Carol-Anne Baker Consultant Family Solicitor

Working at home together, tips from Relate

An important reminder that if you need to call for help but can't speak dial 55. Services including police, domestic abuse support services and lawyers are still available to help victims of domestic abuse during lockdown.

Risks of domestic abuse are heightened by the current stay at home guidance. Victims are in a home environment where normal stress is increased due to the additional emotional and financial stress caused by the lockdown. Victims are allowed to leave their home to seek urgent help or go to a refuge. Support agencies, police and lawyers are still working, often remotely but are still available to help.

Anyone with upcoming court hearing needs to be aware of this. The courts are doing their best, like many organisations to adjust but staff are struggling and patience is needed if trying to get information.

Some courts are now closed. Locally, Wakefield is one to be suspended. Work is still going on in other courts with much work being dealt with remotely, including hearings by telephone or video conference.

Latest court guidance on how to manage child arrangements for separated parents during coronavirus lockdown. Children can be transported between homes but if other safety issues prevent face to face contact, other methods such as phone, facetime, zoom etc should be used to maintain the relationship.

Children of separated can still share time between their parents as there is express permission to go out for this reason in the attached guidance as long as it is safe for the child.

There are lots of questions around separated parenting and coronavirus. Here is the latest guidance from CAFCASS

Hard to say how the current situation will develop but this article sets out some of the impacts that may occur in family law matters.

New domestic abuse bill commences journey through parliament. Changes are afoot but there are still areas that could be improved with more consideration, as this article mentions.

No fault divorce is getting closer but there are still issues that need consideration as this article sets out

This short film via Refuge gives some idea of how domestic abuse impacts children. Many times we hear "the children were upstairs out of the way" or the effect on them is minimised.

Faith marriages are not legally recognised marriages unless followed up by a civil ceremony. Many are unaware of this position and the lack of rights available to them. Vital reading for anyone considering such a ceremony.

Worrying statistics in relation to the amount of people who do not ensure that financial ties are cut on divorce. Specialist advice to ensure you do not miss important issues such as this is really important.

Control or stalking via technology is becoming increasingly common. This article may be of some use to help prevent or stop this happening.

Today the Civil Partnership (Opposite-Sex Couples) Regulations 2019 comes into force. Previously only same-sex couples could enter into a Civil Partnership but this now gives opposite sex couples this choice. Many couples living together are totally unaware of the lack of rights which often exist in relation to children, property and inheritance. This new law gives those who do not wish to marry but want to put their relationship on a more formal footing, providing rights akin to married couples, a new choice.

Sometimes it is what you don't know that matters. There are many issues arising when making your Will that require expert advice to ensure your wishes are properly put into effect. This article deals with just one of the important issues which may need to be considered.