On 22 March 2021, the Ministry of Justice opened a consultation in respect of increasing selected Court fees for the first time since 2016. The consultation also proposes to increase the income threshold for eligibility for Help with Fees, which will see more people becoming eligible for assistance with fees.

People often believe that issues arising from separation such as divorce, financial matters and child arrangements can only be resolved through Court proceedings.

Family Mediation Week is this year taking place between the 18th-22nd January. The annual initiative creates awareness of the many benefits of reaching mutual post-divorce agreements, rather than heading to court.

As we bring in the new year, resolutions are at the forefront of everyone’s mind, bringing with it fresh starts and changes. For this reason divorce is often one of the top resolutions that people make, hence the reason January is dubbed “divorce month”.

Guidance published on 4 January 2021 confirms that once again the government recognises the importance of children from separated parents being able to spend time with both of their parents. Children are permitted to leave one household to spend time with their other parent in another household, if it is medically safe to do so.

Divorce is often portrayed by the media as unpleasant, nasty and sour. However we believe that with the right advice, support and guidance, a ‘good divorce’, based on mutual cooperation, fairness and amicability, can be achieved.

The pronouncement of Decree Absolute legally ends a marriage in England and Wales, but unless you resolve the financial consequences of the marriage breakdown, your former spouse may be able to make a future financial claim against you, even if you acquire the asset after your divorce.

At Ramsdens, we’ve seen a vast increase in new enquiries since the country first went into lockdown in March this year. Like everyone, we have had to adapt to a new virtual way of working whilst in a pandemic which has included the majority of our team adapting to working from home and our 13 offices across West Yorkshire being closed to the public.