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The Sham That Wasn’t? When Debts and Divorce Collide in Family Law

The Court of Appeal’s decision in Awolowo v Awolowo and Linkserve [2025] EWCA Civ 641 is a masterclass in forensic scrutiny of alleged debts in financial remedy proceedings. It also serves as a reminder …
May 19, 2025
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What Is Maintenance Pending Suit – And Should I Apply?

If you're separating from your spouse and struggling financially, you may have heard about something called Maintenance Pending Suit or MPS. But what is it, and when is it actually worth applying for? What …
May 16, 2025
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Top-Up Child Maintenance in HNW Cases: Where Lifestyle Meets Logic

For family lawyers advising high-net-worth clients, the concept of “top-up” child maintenance is often one of the most contested elements in financial proceedings. The decision in James v Seymour [2023] EWHC 844 (Fam) adds …
May 15, 2025
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Tying Up Loose Ends: THR v WAT and the Realities of High-Net-Worth Divorce

In THR v WAT [2025] EWHC 1125 (Fam), His Honour Judge Hess was faced with the unenviable task of transforming a multi-million-pound Xydhias agreement into a final financial remedy order—navigating disputed terms, hidden costs, …
May 14, 2025
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When Final Orders Don’t Mean Finality – Revisiting Joint Lives Maintenance GH v IH 2025 EWFC 120

The decision in GH v IH [2025] EWFC 120 (B) provides a revealing look at the long tail of family financial orders, where joint lives maintenance collides with real-life messiness: patchy compliance, unclear enforcement, …
May 13, 2025
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Boardrooms and Breakups: What BR v BR Teaches Us About Valuing Complex Businesses in Divorce

How do you divide a £263 million fortune when over £200 million of it is tied up in private companies? In BR v BR [2025] EWFC 88, Mr Justice Peel was faced with exactly …
May 12, 2025
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MPS or Misstep? The Costs Trap in Maintenance Pending Suit

In DSD v MJW [2025] EWFC 119 (B), Deputy District Judge David Hodson delivers a candid—and cutting—judgment on a £500-a-month maintenance pending suit (MPS) application that cost nearly £13,000 in legal fees to argue. …
May 9, 2025
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Setting Aside to Set Things Right: Lessons from AB v CD

In the financial remedy case of AB v CD & Ors [2025] EWFC 958, His Honour Judge Richard Williams provides a detailed, forensic examination of when and how a financial remedy applicant can succeed …
April 28, 2025
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Smoke Without Fire? When Foreign Judgments Cloud Financial Disclosure

In VTY v GDB [2025] EWFC 110 (B), Recorder Rhys Taylor faced one of the more unusual and unsettling examples of non-disclosure in recent family law decisions. At the heart of the case was …
April 25, 2025
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Ignorance Isn’t Always Bliss: Shared Misunderstanding in Financial Disclosure

In family law, few allegations carry more weight than material non-disclosure. When a party believes they were misled during financial remedy proceedings, the remedy they seek is serious: setting aside a final order. But …
April 22, 2025
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Understanding Extended Civil Restraint Orders in Family Law: When Litigation Becomes Obsession

Family law is no stranger to long-running, emotionally charged disputes. But what happens when one party simply refuses to stop litigating—even after years of judgments, failed appeals, and repeated rejections? That is where the …
April 17, 2025
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The Right to Privacy in Family Litigation

In the emotionally charged world of family litigation, personal boundaries can easily become collateral damage. But what happens when a party wants to shield their contact details from the other side? The recent decision …
April 16, 2025
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Conditional Appeals in Family Law: A Rare but Powerful Tool – Lessons from Ahmad v Faraj [2025] EWCA Civ 468

A decision from the Court of Appeal in Ahmad and IIB Group Holdings v Faraj [2025] EWCA Civ 468 has caused a stir among family law practitioners. In an unusual but not unprecedented move, …
April 16, 2025
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When Is a Deal a Deal? Understanding Xydhias Agreements in Financial Remedy Cases

In the emotionally charged landscape of divorce litigation, reaching an agreement on finances can feel like the light at the end of the tunnel. But what happens when one party tries to walk away …
April 15, 2025
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Posthumous Wealth and Divorce: Can a Financial Remedy Order Be Changed After Judgment?

In X v Y [2025] EWHC 727 (Fam), the Family Division of the High Court was asked to revisit a financial remedy order after a final judgment—but before the order was perfected—because of a …
April 14, 2025
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Can I Use My Ex’s Financial Documents in Court? The “Imerman” Problem in Divorce Cases

It’s a scenario that comes up time and again in divorce: you’re worried your spouse isn’t being honest about money. You come across some of their bank statements or business records — maybe they …
April 8, 2025
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Cohabitation or Marriage? Why the Line Matters Less Than You Think

“We were basically married already.” It’s something family lawyers hear a lot when a client describes their long-term relationship — only some years later comes the wedding, often followed (sadly) by separation. But legally, …
April 7, 2025
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Mediate or Litigate? Why the New Family Procedure Rules Shift the Balance

Since 29 April 2024, family lawyers have had a new set of procedural rules to reckon with—changes that bring mediation and other non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) methods right into the spotlight. These aren’t just …
April 4, 2025
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Mental Health and Financial Settlements in Family Law: TA v SB [2025] EWFC 61

The recent judgment in TA v SB [2025] EWFC 61 (B) offers a compelling look at how family courts balance financial settlements in cases where one spouse has significant mental health challenges. The case …
March 24, 2025
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Non-Disclosure and No-Show: How Courts Respond in Financial Remedy Cases – Mahtani v Mahtani [2025] EWFC 35 (Fam)

Mahtani v Mahtani [2025] EWFC 35 (Fam) is a stark reminder of the serious consequences of non-attendance and non-disclosure in financial remedy proceedings. This case serves as yet another warning that attempting to evade …
March 19, 2025
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DF v YB [2025] EWFC 46 (B): A £1.3 Million Litigation Bill and Lessons on Efficiency, Conduct, and Transparency

At first glance, DF v YB [2025] EWFC 46 (B) appears to be a straightforward financial remedy case—a 19-year marriage, an agreed equal division of assets, and no significant conduct arguments. But beneath the …
March 13, 2025
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