Divorce
Choose solicitor carefully warns Legal Ombudsman
13th June 2013
The Legal Ombudsman that deals with complaints about advice received from lawyers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, received most complaints in respect of advice on divorce,... 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
Debt doubles chance of divorce among retirees
5th June 2013
New research suggests that elderly couples with debt problems are twice as likely to divorce as couples whose finances are in order. The study carried out by Age-UK and the International... 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Husband loses bankruptcy plea to cancel divorce debt
7th November 2012
Alexander McRoberts, aged 54, has lost his plea to have his divorce debt cancelled after being discharged from bankruptcy. Mr McRoberts divorced his wife in 2003 and she was awarded 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
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
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
Half of couples target conflict-free divorce
24th September 2012
A new survey by Resolution has revealed that 53% of couples would work to ensure their divorce passed with minimal conflict as a matter of priority, and revealed that financial... 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
One in three divorces over household chores
10th September 2012
A survey carried out by a household and cleaning products manufacturer, Vileda, suggests that one in three separations in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are connected to... 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
2300 divorces in Northern Ireland last year
25th July 2012
There were 2300 divorces in Northern Ireland last year according to new statistics released by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), meaning divorce levels have maintained fairly constant... Read more
Divorce solicitor criticised by top judge
16th July 2012
A barrister involved in a high profile divorce case withdrew his representation of his client after the judge hearing the case criticised him in private remarks which the barrister said... Read more
Divorce woman has house restriction lifted
22nd June 2012
An unnamed woman who was ordered to live at a specified address nearly two years ago, after her divorce, has had the restriction which she compared to "house arrest" removed... Read more
Pensioner unaware that wife divorced him
22nd June 2012
A pensioner has claimed that he was unaware that his wife of 30 years was divorcing him until he received a letter from the court saying the Decree Nisi had... Read more
Farmers turn to pre-nups to protect land
11th June 2012
Divorce solicitors in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are seeing an increase in the number of farmers wanting to execute a pre-nuptial agreement in order to keep... Read more
First high profile divorce of the twitter generation
7th June 2012
Divorce solicitors are calling the upcoming divorce case of multi-millionaire Ben Goldsmith the first high-profile court case of the 'Twitter generation'. The couple have both taken to Twitter with photos and... Read more
Husband says wife must be insane to want divorce
11th May 2012
Peter Savva, aged 64, told the Court of Appeal that his wife Niki must be "ill" or "confused" to want a divorce and asked for psychiatric tests to be carried... Read more
Family court judge to combat divorce
1st May 2012
High Court Judge Sir Paul Coleridge is launching a campaign to promote marriage as the "gold standard for relationships" because he believes the extent of divorce and relationship breakdowns in... Read more
More wealthy couples seek 'friendly divorces'
12th April 2012
New reports suggest that wealthy couples are increasingly moving away from the normal 'fight it out in court' approach to divorce, and attempting to agree their separation on friendlier terms. More... Read more
Judge calls for 'divorces without blame'
27th March 2012
President of the High Court's Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall, has called for an end to the divorce system that requires one of the partners to be deemed guilty, or... Read more
Divorce court judge prepares for his own divorce
16th March 2012
Mr Justice Mostyn, one of the most well known High Court judges in the UK divorce courts, will soon have his own divorce hearing as he and wife set to... Read more
Second divorce slays Dragon's den star's finances
9th March 2012
The second divorce of millionaire Duncan Bannatyne highlights two important issues that can make the difference between a smooth divorce and a bitter one - and it seems he has... Read more
Lords vote against child maintenance arrangement charges
30th January 2012
A government proposal to charge single parents to use the Child Support Agency to arrange child maintenance has been voted against by a 142 majority in the House of Lords... Read more
Post-nuptial agreement was 'grossly unfair'
23rd January 2012
While UK courts have found themselves contemplated pre-nuptial agreements in divorce proceedings over the last year, a high profile case this month involved a post-nuptial agreement - a contract entered... Read more
Mediation focus for divorcing couples criticised
10th January 2012
Family solicitor group Resolution has warned that government plans to focus on mediation for couples who have decided to divorce will prejudice those who have abusive or difficult spouses. The group... Read more
Facebook cited in third of UK divorces
5th January 2012
UK divorce website 'Divorce-Online' has carried out a survey which reveals that social media website Facebook is cited in 33% of behaviour petitions as a reason for wanting to divorce.... Read more
Fear of divorce keeps marriage levels down
20th December 2011
New research involving interviews with co-habiting couples suggests that a fear of divorce is one of the main reasons they hold back on getting married. It has long been speculated that... Read more
Proposed inheritance rights for cohabitants
15th December 2011
The Law Commission has published its recommendations for changes to the law on intestacy and family provision claims on death, which include a proposal which would give inheritance rights to... Read more
Court rules on property rights for unmarried couples
10th November 2011
In a decision that will have serious ramifications for over two million unmarried cohabiting couples throughout England and Wales, the supreme court has issued a judgment in the case of... Read more
Estranged wife wins appeal against her £4.4m divorce settlement
9th November 2011
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal against the £4.4million divorce settlement awarded to Jennifer Grubb on the basis that there was no error in the original court judgment. Mrs... Read more
Review urges divorcing couples to avoid court
4th November 2011
The family law review carried out by David Norgrove encourages couples to use 'do-it-yourself' models of divorce instead of going straight for the courts to work out divorce settlements, child... Read more
Divorcees over 50 challenged by new financial freedom
22nd September 2011
New research carried out by Tesco Bank suggests that people who divorce after the age of 50 are often forced to deal with financial independence for the first time in... Read more
Sir Paul McCartney to marry without prenuptial agreement
20th September 2011
The Daily Mail has reported that Sir Paul McCartney has rejected fiancee Nancy Shevell's offer to sign a pre-nuptial agreement ahead of their wedding. Sir Paul had to pay a divorce... Read more
Lagrange could face record divorce settlement
7th September 2011
Multi-millionaire hedge fund manager Pierre Lagrange, aged 49, could be facing a record divorce settlement, or certainly one of the most expensive in the UK to date, after he announced... Read more
Are celebrity infidelities lowering divorce levels?
30th August 2011
New research suggests that more people in Northern Ireland are now prepared to forgive a partner who has been unfaithful, when in the past they may have insisted on a... Read more
Record divorce payout - £220m for 2yrs with husband
22nd August 2011
A British record divorce settlement has been awarded to the ex-wife of a Russian oligarch, after Galina Besharova, aged 52, was awarded an estimated £220million payout despite the couple only... Read more
Record divorce payout - £220m for 2yrs with husband
22nd August 2011
A British record divorce settlement has been awarded to the ex-wife of a Russian oligarch, after Galina Besharova, aged 52, was awarded an estimated £220million payout despite the couple... Read more
More couples seeking 'friendly' divorces
18th August 2011
While the divorce rate in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK largely remains a constant, one thing that is beginning to change is how couples go about separating,... Read more
Amputee's compensation money added to divorce pot
2nd August 2011
A ruling by the Appeal Court could have a significant impact on how financial settlements in a divorce are calculated where one of the spouses has previously won a compensation... Read more
Separation Deed polls favoured over divorce
24th June 2011
The Office for National Statistics has released a report showing a 6.4% decrease in the number of divorces in England and Wales since 2008, however, it would appear that it... Read more
Is it easier for a woman to ask for a pre-nup?
21st June 2011
Prince William and Hugh Hefner are two wealthy males to recently say they would marry without a pre-nuptial agreement, though in the case of the latter, it wasn't enough to... Read more
Liz Hurley granted 92-second divorce
15th June 2011
After 4 years of marriage it took just 92 seconds for a Liz Hurley to be granted a divorce by the judge at the High Court's Family division. Judge Penny Cushing... Read more
Surprise findings in US research on divorce children
6th June 2011
New research on the effect of divorce on children has been published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, and suggests that children of a divorce suffer from poor... Read more
Judge says divorce laws are damaging
12th May 2011
Judge Sir Paul Coleridge has spoken out of the need for a reform of the UKs divorce laws, accusing previous governments of "ducking" the issue, and allowing cohabiting relationships and... Read more
No prenuptial agreement for Prince William
4th May 2011
Senior royal sources have confirmed that no legally binding prenuptial agreement was signed by Prince William and now-wife Kate Middleton. There was much speculation about whether Prince William would use a... Read more
Divorce case takes six months break to "cool off"
18th April 2011
The £400million divorce battle between property dealer Scott Young and his wife Michelle has been acrimonious from the start, but after a week of particularly bitter exchanges the High Court... Read more
Family breakdowns at record levels says CSJ
18th April 2011
A new report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) examining the UK family structure suggests that the number of family breakdowns has reached record levels. The report says that the... Read more
Speculation grows on prenup for Prince William
8th April 2011
While the news is filled daily with speculation and rumour on the absurdest of details of the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, one perhaps more darker line... Read more
Russian divorce case could 'open floodgates'
5th April 2011
The Appeal Court decision in a hearing concerning the divorce of a Russian couple could open the floodgates for divorce tourism that would make Britain the "divorce capital of the... Read more
Marriage levels at 100 year low
31st March 2011
The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that marriage levels in England and Wales in 2009 fell to their lowest in over a century. For... Read more
Millionaire says divorce will leave him homeless
25th March 2011
Millionaire Athelstan Whaley, aged 60, says the divorce settlement awarded to his wife of 21 years Belinda Whaley, aged 47, will leave him homeless, and will also require money held... Read more
Property disposal set aside in divorce proceedings
14th March 2011
The Court of Appeal has set aside the sale of a £2million mansion by Russian oligarch Boris Agrest in ancillary relief proceedings, with the Court concluding that the sale was... Read more
Parents resist inheritance for children fearing divorce
7th March 2011
New research by Rensburg Sheppards suggests that a third of parents are concerned about leaving an inheritance of money to children who are married, fearing that they might get divorced... Read more
Number of divorces at lowest since 1974
17th February 2011
Data released by the Office for National Statistics reveals that the number of divorces in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest level since 1974. Data is available up to... Read more
Judge calls for more rights for unmarried couples
10th February 2011
Britain's most senior family judge, Sir Nicholas Wall, has called for new rights for unmarried co-habiting couples to deal with the distribution of assets when they split up. The judge... Read more
Amputee loses half of crash compensation in divorce
8th February 2011
Amputee Kevin Mansfield, aged 41, has begun a landmark legal battle to stop his ex-wife from taking away half of his £500,000 crash compensation in their divorce. The sum was... Read more
Divorce blunder sees man fined for bigamy
7th February 2011
A man who committed bigamy by marrying his fiancee of 5 years, despite still being married to his first wife, has said that he "didn't want to let his partner... Read more
Parents to agree on child maintenance themselves
17th January 2011
The Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) has published a consultation on child maintenance reforms that would see divorcing or separating parents reaching an agreement on maintenance arrangements themselves, or... Read more
Reforms could make pre-nups commonplace in UK
5th January 2011
The Ministry of Justice is currently drawing up reforms that would allow couples to enter into legally binding pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements for the first time in Britain. The move... Read more
Government divorce calculator criticised
31st December 2010
The government has launched an online divorce calculator that allows people to work out the divorce settlement they could receive if they leave their spouse. The tool has been widely... Read more
Wife wins £2.5m in 'Nazi gold ' divorce case
17th December 2010
Christina Brandon, aged 62, has been granted a £2.5million divorce settlement in the much publicised case that saw her accuse her former husband Peter Brandon, aged 67, of hiding three... 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
1 in 5 US divorces involves Facebook
2nd December 2010
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has released a new survey that says that one in five divorces in the US involve the social media website Facebook. As many as... Read more
Lottery winner forced to pay £2m to ex-wife
22nd November 2010
In yet another example of the complicated rules surrounding divorce settlements, a man who won £56million in the Euromillions lottery has been forced to give his ex-wife £2million of his... Read more
Mystery of vanishing gold bars in divorce case
18th November 2010
The divorce of Peter and Christina Brandon could certainly not be described as typical, or boring for that matter - an estate largely built up from money going back to... Read more
US case uses Facebook to decide child custody
26th October 2010
A child custody case in the US was decided in favour of the father after evidence of the mother's lifestyle was gathered from her profile on facebook. The case serves... Read more
Pre-nups and their implications for the UK
21st October 2010
The Supreme Court ruling in the Radmacher divorce case has paved the way for pre-nuptial agreements to be recognised in English and Welsh courts. The move takes the UK one... Read more
Supreme Court rules pre-nup is binding
20th October 2010
The Radmacher divorce case has been considered by solicitors as the first real test case to examine whether pre-nuptial agreements are applicable in English and Welsh law, and the Supreme... Read more
Divorcing parents to take child custody classes
29th September 2010
A new scheme is being piloted in Surrey that requires separating parents to attend custody classes so they can appreciate the damage and distress caused to children during a divorce... Read more
Judge warns of using children as ammunition in divorce
21st September 2010
President of the Family Division of the High Court, Sir Nicholas Wall, has said that divorcing parents are guilty of causing damage to their children by using them as a... Read more
£400million divorce wife seeks housing benefit
13th September 2010
A woman involved in a £400million divorce has applied for housing benefit as her estranged husband has not paid any of her £27,500 a month maintenance. The breakdown of the... Read more
Report says NI divorce rate one of many social ills
3rd September 2010
A new report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) entitled "Breakthrough Northern Ireland" has identified the rising divorce rate in the country as one of the 'five drivers of... Read more
Divorce case decision bars use of secretly obtained documents
30th July 2010
A Court of Appeal divorce case judgement has overturned what is commonly referred to as the 'Hilderbrand rule' allowing the admission of secretly obtained documents in divorce proceedings to assess... Read more
Costliest marriage split in British legal history
26th July 2010
Self-exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has been granted a preliminary divorce decree from his second wife, Galina Besharova, in what is likely to be the costliest marriage split in British... Read more
Rise in Prenuptial agreements among younger men
26th July 2010
New research shows that there is a generational divide when it comes to whether or not get "prenups", with younger men being much more inclined to obtain an agreement to... Read more
Being married doesn't lower risk of separation
9th July 2010
New research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), funded by the Nuffield Foundation, casts doubt on the government goal of promoting marriage in order to lower the rate of... Read more
Judge calls for common approach on parent relocation
8th July 2010
Lord Justice Thorpe, Head of International family justice and a senior Court of Appeal judge, has called for an international convention to agree upon a common approach to cases involving... Read more
Report suggests divorce is contagious
5th July 2010
A report by a group of researchers led by Dr Rose McDermott at Brown University in the US suggests that divorce can be contagious; with divorce up to 75% more... Read more
Ex-wife says ?5million divorce payout 'simply not enough'
25th June 2010
The ex-wife of Gas tycoon Gareth Jones, aged 58, has launched a legal battle to overturn the £5million divorce payout awarded to her, saying it is "simply not enough". The Court... Read more
Divorce rates down overall but up among over 60s
8th June 2010
While the British divorce rates are down overall to their lowest in 26 years, the amount of over-sixties couples going their separate ways has risen significantly. And just recently a... Read more
Tiger Woods' wife now seeking full custody of children
4th June 2010
The divorce of Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren is perhaps the highest profile separation for some years now, and the drama surrounding the proceedings seems set to continue with the... Read more
Ex-husband demands house returned after wife's fraud
28th May 2010
A man is trying to take his divorce proceedings back to court after he discovered that he is not the biological father of his 'daughter'. The man was not aware... Read more
Does more housework lower chance of divorce?
18th May 2010
The London School of Economics and Political Science has carried out research which shows that divorce rates are lower in families where the husband is more involved with housework. The research... Read more
NI 'saw fewer divorces' in 2008
29th January 2010
The number of divorces that occurred in Northern Ireland dropped to a lower level in 2008, new figures reveal.According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, there was a 4.8... Read more
Tycoon's Divorce case focuses on downloaded files
22nd January 2010
When Elizabeth Tchenguiz Imerman filed for divorce in 2008 from her husband Vivian Imerman, the Del Monte foods tycoon and former owner of the whisky distiller Whyte & Mackay, she... 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
Economic downturn 'hits divorces'
26th August 2009
Many divorcing couples in the UK and Northern Ireland are holding off on reaching a financial settlement over their split until the economic downturn ends, it has been suggested.Research by... Read more
Report calls for divorce reforms
13th July 2009
A new study from a Conservative think-tank has suggested that a "cooling-off" period should be introduced to stop couples from rushing into divorce.The Every Family Matters report from the Centre... Read more
Over 60s divorce rate above 13k annually
8th June 2009
Divorce cases among people aged above 60 are rising in the recession, according to research from equity release trade body Ship, which shows women are coming off worse in such... Read more
Women's pensions to be hit in 2009
8th April 2009
Women's pensions are expected to be hit hard this year as a £42 billion shortfall hits their retirement savings, new figures from Prudential show.According to the Prudential Class of 2009... Read more
Google Street View new divorce weapon?
30th March 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland dealing with divorce and family law may soon be faced with a new phenomenon when dealing with divorce or separation cases, it has emerged.It is just... Read more
Renegotiated divorce cases thought to be on the rise
23rd March 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may be seeing increased numbers of renegotiated divorce cases as the credit crunch has caused major changes in the finances of many ex-couples.The Daily Telegraph has... Read more
Marriage rates at record low
13th February 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland can expect to see a slowdown in the number of divorces they deal with, as new figures have shown the rate of marriage is at an... Read more
Busy week for solicitors as divorce rush begins
5th January 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland specialising in divorce are in for a barrage of new work, thanks to the combined effects of the ongoing credit crunch and the Christmas holidays, it... Read more
Couple divorces after virtual infidelity
14th November 2008
In news that may be of interest to solicitors in Northern Ireland, a married couple has divorced after the husband was caught having an affair with a female in virtual... Read more
Divorce rates change depending on economic conditions
16th October 2008
A new working paper has looked at the savings rates of families in Ireland before and after divorce was legalised 12 years ago - and has found that there was... Read more
Ireland's divorce rate on the up
28th August 2008
The rate of divorce is growing in Ireland, according to a report, having increased by 70 per cent from 2002 to 2006.In news that may be of interest to solicitors,... Read more
Britain's divorce rate rises by 150 per cent
19th August 2008
Figures published in the Sun have claimed that Britain's divorce rate has risen 150 per cent, with the credit crunch top of the blame list.According to the Sun, January usually... Read more
Divorced parents 'need to consider the children'
8th August 2008
Divorced couples should ensure they are able to put their differences aside for important family gatherings such as weddings and graduations, a family solicitor has said.Writing on her law blog,... Read more
New divorce rights for Muslim women
8th August 2008
Muslim women in the UK are to be given increased rights regarding divorce under Sharia law and negotiated between Islamic organisations and clerics.Women and men will be given more equal... 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
Charity launches anti-domestic violence campaign
6th August 2008
Anti-domestic abuse charity Refuge has launched a campaign intended to warn people about the early warning signs of domestic abuse.Research from Refuge has shown 87 per cent of women were... Read more
Abusive-partner killers 'not murderers'
5th August 2008
People who are driven to killing their abusive partners are not the same as murderers, according to a domestic violence victim writing in the Belfast Telegraph.Nicola Henry told the newspaper... Read more
Divorce 'leads to happier lives'
4th August 2008
Increased divorce rates do not mean a weakening of the family unit, but actually prevent the "huge human misery" created by social taboos in the past, a commentator has said.... Read more
Mothers calling for more family justice centres
29th July 2008
The mothers of three women who were killed by violent ex-partners are calling for the establishment of more family justice centres around Britain and Northern Ireland.Tricia Bernal claimed that her... Read more
Divorce set to go continental
28th July 2008
Nine countries in the EU are poised to harmonise their divorce laws.It was a move which was meant to include all members of the union but only certain countries have... 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
'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
Legal changes ahead for domestic violence defence
23rd July 2008
The government has announced that the law governing women who kill their partners following periods of domestic violence is to change.Under legal changes, the defences for those women who are... Read more
Divorce book runs to second edition
23rd July 2008
A book explaining divorce law for those considering going through the process has proved so popular it is running to a second edition, it has been reported.The Coventry Telegraph explained... Read more
Legal changes ahead for domestic violence defence
23rd July 2008
The government has announced that the law governing women who kill their partners following periods of domestic violence is to change.Under legal changes, the defences for those women who are... Read more
Divorce book runs to second edition
23rd July 2008
A book explaining divorce law for those considering going through the process has proved so popular it is running to a second edition, it has been reported.The Coventry Telegraph explained... Read more
War 'causing divorce and domestic abuse'
22nd July 2008
Long deployments in war zones are causing disputes between partners and provoking domestic violence in the US, it has been claimed.According to divorce lawyers in the country, the phenomenon, which... Read more
War 'causing divorce and domestic abuse'
22nd July 2008
Long deployments in war zones are causing disputes between partners and provoking domestic violence in the US, it has been claimed.According to divorce lawyers in the country, the phenomenon, which... Read more
Settlements may be reassessed in light of crunch
21st July 2008
The circumstances of the credit crunch may bring couples in Northern Ireland back to their solicitors to reassess financial settlements, the Times has reported.According to the newspaper, family law solicitor... Read more
Domestic violence conference to be held
17th July 2008
Worldwide experts on domestic violence are to come to a conference at Europe's first Family Justice Centre in Croydon.The conference will take place on July 24th and 25th and will... 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
Dads "driven to distraction" over custody rights
27th June 2008
Fathers in the UK and Northern Ireland are too concerned about not getting enough time with their children after a divorce, a family lawyer has claimed.According to Diane Benussi, fathers... 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
Civil partnership split warning
20th June 2008
People considering entering into a civil partnership in Northern Ireland should consult solicitors and plan carefully before taking the vows, it has been advised.According to the Law Society, entering into... 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
Female domestic violence victims 'should not be jailed'
18th June 2008
Prisons are not designed for women, who have mainly committed non-violent crimes, and who have often suffered domestic violence or sexual abuse, a group of charities has claimed.The group of... Read more
Parents 'need to communicate with children during divorce'
18th June 2008
In the course of and after a divorce, parents and solicitors need to explain and communicate with any children, it has been claimed.Writing for Mondaq, solicitor Donal Quinn advised parents... 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
Assets splits 'biggest divorce issue'
16th June 2008
Dividing up assets is the "significant issue" needed to define divorce law, it has been claimed.Writing in the Times, lawyer Joe Vaitilingham said that while examining the legal status of... Read more
MPs recommend education on domestic violence
13th June 2008
The all-party home affairs select committee has recommended that children in both primary and secondary school be taught about domestic violence and forced marriage.According to their report, the committee said... Read more
Legally-binding pre-nups 'would stop "fat" payouts'
13th June 2008
A solicitor has said that people wishing to divorce their wealthy partners may no longer be able to expect "fat" payouts for doing so.Speaking to BBC Two's Working Lunch, family... 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
'Increased confidence' for Northern Ireland's domestic violence sufferers
27th May 2008
Domestic abuse sufferers in Northern Ireland are increasing in confidence and becoming more willing to come forward to the police, it has been claimed.Police domestic violence specialist Angela McBride told... Read more
Domestic violence in Northern Ireland 'endemic'
23rd May 2008
Northern Ireland faces an 'endemic' problem with domestic violence, it has been claimed.The Police Service of Northern Ireland has launched a campaign against the issue, after officers attended 6,400 cases... Read more
New anti-domestic violence campaign in Northern Ireland
7th May 2008
A councillor in Buncrana has launched a campaign in a bid to wipe out domestic violence in the area, according to the Derry Journal.Darren Lalor has launched a postcard campaign... Read more
Police in Antrim offering support to victims of domestic violence
29th April 2008
The police force in County Antrim is offering support to male and female victims of domestic violence, reports the Antrim Times.According to the paper, domestic violence officer for the Antrim... Read more
Domestic violence 'increased by smoking ban'
22nd April 2008
The smoking ban and cheap alcohol in supermarkets could be fuelling domestic violence, according to a British police chief.Chief Superintendent Peter White claims that the cheap price of alcohol in... Read more
Divorce rates increase with rise of "mid-thirties crisis"
7th April 2008
The fast pace of modern life is leading to an increased number of people suffering a mid-life crisis in their thirties, otherwise known as a "thrisis", according to the Sunday... Read more
"Five-year itch" increases divorce rates
3rd April 2008
A leading scientist has said that the number of couples divorcing is on the increase, and many are unable to reach five years of marriage.American Professor Daniel Kahneman found in... 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
'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
Charman settlement could set a precedent
9th March 2007
Solicitors and financial advisers alike are eagerly watching the unfolding of the Charman divorce case, currently being heard in the Court of Appeal. The final ruling on the case, which... Read more
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