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…the debate continues! The Government’s decision not to give any financial rights to the weaker party when a cohabiting couple separate (see ‘No change in cohabiting law‘ post) has obviously caused concern in some quarters. I see that the matter was debated on Woman’s Hour on Radio 4 on Friday 23 September. I hope that
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At present there is very little financial protection for the weaker party when a couple separate after living together without marrying. There is some help available under the Children Act if there are children, and in certain situations the ordinary law of property can be used, but such cases are rare. Take for example two
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A House of Commons committee has recommended that child maintenance payments be collected by deducting them at source from wages or salary, or by direct payment from a bank account. The reason? At present every £1 of child maintenance collected costs 50 pence to collect.
In 2001 a wife returned to her home in Shanghai after a month-long visit to her family in another part of China. She noticed that the family’s pet mynah bird was more talkative than usual every time the phone rang. Then she noticed that the bird kept saying “I love you”, “divorce” and “be patient”.
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Anecdotal evidence suggests that more and more divorcing couples are simply unable to afford to separate and run two households. When that happens they have to make arrangements that are workable and fair. In some situations it may be best to have a formal written agreement.
I can’t say I’ve come across it yet, but apparently it’s becoming increasingly common for divorcing couples to argue over who gets the loyalty points: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2028562/Recession-Divorcing-couples-argue-Supermarket-loyalty-cards.html
A recent High Court case has established the simple rule that a foreign marriage will be recognised as a valid marriage in England and Wales if it is recognised as valid in the jurisdiction in which it was undertaken. The point can be an important one, because if a wealthy spouse can prove that his
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In cases involving a parent applying to the court for permission to take the children abroad, the recent development in the law seems to apply mainly to cases where the care of the children is shared equally between the parents.
It appears that the Government is not intending to recognise multiple Islamic marriages. Polygamy will remain illegal in this country: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8653300/Coalition-rules-out-legalising-multiple-Islamic-marriages-after-Whitehall-leak.html
Women may be warned if their new partner has a history of violence under a new law being considered by the Home Secretary. For more information, follow this link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/17/women-warned-partners-clares-law?CMP=twt_fd