Will this mark a new era for financial remedy cases – Divorce reform work begins

Will this mark a new era for financial remedy cases – Divorce reform work begins

Posted by on Apr 5, 2023 in News

Work has finally begun on a review of the laws governing finances on divorce – but a consultation on proposed reforms does not appear likely to emerge until 2025 at the earliest.

A year after the government promised a review would be coming ‘within a matter of weeks’, the Law Commission today announced that it has begun preliminary work on the project. The commission aims to publish a ‘scoping paper’ in September 2024. Scoping papers are part of the ‘pre-consultation’ phase of a law reform project, which means a consultation on proposed reforms is unlikely to appear until at least 2025.

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Transfer of Assets – CGT Rules due to change for divorcing spouses

Transfer of Assets – CGT Rules due to change for divorcing spouses

Posted by on Apr 3, 2023 in News

Under the current tax rules, the transfer of assets between former spouses or civil partners is made on a ‘no gain or no loss’ basis but only if transfers of assets take place in the tax year in which the couple have separated. This means any gains or losses from the transfer are deferred until the asset is disposed of by the receiving spouse.

The receiving spouse will be treated as having acquired the asset at the original cost paid when the transferring spouse purchased the asset.

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Family Mediation Week 2023 starts today

Family Mediation Week 2023 starts today

Posted by on Jan 16, 2023 in News

Brighton & Hove Law are pleased to support Resolution and the Family Mediation Council (FMC) in highlighting how mediation can help families sort out their issues constructively.

Should you require a referral to a mediator or further information about the role of a mediator in your case and how this may assist you then please do get in touch!

What is Family Mediation Week?

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Family solicitor embarks on menopause campaign

Family solicitor embarks on menopause campaign

Posted by on Feb 10, 2022 in News

A family solicitor is hoping to raise awareness of how women going through a divorce may be disadvantaged financially as a result of menopause.

Farhana Shahzady, director of London and south-east firm Family Law Partners, says her family law menopause project poses a direct challenge to the Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill, which limits spousal maintenance to five years unless the spouse would otherwise suffer serious financial hardship. The bill, sponsored by crossbench peer Baroness Deech, was reintroduced in the House of Lords last July and awaits a second reading.

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This week is national family mediation week

This week is national family mediation week

Posted by on Jan 19, 2022 in News

Here are some reasons why you may wish to consider using family mediation to work out your future arrangements:

  • Family mediation is a way for families to manage changes that arise when they decide that it is time to separate and when relationships change.  These changes can have a significant impact particularly where there are children – in practical and emotional/psychological ways.  If parents are willing to use mediation to try and resolve matters, any children involved will always be a central priority when any decisions are made.
  • If children know that their parents are working out arrangements for them together, this can be of great reassurance to them at a time when their world seems to be turned upside down. 
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New FREE Parenting Through Separation Guide offered to families in Brighton, Hove and all Sussex

New FREE Parenting Through Separation Guide offered to families in Brighton, Hove and all Sussex

Posted by on Nov 25, 2021 in News

  • Sarah Riddell from Brighton&Hove Law is offering the guide for free to local families who are divorcing or separating.
  • The Parenting Through Separation Guide is written by family professionals and advises parents on how to put their children first during a separation.
  • The guide is launched during Good Divorce Week which runs from 29 Nov – 3 Dec, run by the national family justice organisation Resolution.
  • This year the focus of Good Divorce Week is parenting through separation

A local family mediator is offering parents in Brighton a free guide that contains advice and information to help them put children first during a separation or divorce. 

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Sarah Jane Riddell mediator and collaborative lawyer writes for Resolution. Brighton & Hove Law thank Jo O’ Sullivan for running this workshop

Sarah Jane Riddell mediator and collaborative lawyer writes for Resolution.  Brighton & Hove Law thank Jo O’ Sullivan for running this workshop

Posted by on Aug 21, 2021 in News

Equality already achieved? Experiences of LGBT + lawyers in practice

by Sarah-Jane Riddell

Equality

This was an informal and thought-provoking workshop, run by Jo O’Sullivan, Remyhs Baker, Oscar Davies, Bridget Garrood and Stephen Lue. They took turns to provide a candid account of their individual experiences both in work and personal contexts.
It was an opportunity to participate in an open discussion that was heartfelt and affirmed the strength of the LGBT + community generally as well as within the sphere of family law for both our clients and our colleagues.
The opening question “Are we there yet?” sparked discussion of a wide range of topics where there had been a positive change in recent times, but where ongoing work was hoped for, including:

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Social worker is compensated for criticisms of work only being highlighted in the judgement of the case

Social worker is compensated for criticisms of work only being highlighted in the judgement of the case

Posted by on Jun 23, 2021 in News

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered the UK to pay damages to a social worker who became aware of criticisms of her conduct only when a family court judge delivered an oral judgment at the end of a hearing.

The social worker went to the Court of Appeal, which found that the process by which the judge arrived at his criticisms was ‘manifestly unfair’ and set aside the adverse findings. However, in SW v United Kingdom, published yesterday, the Strasbourg court said the social worker suffered prejudice personally and professionally which the Court of Appeal’s judgment did not remedy.

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