Child Contact
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Divorced parents blocking child access
13th June 2012
Children's Minister Tim Loughton says too many divorced or separated parents are freezing out their ex-partners when it comes to child access, and is proposing tougher penalties for parents in... Read more
Child maintenance charges back on table
2nd February 2012
MPs have overturned the House of Lords defeat of a proposal to introduce charges for using the Child Support Agency to arrange child maintenance payments. A 142 majority in the House... Read more
Proposed right to child access for divorced parents
6th January 2012
Government ministers are currently drafting new rules which would give divorced parents an automatic right to have contact with their children after their divorce. If adopted, the rules would mean that... Read more
Family law review criticised for views on child access
4th November 2011
The family law review led by David Norgrove at the behest of the Conservative party has come under criticism for maintaining the stance of favouring mothers over fathers when it... Read more
New adoption guidance to stamp out stereotyping
2nd March 2011
New adoption guidance has been issued by the Department of Education with a view to tackling apparent discrimination among Councils when considering potential adopters. The guidance aims to stop Councils... Read more
Children removed from parents because of obesity
17th November 2010
Statistics received under a Freedom of Information request have shown that four children in the UK have been removed from their parents because they were so obese. The four cases... Read more
Vulnerable failed by the adoption system
8th November 2010
Yesterday saw the end of National Adoption week, a campaign designed to raise awareness and generally inform people about adoption in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. However,... Read more
Feuding parents should try mediation before court action
6th October 2010
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has called on parents arguing over child custody to try independent mediation as a first option before just going straight to court to resolve a dispute.... Read more
Child abduction by a parent increases by 39 per cent
12th August 2010
The Foreign office has warned that it anticipates that the child abductions by parents are likely to double as we enter the summer holiday season; the number of abductions having... 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
'Pretend schoolboy' jailed
9th September 2008
A man who befriended a 13-year-old girl's brother by pretending to be a schoolboy has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after having sex with the girl.In news that might be... Read more
Children's rights conference begins
3rd September 2008
President McAleese has opened the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children (ENOC) conference in Dublin, Northern Ireland. The Irish Times reports that the annual event is to be attended by... 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
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
'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
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
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
Family court 'concerns' revealed
14th July 2008
The Times's campaign against 'secrecy' in family courts has provoked a reaction that illustrates this is a "vital debate", the newspaper has claimed.According to the newspaper, the rules, which ensure... Read more
Britain faces family court 'secrecy' investigation
10th July 2008
Family courts in Great Britain and Northern Ireland are facing an investigation by Europe into secrecy in the system, the Times reports.Recent allegations have said reporting restrictions and controlled entry... 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
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
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
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
UK 'divorce fair' for splitting couples
5th June 2008
Couples from all over the UK, including Northern Ireland, who plan to divorce are being invited to the country's first 'divorce fair'.Solicitors, counsellors and financial advisors will all be on... 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
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
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
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
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
Father jailed for CSA breach
27th June 2007
A solicitor has been imprisoned for failing to pay child support to his ex-wife for their three children, despite the fact that he looked after his sons half the time.Michael... 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
Unmarried adoption bid quashed
5th June 2007
The Lord Chief Justice has quashed a bid by an unmarried couple to overturn the law banning those who are not wed to adopt children, the Belfast Telegraph reports.At the... 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
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