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What Happens If You Simply Stop Engaging in Divorce Proceedings?

The Family Court will usually do everything reasonably possible to ensure that both parties have a fair opportunity to participate. But there comes a point when fairness to one party must be balanced against …
September 14, 2026
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When Disclosure Goes Missing: Adverse Inferences in Financial Remedy Cases

In financial remedy proceedings, full and frank financial disclosure is not optional. It is one of the foundations upon which the court is able to make a fair decision. But what happens when one …
August 25, 2026
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Prenuptial Agreements: Do They Really Decide What Happens on Divorce?

Prenuptial agreements are becoming increasingly common. Once regarded as something associated mainly with celebrities and the very wealthy, they are now increasingly seen as a sensible way for couples to discuss their financial arrangements …
August 10, 2026
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Rich on Paper, Poor in Practice? How Courts Divide Businesses and Other Illiquid Assets

When people think about divorce, they often focus on one question: "How much is everything worth?" But experienced family lawyers know there is another question which can be just as important: "Can those assets …
August 7, 2026
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Is an Inheritance Safe on Divorce?

One of the most common questions I am asked by clients is: "My spouse has inherited money. Does that mean I'm entitled to half?" Or, from the other perspective: "I've just inherited from my …
August 6, 2026
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When Does “Mine” Become “Ours”? Matrimonialisation After Standish

One of the hottest topics in family law over the past year has been the concept of matrimonialisation. It sounds technical, but the principle is surprisingly simple. If one spouse brings valuable assets into …
July 2, 2026
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Conduct in Divorce: Why Serious Allegations Still Rarely Change the Outcome

One of the questions I am asked most frequently is "Surely the judge will take their behaviour into account?" For many people, it feels instinctively unfair that a spouse who has behaved badly should …
July 1, 2026
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Divorce Costs Out of Control? A Judge’s Warning on Legal Fees in Financial Remedy Cases

One of the most common questions family lawyers are asked is: "How much is this divorce going to cost?" A recent High Court decision, AB v CD [2026] EWHC 1504 (Fam), shows just how …
June 22, 2026
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Pay First, Argue Later? Understanding Hadkinson Orders in Family Law

Most people assume that if they are involved in court proceedings, they have an automatic right to be heard. In almost every case, they would be right. However, there is a rare and powerful …
June 19, 2026
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The Right to Be Heard: Fairness in Family Proceedings

Family court proceedings are often emotionally charged, financially significant, and life-changing. Most people understand that they may not always get the outcome they want. What they do expect, however, is a fair opportunity to …
June 3, 2026
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Family Loans, Divorce and “Whose Money Is It Anyway?” — Lessons from TP v OP

One of the most difficult issues in financial remedy cases arises when wider family members become involved. Was the money a gift? A loan? An investment? Or an attempt to protect wealth from a …
May 20, 2026
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Too Late to Appeal? Finality, Delay and Second Chances in Financial Remedy Cases

One of the hardest lessons in litigation is this: Even an arguable appeal can fail if it is brought too late. That was the central message in FG v BN [2026] EWFC 101 (B), …
May 12, 2026
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Pre-Nups and Conduct: When Taking the Money Doesn’t Mean You Keep It

Pre-nuptial agreements are often seen as setting the financial “rules of the game” in the event of divorce. But what happens when one party starts moving money around during the marriage — particularly from …
May 8, 2026
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When the Paperwork Doesn’t Match Reality: A Cautionary Tale from the Family Court

Family law cases often turn not just on legal principles, but on something far more human: what people actually intended at the time versus what they later say when things fall apart. The recent …
May 6, 2026
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Love, Money and the Law: When Does a Relationship Create Legal Rights?

Most couples don’t think of their relationship in legal terms. They share holidays, split bills (or don’t), and trust that things will “even out” over time. But what happens when the relationship ends — …
April 16, 2026
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30 Years as a Family Law Solicitor: Reflections on Practice, Change and the Future

On 15 April 1996, I qualified as a solicitor. Thirty years later, it feels like an appropriate moment to pause and reflect on a journey that has been both challenging and immensely rewarding. During …
April 15, 2026
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Sham Trusts, Family Money and Divorce: When the Court Looks Behind the Paperwork

Financial remedy cases often involve more than just dividing assets between spouses. Increasingly, they draw in wider family members, informal arrangements, and documents that do not always say what they appear to say. The …
April 7, 2026
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Estoppel and the Family Home: When “It’s Yours” Becomes Legally Binding

Family law is often thought of as formal—orders, statutes, and written agreements. But some of the most powerful outcomes arise from something far less formal: what people say, what they allow, and what others …
March 26, 2026
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When a Prenup Gives More Than “Needs”: A Quiet but Important Shift – A v Z [2026] EWHC 654

The recent decision in A v Z [2026] EWHC 654 (Fam) offers a fascinating addition to the modern law on prenuptial agreements. At first glance, it appears orthodox: the court upheld a prenup. But …
March 25, 2026
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Selling the Goose That Lays the Golden Eggs: JV v MV 2025 EWFC 234

When the Family Court considers forcing the sale of a successful business One of the most difficult questions in financial remedy cases arises when most of the parties’ wealth is tied up in a …
March 23, 2026
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Family Gifts, Non-Disclosure and Divorce: Lessons from a Recent Court of Appeal Case

Financial remedy cases often turn on one fundamental principle: full and frank disclosure. Without a clear picture of the parties’ finances, the court cannot achieve a fair outcome. A recent Court of Appeal decision, …
March 19, 2026
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