News & Insights

Children Act applications amid conflict: The impact of the Ukraine war on Family Court decisions

1 October 2024 By Aryana Zarkesh Family, Children & Divorce, Machins News

The ongoing war in Ukraine has had profound consequences for families, as illustrated by the case of Re Z and X (Visit to Ukraine) [2024] EWHC 314. In this emotional case, a father applied for his children to visit him in Ukraine, despite the ongoing conflict. The Family Court ultimately ruled against the visit, prioritizing the children’s safety and emotional wellbeing. This case sheds light on how the English courts navigate the challenges of family contact in the face of extreme circumstances, like war, and the lasting effects on separated families.

Family Court lift anonymity in family judgment on a financial claim brought against a Premier League footballer by the mother of his two children

1 August 2024 By Laura Martin-Read Family, Children & Divorce, Machins News

A judgment has been made public in a case involving a celebrity influencer, Lauryn Goodman, who brought a financial claim under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 against her former partner and England footballer, Kyle Walker. The pair, who have two children together, were in Court for a two-day final hearing on 16th and

Employment updates you may have missed in the election scramble

16 July 2024 By David Rushmere Business Employment

While the country and our politicians have been focussing on the General Election, a few employment updates managed to get over the line in the scramble following the dissolution of Parliament. Here are the key developments. Please bear in mind, however, that they all still need some work and fine tuning, so are likely to

Child arrangements for Father’s Day

12 June 2024 By Laura Martin-Read Family, Children & Divorce

Father’s Day is a special day to be enjoyed with children and family however unfortunately the day can be difficult for some fathers who are unable to spend the day with their child. Whilst it is hoped that most separated parents would be able to agree the arrangements for special dates such as Father’s/Mother’s Day,

Separation and Divorce – Protecting the family business

11 June 2024 By Laura Martin-Read Company Commercial, Family, Children & Divorce

According to the Office for National Statistics, 41% of marriages will end in divorce. Frequently, one or both partners will have an interest in a business. Divorce or separation can prove challenging if so. With many business owners following the advice of their accountants to utilise their spouse’s unused tax allowances, it’s commonplace to find

Mediation assessment rules updated to help divorcing couples

6 June 2024 By Richard Phillips Family, Children & Divorce

The Family Procedure Rules have been updated to improve the level of attendance by divorcing couples at mediator initial assessment meetings (MIAMs). The government has introduced the changes because the previous rules were not applied to the extent expected and did not divert couples away from court proceedings and towards mediation to the degree that

Probate application backlog highlights need for expert legal advice

6 June 2024 By Jonathan King Wills, Trusts & Probate

The Law Society has warned that the severe backlog in probate applications is having a detrimental effect on those mourning the loss of their loved ones. The warning is part of the Society’s evidence to the Justice Select Committee’s probate inquiry. A Law Society spokesman said: “We are aware of significant delays to the probate

New clampdown on parents who fail to pay child maintenance

6 June 2024 By Victoria Grant Family, Children & Divorce

The government has announced a clampdown on parents who refuse to take financial responsibility for their children and fail to make maintenance payments. Ministers are consulting on proposed reforms of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to improve the system so more children get the financial support they are due. The reforms include ending the option

Government publishes new guidance on workers receiving tips

1 May 2024 By David Rushmere Business Employment

The new Code of Practice designed to protect tips given to more than 2 million workers has been published and laid before Parliament. The updated Code of Practice will have statutory legal effect under the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, meaning it can be introduced as evidence in an employment tribunal. The Act and

New rights for workers including extra protection for pregnant women

1 May 2024 By Philip Bain Business Employment

Parents, carers and pregnant women now benefit from greater employment protections relating to flexible working and redundancy. The changes, which came into effect on April 6, include: This runs alongside new laws that give workers more flexibility over where and when they work, unless there are business reasons not to, as the Employment Relations (Flexible

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