by AdminIs it possible for ex-partner who isn’t related by blood or adoption to seek custody of your child?
Across the pond, there was a recent US case involving an unrelated adult (i.e. an adult who was not related to the child biologically nor by way of adoption) who applied for custody and/or visitation rights, when the relationship between her and her ex-partner broke down. First things first, it’s important to remember in today’s world, the traditional nuclear family structure is no longer the...
by AdminMore Money, More Problems: Excessive Demands for Child Fees
Child maintenance is financial support that the non-resident parent is expected to provide after a separation from the resident parent, or parent with care. When a relationship ends, co-parenting responsibilities do not – in fact they may require even more attention than before. Children must continue to be raised to the best of both parties’ abilities: fed, clothed, sheltered, educated,...
by AdminPapa (and Mama) Don’t Preach: Madonna Child Custody Proceedings To End
Amid ongoing custody litigation in both London and New York, Mr Justice MacDonald has ruled that the English proceedings could be halted to allow for compromise between the parties or continuation of US proceedings. The crux of the matter is that Madonna and Guy Ritchie have been unable to agree where fifteen-year old son Rocco should live. Instead of opting to make decisions regarding the...
by AdminInternational Child Abduction and the Law
One of the hardest things family lawyers have to deal with is international child abduction. This is where one parent or person with legal custody (now known as living arrangements setting out that the child is to live with them) of a child under the age of 16 years takes or sends a child outside of the country without one of the following:The consent of all people with parental...
by AdminThe Court That Keeps Families Together and Saves Money At The Same Time
In the past 5 years a pioneering family court has saved public sector bodies £1.29m. The London Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) championed by District Judge Nicholas Crichton tackles drug and alcohol misuse in local authority care proceedings. The savings come from tackling drugs and alcohol with a head on approach, Crichton notes; “FDAC is tough but fair towards all the families it...
by AdminIn the best interests of the children: Re-examining child relocation cases
You recently settled your divorce and have slowly started to re-build your life. In fact, you have been excelling at work and have been offered a promotion – only hitch is the new position requires you to relocate to another branch on the other side of the country. Instead of celebrating, the first concern that comes to your mind is – how will this relocation impact the current childcare...
by AdminCourt of Appeal examines leave to remove guidance
Leave to remove applications are an area of law in which we specialise so we have been watching with great interest as the Court of Appeal examined the role of gender in leave to remove applications in F (A Child) (International Relocation Cases). For many years the leading case in this area has been Payne v Payne (2001) in which a series of questions was set out which helped the court...
by AdminAdoption agencies given £4.5 million to find ‘forever families’ for adoptive children
Adoption agencies are to receive government funding from the Department of Education to match families to children placed for adoption. The funding, worth £ 4.5 million, will transform and streamline the care system by grouping all local authorities into a designated adoption agencies based on their region. Around 5,000 children were matched with adoptive families in 2014, but more than three...
by AdminCross-border application fails
Aunt and Uncle fail in cross-border custody battle Following the allegations of a father’s domestic violence and lack of long term interest displayed in his children, the application of an adoption order of two British Pakistani children by their United States based great aunt and uncle was unsuccessful. In Re S and T (Intercountry Adoption: USA) EWHC 1753 (Fam) the two children were made...
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