Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service) has developed a new Parenting Plan aimed at encouraging parents, and other family members, to parent cooperatively for the benefit of any child. It is envisaged that the Plan will assist parents in making practical decisions and assist in resolving disputes outside of Court whilst child […]
We are joyful here at Higgins Miller to see that an announcement has been made by Sir Elton John and his civil partner David Furnish that they are to marry after a change in the law in England and Wales to allow same-sex weddings for the first time The NBC show in America was told […]
Home Secretary, Theresa May commented upon the report undertaken by HMIC (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary) in respect of the response by Police in domestic abuse matters. The HMIC states … “not all police leaders are ensuring that domestic abuse is a priority in their forces – it is often a poor relation to other […]
‘Relationship break down’,’ Separation’, ‘Splitting up’- We thought we’d heard every name possible for the ending of a relationship with a former loved-one but “Conscious uncoupling”- Now that’s one we’ve not heard before. Whilst we here at Higgins Miller may have very different views on Coldplay’s Music and Gwyneth’s dietary regime, we cannot disagree with […]
There have been two decisions this week on cases where a child has been brought to the UK by its mother without the father’s consent and in both cases the court has ordered that the child in question must return to its country of origin. In the first case Re F the parents had been […]
The law in relation to pre-nuptial agreements is one of the most changeable that we at Higgins Miller deal with. In the last week alone there have been some major developments. Earlier last week the Law Commission published a report called Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements. The report recommends, amongst other things, that it should be made […]
A mother has lost her appeal against a care order and adoption order in respect of one of her two children and a decision not to re-instate contact with her other child. In the case of S (A Child) the mother argued that the Judge hearing the case at first instance had not given sufficient weight to her […]
Despite warnings against the measure from the House of Lords, a plan to start charging parents for using the new Child Maintenance Service (replacing the Child Support Agency) have now been approved by Parliament. The Government appears to be of the view that by imposing these charges they will encourage people to resolve matters without […]
MPs from all parties are backing a tough US-style law that would make domestic abuse a specific offence carrying a sentence of up to 14 years in prison. This is something that will hopefully help increased conviction rates; as it is recognised that at present conviction rates are low and often the perpetrator is convicted […]
BBC Panorama programme ‘I Want my Baby Back’ that was transmitted on 13th January examines evidence used in ‘Vitamin D cases’ in family courts. The BBC says that crucial evidence against parents came from doctors, who erroneously viewed fractures on x-rays as evidence of abuse, rather than a lack of vitamin D (or Rickets) which […]