The latest divorce statistics for England and Wales are now out. The highlights are: 2022 saw a 29% decrease in divorces compared with the year before. This is the lowest number since 1971. The average length of heterosexual marriages was 13 years. Gay marriages lasted just 7 years. For lesbian Read more…
The National Audit Office has published a report on the legal aid system. It found that: The Ministry of Justice can not say how much money was saved in recent reforms The reforms are not providing the level of access to justice that they intended Diversion to mediation has failed Read more…
A new study suggests that women find it harder than men to adjust emotionally to the breakdown of a relationship later in life. The research looked at 200,000 people aged 50 to 70 in Finland. While both sexes increased their use of anti-depressants in the run-up to and immediately after Read more…
New research has found that women’s household income drops twice as much as men’s following a divorce. Women are more likely to struggle financially following a divorce Women are also more likely to worry about the cost of essentials Women are significantly more likely to waive rights to a partner’s Read more…
If you have been a victim of domestic abuse, you will be able to claim a one-off payment to enable you to leave your abuser. The funding will cover essential items such as groceries, nappies or support with somewhere new to live. Victims can also apply for a further one-off Read more…
The government is carrying out a review of civil Legal Aid which includes Family Mediators. Family Mediators are covered by the Family Law category. Although 80 per cent of firms provide Legal Aid because it is ‘the right thing to do’, there are some worrying results: Half of firms say Read more…
Just under half of adults are married or in a civil partnership The number of people over 70 who are married rose to 18 per cent Those under 30 who are in a legally-recognised relationship fell to 3 per cent In the last ten years, the number of people in Read more…
One in five recent divorces were delayed due to the pressures on the cost of living. These financial reasons included concern about their income and the cost of the divorce itself. The research also found that: Annual incomes fell by an average of £9,700 in the year following a divorce Read more…
Recent research into the experience of children and young people who go through private family court proceedings has developed some recommendations to improve the process. Researchers recommend that children should: Be sent information about who they will meet and what they will be asked before the meeting Have things explained Read more…
New research has found that the cost of raising a child for a couple is £166,000, and for a lone parent, it’s £220,000. The COVID pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and benefit cuts have left the average working family (two parents working full-time, having two children, and earning the living wage) Read more…