After the matrimonial home, pension funds are usually considered to be the second largest matrimonial asset and they often need to be valued and dealt with when negotiating financial settlements between spouses on divorce. The law In December 2000, the Welfare Reforms and Pensions Act 1999 came into force and the Court was given the
Two brothers have been banned from being company directors after they breached their duty to creditors when their business went into liquidation. The two men ran a company that provided payroll services. The business got into financial difficulties and was wound up in October 2012. An Insolvency Service investigation found that two weeks after the
Apprentices will get the biggest pay boost when the National Minimum Wage increases come into effect in October. The adult rate will rise by 20p from £6.50 per hour to £6.70, a 3% increase. However, the rate for apprentices will rise by 57p to £3.30 per hour. The government says the larger increase is designed
A court has been called on to determine who was responsible for the collapse of a building – the contractors who carried out renovation work, or the engineers who drew up the plans. The issue arose after a couple decided to convert their cellar into living accommodation. The project involved lowering the floor and then
Help to Buy ISAs offering first time buyers a 25% bonus on their savings have proved to be one the most talked about elements from George Osborne’s Budget statement. Some commentators fear they may push up house prices, but they’re likely to prove hugely popular with young people who have found it difficult to raise
A woman who was subjected to a tirade of abuse and called a green eyed monster by a man with whom she had previously had a relationship at work has won a claim of sexual harassment. The case involved a claimant who worked as head of sales for a recruitment consultancy. Shortly after joining the
A father has been told he must accept reduced contact with his daughter after losing his appeal against a court ruling. The case involved a couple who had separated when their daughter was 18 months old. The girl lived with her mother but the father applied for a shared residence order. Before the hearing could
Social housing tenants could be offered up to £30,000 to enable them to leave their rented accommodation and buy their own home. The move is an extension to the Right to Buy scheme, which has been running for several years and has enabled nearly 2 million tenants to buy their home at discounted prices. Although
The Law Commission is looking at ways to improve the enforcement of Family Financial Orders, which are used to help support children and former spouses following divorce. The commission says these orders are sometimes obtained at “significant financial and emotional cost” to everyone involved. The stress can be compounded if the orders cannot then be
The Marriage Foundation has launched a manifesto calling on political parties to consider the need to reform divorce law. The Foundation, which is led by one of the country’s senior family judges, Sir Paul Coleridge, believes current law is outdated and out of step with modern life. The call for change coincides with two recent