In the midst of couples breaking up what gets slipped under the radar is the financial relief for the children. Read More
How does Covid 19 affect me seeing my children? The Government has made it clear that Covid 19 restrictions should not interfere with a child’s right to see both their parents, especially when their parents are separated and live in different households. Read More
Separation is a stressful time particularly when children are involved. The breakdown of marriage or a long terms relationship is one of the most emotionally draining life events. Read More
With the Government introducing the Three Tier system on Wednesday and some areas being subject to harsher lockdown restrictions than they were last week. Read More
Lockdown restrictions eased between 23 June 2020 and 01 August 2020 and the UK started towards a reconstructed normality after almost three months of a complete lockdown. Read More
Many people contemplate getting a divorce for years. Their fear of change and loss overrides their wish or need for a different future. Read More
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Divorce After 12 years (2 of which were married) Brad Pitt and Angelia Pitt-Jolie have called time on their relationship. Read More
Celebrity Child Residence Dispute Guy Ritchie and Madonna have now settled their differences over the Child residence dispute of their 16 year old son Rocco. Read More
Nobody can have missed the fact that Rocco, Madonna’s 15 year old son wants to stay in London and live with his father. Read More
The Government have decided to allow children to have a voice in the family courts. Where parents are arguing over what is best for their children the Government will now allow the children themselves to voice their opinion direct to the Judge – rather than be interviewed by CAFCASS or ignored completely if no CAFCASS report is commissioned. Read More
This can be an area of never ending dispute. Something that should be a pleasure turns into a battle. Read More
Mum wants you to have long hair and dad short. Mum wants you to be a vegetarian and dad thinks you need the protein from meat. Read More
A recent report has stated that a total of 1 million children of England and Wales have lost ‘meaningful contact’ with their father upon their parents separation and divorce. Read More
There is a reported increase in the number of child abduction cases. Why? Ease of international travel results in more international relationships. Read More
Often people who want to separate are paralysed by anxiety. They become overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they want to do. Read More
In an unusual case, a father had succeeded in applying for a Prohibited Steps Order to prevent his divorcing wife moving house – this was to facilitate Contact with his children as he lived nearby. Read More
The Government has decided to go against advice and make it a legal requirement that both parents’ share the legal responsibility for their children post-separation. Read More
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a gay father can have a fuller role in his son’s life who is being brought up by a lesbian couple. Read More
Some of the most difficult cases arise when parents separate and choose to live in different countries. Read More
So says Ken Clarke “meaningful relationship is not about equal division of time, but the quality of parenting received by the child”, as reported in The Independent. Read More
The Government’s response to the Family Justice Review is to encourage parents to agree, to recognise the important role each parent plays in a child’s life. Read More
Well, children’s rights actually. Rather than accept that giving father’s a stronger role in law in their children’s lives post separation may be harmful, the Cabinet revolt, led by Ian Duncan Smith and Nick Clegg has stated that there will be an overhaul of the Children Act 1989. Read More
Father’s who exit from their children’s lives should feel society’s disapproval and be stigmatised like drink drivers says David Cameron in The Sunday Telegraph. Read More
There has been an increase in the number of fathers sent to prison for non payment of Child Support according to The Independent. Read More
What do the Courts do if Contact is not being supported by a Resident Parent (usually the mother)? Read More
According to The Guardian, a United Nations report states that the role of fatherhood is changing and needs to be redefined. Read More
In this age of Government cut backs and the Tory aim to promote marriage, the Government is considering charging separating couples if the Child Support Agency, or it’s replacement, is involved according to the Daily Telegraph. Read More
According to The Telegraph the Government are now considering sending separating couples on a course to show them the impact their divorce will have on their children. Read More
A Family Law Judge talks of 3 strikes and you are out in The Daily Mail. Read More
So the Government is considering making fighting parents mediate before they can litigate. Not everyone agrees this is a good idea according to the Law Society Gazette. Read More
This article in The Observer this Sunday suggests that they are and is well worth a read. Read More
A recent case has shown how impossible it is to change a child who has decided he wants nothing to do with one of his parents. Read More
Lawyers are receiving more enquiries from cohabiting couples seeking to end their relationship as reported in The Law Society Gazette. Read More
There is such a thing as covert parental alienation. It is subtle, but real never the less. Read More
If an application to leave the Country ends up in Court how will the Court decide whether to let the parent leave with the child? Read More
A recent case in the Court of Appeal re W(Children) refused permission to the Father to appeal against a High Court ruling which found that two children aged 8 and 6 had sufficient maturity in order for their views to be given priority. Read More
A good Dad has these qualities: Kind. Compassionate. Provider. Educator. Role model. Fair-minded. Available. Patient. Loving. Read More
I am sorry I have not been blogging. I have not had much spare time this year due to my gorgeous son and still working full time. Read More
Does anybody like a busy body? By that I mean those awful, interfering, nosy gossips who spend their whole time trying to tell other people how to live their lives. Read More
Apparently not if the child is created via IVF for the benefit of lesbian couples or single women. Read More
I wasted 2 hours on Saturday trying to access a website for my 5 year old son, whose magic code was rejected. Read More
A Shared Residence Order is a stipulation that the child lives with both parents. They are becoming more popular and more and more fathers are asking for them. Read More
Families Need Fathers have implored Alistair Darling to re-organise the benefit system to account for the amount of time children spend with their fathers. Read More
When you feel dreadful and stressed remembering gems that your children said can make you laugh and feel great. Read More
One of the huge benefits of being divorced is that you can do what you want at Christmas! Read More
Relax Play Laugh Bake a cake Build a den Go for a walk in the woods Do not mention… divorce solicitor court lack of money your loneliness Do mention… their great spelling test result how well they ride a bike that you love them that you like them Put yourself in their place… swap roles… can you remember what it was like to be 7? Read More
A shared residence order simply states that the children have 2 homes – rather than living with one parent and seeing the other the children live with both. Read More
It is virtually impossible to locate a solicitor prepared to help you with a CSA case. Read More
Until now I have deliberately ignored this story but… here goes… don’t say I didn’t warn you… The barrister? Read More
The CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY produce their list of non-paying dads on their own web site in an effort to name and shame. Read More
Firstly, it’s an Americanism. Secondly, it’s a process not a symptom attributable to the parent with care. Read More
Everything and nothing! My four year old son has decided to change his name to Matthew (after his best friend) James Blond (after an action movie character whose name he has got wrong but in that special arrogant 4 year old way he refuses to accept is his error). Read More
Your children will be hurt Regardless of their age, disposition or gender your children will be hurt and they will be hurt… forever. Read More
The increasing numbers of step families has produced pressures which no doubt have increased the number of second divorces. Read More
It depends on the judge! Some judges say you can’t force a 9 year old, some judges say that the child should do as they are told. Read More
The CSA claims that it has increased the number of absconding fathers it is eking money out of. Read More
In one example I know the father’s salary has increased by over £100,000.00 since the original assessment but the mother is still receiving the same original amount. Read More
There are lots of resources on the web to help children cope with parental separation and divorce and prevent them feeling isolated. Read More
Want to take the kids skiing for Christmas but your ex partner won’t let you? What’s the normal Christmas contact that a Court would order? Read More
The Government has announced that one of the new aspects of the replacement agency for the Child Support Agency will be that non-paying dads ( NPD’s) (it is normally fathers but there are some non paying mothers out there) will now be named and shamed on a website. Read More
WHAT NEXT? Anyone contemplating divorce or separation would be wise to wait until after Christmas. If there are children involved they will grow up to hate Christmas, a time of excitement and fun filled family memories will be turned into a reminder of loss and mourning. Read More
I know a young boy who attended his father’s wedding recently. In the joviality of events he was asked to make three wishes by a passing drunken adult. Read More
It can seem dreadfully unfair. You struggle to buy the kids school shoes and your ex expects to see them when he/she chooses and pay nothing towards their keep. Read More
Well that’s another fine mess you got me into! The Work and Pensions Minister, John Hutton, announced on 24th July 2006 that the Child Support Agency was to be abolished. Read More
That depends on how their parents behave. No child is unaffected by their parents’ divorce, and all children carry a secret wish that their parents will get back together, even 50 year old off spring like to see their divorced parents in the same room and being congenial! Read More
Child Support Agency The Child Support Agency (CSA) has responsibility for assessing the level of maintenance the non-resident parent should pay the parent with care on behalf of the child on divorce. Read More
The first concern of the Courts when couples divorce is the children. Unfortunately not all parents adopt this attitude. Read More
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