) you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so yourself in...
When couples separate, it’s often an emotional and stressful time. Trust and communication can easily break down, making it much harder to reach an agreement about the children — and that’s where legal guidance can make a real difference. ...
Once you have reached an agreement about your finances and property during your divorce you should consider making this legally binding. To do this you will need to draft a consent order with the help of a solicitor and ask the court to approve it. If your...
A freezing order, also known as a freezing injunction, is a temporary injunction issued by the court to prevent one party from disposing or dealing with their assets. In divorce or dissolution cases, it is often used by the applicant to prevent the...
This week is Good Divorce Week – a time to spotlight the need for better support for families going through separation. For some couples, litigation may well be the only way for them to resolve their dispute, but far too many families going through...
If you are considering getting a divorce you may be wondering whether your business will be factored into divorce proceedings. As a starting point, a business is treated as an asset when you get a divorce. If you have an interest in a business, then it will...
If you are considering getting a divorce, you may be looking to understand more about the process, especially as it has changed in recent years. The law on divorce changed in April 2022, when no-fault divorce replaced the old divorce process. No-fault...
Financial disclosure during divorce or separation involves providing detailed information about your financial situation, including your assets, resources, and future financial requirements. Typically, this information is exchanged between you and your...
When a relationship ends, the hardest part is often working out what happens with the children. As parents, naturally you’ll both want the very best for them — but things can become especially worrying if one parent wants to move away, whether...
Divorce is rarely easy... ... but recent updates to divorce laws in England aim to make the process smoother, clearer, and fairer - especially for children. With no-fault divorce now fixed in place, 2025 brings even more changes that focus on...
Bezos: Third Wealthiest, Second Marriage, First Prenup As the world’s third richest man (behind Elon and Mark Zuckerberg, natch) recently married for the second time, the media has been full of complex ‘airtight’ prenup details. ...
Question: What does the loch ness monster, quickie divorces , bulls getting angry when seeing red and common law marriage have in common? (it’s not a joke!) Answer*: They all hail from the land of poppycock! At Susan Howarth...
As kids are lining up for A Minecraft Movie this Easter, many families are making the most of fun days out together in the sun. But if you've recently gone through a separation or divorce, co-parenting might feel like a bit of a challenge—almost...
The good times and the bad times Life is a funny old business, full of ups and downs and with many a curveball thrown in when you least expect it. You might be planning your wedding, buying your dream home or making a will to provide for your children....
Domestic abuse can affect anyone... ... even the rich and famous – there are countless examples of celebrities, actors, rappers, musicians and sports stars arrested for domestic violence. The widely publicised cases of Chris Brown, Mel Gibson,...
In her words: Lisa's Survivor Story* It’s a love story: Girl meets boy, they fall in love, they live happily ever after. Except it doesn’t always happen that way, does it? Yes, I met a man and fell in love. We got married and we had three...
Holidays are no excuse for Domestic Abuse Each year both national and local domestic abuse charities, police forces and counsels run campaigns warning of the sadly predictable rise in instances of domestic abuse during the Christmas break. News outlets...
Gaslighting and Mental Health For those of us who are old enough, we will remember watching the movie Gaslight as a child with our parents/grandparents, the movie was a psychological thriller about a young woman whose husband slowly manipulates her...
With the shops starting to fill up with Christmas chocolate, mulled wine and bucks fizz, we cannot miss the fact that Christmas is fast approaching. For children whose parents are no longer living together, it is important to think ahead and begin...
In her words: Stella's Story Does a leopard change its spots? If I could send myself 10 years back in time and be the outside looking in, I would be wanting to shake that woman and ask her ‘ Why? ’ - Why would I allow myself to go...
More than the holiday blues: domestic abuse & children Although the summer holidays seem a dim and distant memory, at this time of year we often see an increase in domestic abuse that has been fuelled by money worries, excessive alcohol consumption and...
You don’t know what goes on behind closed doors When talking about domestic abuse, I typically find that people assume only women can be victims. This is not true. Whilst statistically the majority of cases involve a female ‘victim’ and...
… and we’re not talking the banana kind! Hot on the heels of the shock end to Kevin Costner and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s respective 18-year marriages, Sofia Vergara (Modern Family, America’s Got Talent) has...
Summer lovin’ or summer stress? For many of us, it’s hard to imagine summertime conjuring up anything other than images of long sunny days, fun-packed family outings, lazy afternoons and picnics in the park. But if you’re divorced or...
…. being ‘the only things certain in life’ ? Perhaps he was, but we’d like to throw ‘change’ into the mix. When talking death and taxes, you’d be forgiven for thinking that your will ticks those boxes, yes? But...
As we cautiously look forward to a Christmas spent with loved ones this year, we’re coping with the current Plan A measures and waiting with baited breath for rumoured Plan B or C restrictions to be imposed. And despite it being a magical time of year...
Life’s ups and downs Working in the legal sector means we really do see people through the good times and the bad. And this last 18-months has been an eye-opener! Thanks to the global pandemic, weddings have been postponed , moving house was well...
Is the end of the Covid cooker in sight? The last 18 months have really taken their toll on families, causing stress and dividing many, regardless of whether they’re living together or apart, nearby or far away. Isolation, shielding, quarantining,...
The ‘unprecedented’ year As we head towards Christmas checking what we can and can’t do in our tiers and confirming our Christmas bubbles, we can’t help but look back at this strange and dark year. Who could have predicted it? 2020...
What the statistics say The current pandemic has a lot to answer for. Earlier this year, divorce rates were noted to be soaring in China and the US following the coronavirus outbreak, and since the UK lockdown began in March this year, at...
Divorce law shake-up Following more than 20 years of ‘consideration’, the UK has finally caught up with countries such as the US, Australia and Scotland by introducing the new legal concept of a ‘no-fault divorce’. Under the...
Restrictions fight illness but fuel domestic abuse The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the world to take drastic measures in an effort to fight the disease and minimise the spread of infection. Lockdowns, self-isolation and social distancing have resulted in...
Sweetness or Sadness? Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s day came and went this year as it always does – with the usual commercial assault of hearts and flowers, hugs and kisses, cupid, chocolates and cuddly bears! What came a surprise though,...
Ruins not Romance Love it or hate it, there’s no avoiding it… Christmas is here again! And yes, some of us might be all tinsel and baubles, glowing with excitement to share it with a cherished partner. But for others, the ongoing build-up of...
A row over curtains Earlier this year, a businessman and his interior designer ex-wife ran up £1million in lawyers’ bills over property and furnishings alone in their divorce case – with a judge needing to step in and rule on who should...
New Life Spring has finally sprung and it’s a lighter, warmer place full of new life - as we put those cold, grey drizzly winter months behind us, we find ourselves looking ahead with promise. Divorce can feel a bit like this. And if you’re...
As another new year rolls round again, many of us are looking to make life changes, often following the festive indulgences. Diets and detox top this list but it might surprise you that divorce applications are up there too. January signifies a new year...
Magical mayhem! It the same story every year. As we hurtle towards Christmas and the craziness ramps up, the adrenalin is pumping and the stress levels start soaring. The tree, the decorating, the presents, the wrapping, the delivering, the turkey, the...
Whether it’s the KFC mutated chicken, the earth being flat or goldfish having a 3-second memory, we all love a good old urban myth – y’know, the kind of legend that spreads by word of mouth for its comedy or shock value. The legal world is...
Rare divorce case highlights the need for reform The final ruling in what’s been described as the most significant divorce case of the century has not only caused devastation and one party ‘unable to move forward with their...
Football Fever As World Cup fever grips the country, many of us look forward to supporting the England squad throughout the tournament – enjoying the hot weather with barbeques and cold beers, eagerly awaiting each game whilst keeping our fingers...
The Royal Wedding - the knot was tied but was a prenup signed? It was arguably the wedding of the year: a British Prince and an American actress, a real-life fairytale. And although this is Meghan Markle’s second marriage, if we’re...
Valentine’s Day: the final straw Every year, from 1st January onwards, we get Valentine’s Day coming at us from every direction. Wherever you look it’s Hallmark-heaven, with hearts, flowers, chocolates and cuddly toys thrust in our...
It’s that time of year again, the John Lewis ad has melted the nation’s hearts and the festive season is firmly underway. But for some parents, it’s not all yuletide greetings and HoHoHo! For those who are separated or divorced, amicably...
In Celebrity Cohabitation News... …and only days after she talked of marriage and baby No.2 being on the cards in the future. OK, it’s a fair cop, it’s fake news - we made it up to get your attention (but for good reason, keep reading). ...
Business is booming According to the Institute for Family Business, we have over 4.7million family-owned businesses here in the UK and with new research by cloud accounting software provider FreeAgent revealing an estimated 1.4 million of these...
Soulmate found! Whether you were an obsessed fan or not, you can’t have missed hearing about this summer’s TV hit and arguably everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure, ITV2’s reality-show Love Island . The nation has been hooked...
You’d imagine not, in this day and age, but some would argue that discrimination does still exist for certain couples in the UK. Marriage Equality Not long ago, it was widely recognised that marriage discriminated against same sex couples ...
As we approach Easter, it’s got me thinking. At this time of year children are getting excited about the Easter Bunny and chocolate egg hunts, and some of the religious among us are preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, of His resurrection...
Mediation is a commonly misunderstood word in the legal world. The biggest misconception being that mediation can help you mend your relationship, a bit like counselling. The simple answer is, it cannot. It’s not a method for reconciliation but one...
As we fast approach February 14th, Spring is on the horizon and love is in the air. Along with Christmas and New Year, Valentine’s Day is considered one of the most romantic times to pop the question and, according to the Chillisauce Marriage...
It’s that time of year again. January - the month named after Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions, and a time generally associated with rebirth, renewal and resolutions. And as we reflect on the previous 12 months, our attention turns to how...
…financial stress, marital strain & domestic abuse. As wonderful as Christmas is for the vast majority, existing marital problems combined with financial stress and playing happy families together can put some relationships under extreme...
“Brangelina” split throws co-parenting into the spotlight again Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and their rainbow family once looked like the picture perfect family, with the world seemingly following every harmonious collaborative move they made. ...
… how can summer stress can push a relationship over the edge? As the sun sets on summertime, September is fast becoming the top month to divorce. Over recent years divorce lawyers and relationship counsellors have noted a surge in...
Technology, the internet and online services have revolutionised the world as we know it and transformed the way we live on a daily basis – how we make friends, keep in touch with the world, find love, socialise, entertain ourselves, learn, shop, pay...
In years to come, we could be looking back on 2016 as a landmark moment, the year the legal sector’s recruitment landscape changed. The traditional route to law Historically, if you wanted to become a solicitor, the traditional route...
Consider this: you need to go to court for custody of your children following the breakdown of your marriage; you aren’t eligible for legal aid but nor can you afford a solicitor …what are your options? Well, you can either represent...
Civil partnership equality, and the question of its relevance and importance, has been all over the news recently. Legal Fight A heterosexual couple have taken their legal fight to enter into a civil partnership rather than a marriage to the high...
The BBC has recently reported on the new domestic violence law that could see perpetrators jailed for up to 5 years . Effective from December 2015, the legislation targets ‘coercive and controlling’ behaviour: The Crown Prosecution Service...
The Festive Pressure Cooker There’s no ‘bah humbug’ about it – it’s a well-known fact that, historically, the Christmas holiday and all its trimmings can create astronomical tension and unease in families. The continuous...
Magic or Misery? For many children, Christmas is the most magical time of the year. And, as a parent, there’s nothing more wonderful than soaking up their joy and excitement during the build-up, on the day itself and throughout the festive break. ...
Divided Opinion In the US of A, where most things are arguably bigger, bolder and better, prenups are often the norm and simply considered to be sensible planning, much like an insurance policy. But across the pond, here in the UK, if we even hear the word...
Along with bats being blind, Vikings having had horns on their helmets and you never being more than 6ft away from a rat, the ‘common law marriage’ could arguably be one of the biggest urban myths around. Real or no real? Despite living in an...
Because a pre-nup is much more than a Kanye West lyric!
It has recently been reported across the media a case which most people may find astonishing to read and accept: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-31832392 This is a case where an ex-wife could look to receive a financial pay out after...
What is a Forced Marriage? A forced marriage is “a marriage that takes place without the full and free consent of both parties”. It is not the same as an arranged marriage where the families take the lead in selecting a marriage partner but the...
According to the findings in March 2014 from the Office for National Statistics, “In 2011, 12% of adults living in households in England and Wales were living as part of a cohabiting couple”. This has increased from 9.8% in 2001. According to...
The schemes set up to deal with child maintenance for separated parents have been previously referred to as the Child Support Agency (CSA) and the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC) with the Child Maintenance Options (CMO) scheme that was...
The rules surrounding Domestic Violence and Abuse have recently changed to allow people to request the police to check their partner’s previous history of Domestic Violence or violent acts. This is known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme or...
2014 is now upon us and you may have been aware of many articles and headings in the media about “Blue Monday” and “Divorce Monday” and that this is supposed to be the most depressing week of the new year. This is because the next few...
It has recently been reported in several legal journals the difficulties that victims of Domestic Violence are experiencing in accessing Legal Aid to assist with funding their cases at Court, despite the fact it should still be available: ...
It has recently been reported that Pirates of the Carribean and Lord of the Rings actor Orlando Bloom has separated from his model wife, Miranda Kerr after a three-year marriage: ...
It has recently been reported that Clint Eastwood’s marriage has broken down after 17 years and his wife Dina Eastwood has filed for divorce this week. It appears that Dina has cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason why the...