Josh Russell

For years, unmarried couples in England and Wales have faced a very different legal position to married couples and civil partners when relationships come to an end. Now, proposed reforms being considered by the Government could significantly change that....

The family home is often the most valuable asset that a couple owns, so it’s not surprising that it can be a significant point of contention during a divorce financial settlement, especially in regard to questions such as “Who stays in the family...

Divorce is difficult for anyone in any circumstances but the strain COVID-19 has placed on married and unmarried couples is significant and with so much uncertainty surrounding employment, house prices and pension values at present, a common question we are...

Figures from the DWP published recently indicate that 26% of people who contacted the Child Maintenance Service (or CSA, as it used to be referred to) between February 2015 and January 2016 have set up a Family Based Arrangement. But many people do not...

Separation or divorce is always an incredibly emotional and stressful time for anyone involved, especially for children. Parents are always advised to communicate effectively with one another for the benefit of the children but a number of separating...

An area that is often taken for granted in separating couples is the question of whether they are entitled to their spouse’s inheritance. The common theme seems to be that people assume they have an entitlement to anything held in their spouse’s...

Many people in the UK remain in volatile or unsuccessful marriages for many reasons and I am frequently told by prospective clients that they do not wish to seek a divorce ‘because of the children’ or because of ‘religious beliefs.’ A...

Domestic violence is unfortunately becoming increasingly common within England and Wales but thankfully measures are already in place to protect vulnerable spouses, partners and others affected. BBC News announced this morning that a new programme is...

In previous blogs , I have touched on different aspects of financial cases such as maintenance or the importance of obtaining a clean break . In these blogs, I stressed the importance, within any divorce, of obtaining a Consent Order dealing with all the...

Within any divorce, it is necessary to consider the need for a Court Order dealing with the family finances and ensuring you achieve a ‘Clean Break’ if possible. In order to reach an agreement in respect of the matrimonial finances, it...

‘Maintenance’ is a topic that I am frequently asked to advise on. Whether this is in relation to entitlement, enforcement or variation, it is a topic which has a multitude of ambiguities. So what is maintenance? Strictly...