Parental responsibility – Devolvement
The Children Act 1989 specifically identifies that holders of parental responsibility can devolve that parental…
April 21, 2023 By Peter Marshall
Step-parents’ rights following separation
An increasing area where I have received enquiries over the last 30 years, with a…
January 26, 2023 By Peter Marshall
What Are Private Family Law Proceedings?
There are some common misconceptions around private family law proceedings. This is the first article…
January 17, 2022 By Peter Marshall
The Bank of grandma and grandad: Have you helped your grandchild to purchase a property?
As with parents, grandparents are increasingly helping their grandchildren to purchase their first property. If…
November 1, 2021 By Stephens Scown
Child Arrangements in Devon – changes as a result of Practice Direction 36Q
What is Practice Direction 36Q and how does it affect child arrangements in Devon? Owing…
July 21, 2021 By Philippa Leaity
Taking children abroad for a summer holiday – the law for separated parents
What are the rules for taking children abroad when your family is separated? With the…
July 14, 2021 By Stephens Scown
Changes to child arrangements & contact orders
Practice Direction PD12J (Changes to Child Arrangements & Contact Orders: Domestic Abuse and Harm) came…
June 25, 2021 By Stephens Scown
Private Law Children – what is a Section 7 Report?
What is a Section 7 Report? If court proceedings become necessary to resolve the arrangements…
April 27, 2021 By Elizabeth Ferguson
Private law children cases
CAFCASS, the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, states that the number of…
March 31, 2021 By Philippa Leaity
Habitual Residence
A brief stay in another country is unlikely to be sufficient to establish habitual residence…
June 13, 2019 By Kai Whicker
Special guardianship – concerns about support from local authorities
Special guardianship orders are intended to provide permanence and security for those children who cannot…
January 8, 2019 By Bill Wilkins
“Oh Grandma, what big childcare responsibilities you’ve got…”
Grandma in Little Red Riding Hood had it tough, but the current legal framework means…
May 2, 2018 By Stephens Scown