Liberal Democrat minister claims gay couples will have legal right to marry before next election

The equalities minister, Lynne Featherstone has declared “There will be no U-turn on equal marriage.” In response to pressure from Conservative backbench MPs who have called for the proposal to be dropped. Read More..

Report says divorce mediation not being pushed in court

A report has claimed that courts are not asking for details of divorce mediation meetings.
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Judges call for no-fault divorces

Senior judges in the UK have labelled current divorce laws “vastly outdated”, renewing calls for no-fault divorces to be introduced.

Under current laws, couples can legally part within six months if one party is shown to be at fault, with the most common grounds for fault unreasonable behaviour, including adultery or devoting too much time to work. But recently, leading judges have challenged that concept. Read More..

Survey reveals worrying state of family-related violence

Just 7% of families in the UK have never had any conflict in their homes, as a new survey reveals that over half of parents with children experience serious or frequent physical or verbal confrontations.

The survey, which involved parents with children under the age of 18 and was carried out by YouGov on behalf of 4Children, found that children and parents can be both victims and perpetrators of family conflict – with the evidence suggesting that violence is more widespread within the family than was perhaps previously thought. Read More..

Home Office launches same-sex marriage consultation

In what is fast becoming one of the most contentious family law issues in recent times, same-sex marriages could soon become a reality after the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Equalities and Criminal Information, Lynne Featherstone, announced the launch of a consultation on how to introduce equal civil marriage in the UK. Read More..

‘Claire’s Law’ to be piloted in UK districts

Home Secretary Theresa May has announced plan to introduce “Clare’s Law” – which gives men or women the right to ask police about their partner’s criminal history - in four areas for a year, before extending it across England and Wales. Read More..

Smartphone divorces becoming more common

Couples currently going through a divorce have been warned over the use of the smartphone, after research in the US found that texts are increasingly being used as evidence in divorce proceedings. Read More..

Grandparents need ‘clear right of access’ to divorced children

More divorcing couples must reach agreement on access to their children for grandparents through mediation and not the courts, the government has claimed. Read More..

Grandparents will get key role in family splits

Parenting agreements between separating mothers and fathers will be amended to emphasise the important role grandparents play in children’s lives, Government sources said.
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Divorcees to be given better rights to see children

According to The Daily Telegraph, divorced parents will be given an improved legal right to see their children.

Under plans being drawn up by ministers, courts will have to ensure that both parents are given access to children in divorce settlements and parents who refuse to accept the orders will be in contempt of court and risk serious penalties and possible jail time. Read More..