Expat parent ? We can save you AirMiles …

A parent who spends the time and money to maintain their relationship in spite of considerable distances to travel will be appreciated by the Court. Don’t be afraid to seek an order in the UK – and remember that enforcement is far easier these days.


The Frugalocracy

Spending money is going out of fashion. When Russian Roman Abramovich wore a £97 digital watch to the High Court instead of the usual £20,000 Rolex, and celebrities boast of living on a limited budget and saving the rest instead of spend, spend, spend, we know that things are changing.


Open (& Close) Marriages

Anne Sinclair stood by her man. She played the supportive wife to Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former chief of the IMF, through his remand in custody in New York on sexual harassment charges. But enough is enough. New allegations have emerged involving organised sex clubs and prostitution, and it is reported that Anne has frozen the couple’s joint accounts and fled to her villa in Morocco alone


Quickie divorce online – Buyer beware!

The Norgrove Family Justice report recommends that the Court system should become more user friendly – specifically to allow divorce procedure to start online. Sounds good. And cheap.


Make My Day.........

Throw her out! You want your bachelor life back, so what if you have three children and under 5? They can go too. Install the mistress in the family home.


Funny Forum

A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum….. That is, the Forum for the divorce. In which country in Europe will you be best advised to kick off proceedings?


Family Proceedings Rules

The new Family Proceedings Rules will impose a mediation assessment upon nearly all divorcing couples in finance or children disputes from April 6th 2011. 90% of all such cases settle by agreement already, whether they involve mediation, solicitors and/or court proceedings.


Government Devaluation

Government Devaluation ! Pensions are an important consideration in many divorce settlements. Their value can be greater than all of the other assets combined, and it is vital that accurate figures are obtained to calculate pension sharing or offsetting against other assets.


Have you told the bank

Despite the Government’s exhortations, our experience suggests that borrowing remains tight in the current business and domestic markets. So notice of ongoing divorce proceedings can give banks a further opportunity to squeeze their customers.


When is cohabitation not just cohabitation?

When is cohabitation not just cohabitation? When it’s an engagement !


Funding tough cases

Funding tough cases


How not to get divorced over Christmas

How not to get divorced over Christmas New Year is high season for divorce petitions. Don’t let it be you !


Royal wedding

Royal Wedding Is this going to be the most important pre-nuptial agreement yet ?


Have you heard the one about the Polo player ...

Have you heard the one about the Polo player ... .. recently ordered to pay his wife £7M … but he says he doesn’t have the money ! How could that happen ?


My Big Issue with David's Big Society

Where are we all going to find the time to ferment all this community spirit without further undermining the building block of society .. the family unit ?


What's mine is mine ...

You can’t have a final financial order on divorce in Court without revealing your finances. Not even by consent. So why can you get married without revealing your finances ?


How divorce can bring substantial tax relief.

Marriage doesn't have to be taxing … but did you know that divorce often brings a little known … but substantial tax relief in cashflow terms?


LEXCEL? ...is it a bird?

LEXCEL? Is it a bird ... No it’s not … nor is it a new Microsoft spreadsheet application … or a new government quango.


They think it's all over - but it's not ... yet

No we’re not referring to England's World Cup campaign or indeed the games between John and Toni Terry … or Ashley and Cheryl Cole.


When is income not income?

When is income not income? When it’s capital growth – maybe.


Relationships. Do you have a recovery plan?

Every ash cloud can have a silver lining


How many interested parties are there in your life?

Three into two generally won't go … but maybe it’s time to change the point of view


Green Shoots or Black Spots ?

Not in the economy yet, but a few daffodils sprouting extremely late in our gardens. Spring is traditionally the time for cleaning and renewing. And our observation is that this process applies to relationships too.


How Much ?!*££*!?

Is the response we often get when someone first approaches us for advice on their relationship difficulty. The prospective client’s mind is usually set on our hourly rate (currently £260.00 + VAT per hour) … But there’s so much more


Marriage aka The Hurt Locker

The success of Kathryn Bigelow at the Oscars - a woman outdoing another film director who also happens to be her ex-husband James Cameron. High-achieving women struggle to have good long term relationships where they are asked to compromise their career for the sake of his.


"To pre-nup, or not to pre-nup, that is the question"

as David Tennant might have said. But is it worth the time, trouble, expense and most of all the potential upset to your intended?


CSA reincarnated. Plus ca change – or is it a rose by any other name?

The Child Support Agency is being reincarnated as the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission – but will it really make any difference?


Should evidence obtained illegally be disallowed?

Or is all fair in love and war (and divorce!), as long as the evidence proves to be accurate?


Lottery winner loses out

Lottery winner loses out A good example of a cheap divorce gone wrong.


Deal or no deal?

The Government wants to encourage mediation in divorce – but is it fair to all couples ? What about husbands who won’t give information, or wives who demand impossible settlements ?


Miss Marple rules

The Supreme Court has ruled in Imerman –v- Imerman that self help is dead, and now those retaining or even copying documents from their spouses run the risk of serious financial or even criminal consequences – and so do their lawyers!


Pre-nups Upheld - Good or Bad?

Pre-nups Upheld - Good or Bad? Is this the end of romance – or insurance to encourage more reliable marriage vows ?


In Recent Months

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We have acted for clients in a number of scenarios including :

Divorces involving complex business and commercial interests in Worcestershire, West Midlands, East Anglia and Essex.

Divorces of expatriates in France and Singapore.

Cohabitation disputes for couples in Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.

Child residence and contact disputes for parents in the Cotswolds, West Midlands and USA.

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