In March 2016, the Home Office, published its 2016-20 Violence against Women and Girls strategy.
Following this, the Government stated that they would dedicate £80 million funding, to provide core support to refuges and other accommodation-based services. This money was also intended for rape support centres and national helplines.
In the spring budget of 2017, a further £20 million was announced to be included towards the initial figure.
Natalie Hemming was a married 31 year old mother-of-three, when she was murdered in May 2016 by her husband, Paul Hemming.
The initial report of concern for Natalie was made to the Police by her mother, who reported her missing on the 3rd May 2016. Unfortunately, this report came too late to help Natalie as it was later found that Paul Hemming, had brutally murdered Natalie in their home in Milton Keynes two days prior to the call.
Is it your view that all Family Solicitors are “hard wired” to operate competitively and aggressively with little attention being paid to what clients actually want and their shared concerns about any children now and in the future?
Hopefully that is far from reality but it is often the perception. If you want to ensure you have an amicable and civilized separation but with a fair and appropriate outcome Collaborative Family Law may be the best way for you, your spouse and the whole family.
Christmas is closer than we all think and closer than some would care to imagine but it will be here before we know it.
For most, Christmas is the happiest time of the year and is filled with fun times with family. For others, particularly separated families, it can be the most difficult time of the year.
In 2004, the government introduced the reform that same-sex couples could enter into a civil partnership offering greater legal protection and financial security. In 2013, the government introduced that same-sex couples would be able to get married in the UK.
In June 2018, a landmark appeal made by Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan at the Supreme court, was won, entitling mixed-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships.
Today is International Foster Carer Appreciation Day.
We spoke to our colleague, Nicole, a member of our Child Care Department. Nicole is a “foster sibling” and her Mum does an amazing job of fostering vulnerable young children.
Nicole has shared her thoughts about life as a foster sibling and why, in her view, fostering truly is an amazing job.
Domestic abuse, was once seen as a gender-specific offence committed by males towards females. From as early as the mid 1800’s, the law deemed it a husband’s acceptable right to exert control over his wife, through the use of physical abuse.
Over the last 18 years, the government has debated and discussed the increasing social problem of domestic abuse within the UK and reinforced the provisions available to law enforcement agencies.
A the beginning of the 1990’s the Home Office took an approach to address and develop policy on domestic violence at a National and Multi-agency level.
By 2003, numerous policy documents surrounding domestic abuse and the increase in reports had been published and presented to the government. They reacted to these findings by proposing a strategy tackling prevention, protection and justice for victims of domestic abuse; supporting victims to rebuild their lives.
The Justice Secretary, David Gauke has announced plans to introduce no fault divorce. It has been reported that he is preparing a consultation on reforming the current divorce law which is over 40 years old!
£19 million funding has been granted by the Government to expand support for survivors of domestic abuse services across England. This funding is to help survivors of abuse, and will go towards the provision of refuge beds, education and life skills training. Councils in England that are working with domestic abuse support charities will be able to bid for a share of funding, to help support victims in their local areas.
Sarah Ward, Partner is our Family team has featured in RightsInfo where she was discussing the need to end archaic divorce laws, which can force ex-partners to remain married in extreme circumstances.
CAFCASS are The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service who look after the interests of children involved in family proceedings. They are independent of the Courts and Social Services. They work with children and their families, and then advise the Courts on what is considered to be in the best interests of individual children.
Saturday 18 August has been reported as the most common day in 2018 to tie the knot in the UK. However, since the early 1970s, the number of people actually getting married has steadily decreased, dropping a further 3.4% last year. There have been many theories about why marriage rates are falling, but regardless the fact remains that fewer people are formalising their relationship.
We are often asked by a party in divorce proceedings whether “non-matrimonial” property will have to be shared with their spouse on divorce.
In 12 months to the end of March 2017, there were 1.9 million adults in England and Wales, between 16 and 59 years old who reported domestic abuse.
The Office of National Statistics tells us that this equates to 1.2 million survivors being female and 0.7 million survivors are male.
Even though domestic abuse occurs in all genders, there is still a disproportionate number who are female and the Government recognises that the most severe forms of domestic abuse is perpetrated against females.
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Monday the 30th July 2018 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Human trafficking is a crime that exploits men, children and women of all ages for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. Sadly, this takes place in every country in the world.
It is estimated that 21 million people are victims of trafficking around the globe. One third of these people are children.
The Supreme Court has recently ruled that restricting civil partnerships to same sex couples is discriminatory, and a breach of an individual’s Human Rights.
At present, heterosexual couples may only marry, while same-sex couples can either marry or take up a civil partnership.
On 17th July 2018, the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee began examining the Domestic Abuse Bill.
As part of the inquiry, the Committee intend to explore not only what should be included in the legislation, but also what other non-legislative policies should be included, for the legislation to be the most effective.
Prenuptial agreements can be particularly important in farming families. In most farming cases, the farmhouse is the matrimonial home, passed down from generation to generation. Provisions can be included in a prenuptial agreement to protect inherited farming assets (including farmland and machinery) or a party’s interest in a farming business.
Official data has revealed that teenage girls and single parents are among the most likely victims of domestic abuse.
Statistics have found that 7.6% of 16-19 year old girls had been the victim of abuse by a partner or ex-partner in the last 12 months, with 7.4% of 20-24 year olds also experiencing domestic abuse from a partner or ex-partner.
Surrogacy is an expanding area and can be the only option for some who have fertility issues, or who are in same sex relationships, but long for a genetic link to the baby.
However, issues surrounding surrogacy are difficult and the UK has been slow to develop the law. It is therefore imperative that we have the right laws in place to protect all involved, especially as surrogacy is becoming more common.
Ramsdens Solicitors announced three new Partners in its latest annual promotions round.
They also promoted nine staff to associate and senior associate roles.
These promotions will significantly bolster the firm’s Family, Private Client, Corporate and Commercial and Commercial Property teams.
In the first instance no they are not! The law in England and Wales concerning dividing assets and liabilities on divorce is exactly the same whether the respective spouses are living in suburbia or the countryside. The starting point or “yardstick” is equality with consideration given to a number of factors in order to help in determining what is “fair”.
Shocking statistics have been revealed confirming that 1 in 13 women in Yorkshire and the Humber have experienced domestic abuse in the last year.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that 7.7% of all women aged 16 to 59 in this region were victims of domestic abuse at least once in the last year. Alarmingly, this means that an estimated 119,500 women and girls in Yorkshire and the Humber suffered abuse in 2017.
This week has been Child Safety Awareness Week run by the Child Action Prevention Trust. Throughout the course of the week we have run a series of blogs focusing on child safety and how it can be enhanced.
Risks to children exist in everyday life whether that be by way of accident, injury, exposure to content in social media or other online resource or more targeted harm in the form of physical or sexual violence.
Helen Thewlis, Head of Family Law at Ramsdens, uses her charity day to support the Huddersfield Town Foundation Breakfast club, along with her colleague Jaynie Broughton. Find out more about what they get up to here.
Domestic abuse is a widespread issue across the UK. It is well reported that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will experience domestic abuse throughout their life time.
The UK’s leading children’s charity, Barnardo’s, has responded to the recent consultation on the Domestic Abuse and Violence Bill. Barnardo’s say that children affected by domestic violence and abuse need specialist services to help them deal with trauma and have the chance to lead healthy and happy lives.
Forced Marriage Protection Orders can be obtained in the Family Courts to give the necessary protection by way of a Court Order.
Forced Marriage is also being recognised in the criminal Courts and the second conviction of its kind within a week has taken place. The conviction was of a Leeds based couple.
