The criminal offences that can be included under the umbrella term ‘domestic abuse’ have been in the news recently, not least because of the proposals to add those convicted of them to the offenders who must sign on to the violent and sexual offences register. The passing of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 will undoubtedly […]
The topic of the offence of controlling and coercive behaviour has been discussed widely in the Press recently. Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 created this relatively new offence. It has an obvious overlap with domestic abuse, sex, honour-based violence and stalking/harassment offences. This can at times lead to some confusion about how […]
Occupation orders are a legal tool that can be used to protect an associated person for example current/ former spouse, civil partner] and their children in a range of different circumstances but what is an occupation order? An occupation order enforces who has the right to live in a family home, and who cannot. It can […]
Historically the 5 years separation rule was one of five available grounds for divorce in England and Wales, a factor you could use to show your marriage had broken down irretrievably. If after 5 years both parties were in contact and in agreement regarding the divorce, it offered a quick and easy way to end […]
January has always been the busiest time of year for family lawyers. The stresses of Christmas are often the final straw in a relationship. This has caused the first working Monday of every January to be dubbed ‘Divorce Day’ in Family Law circles. However, history aside, will the cost of living crisis increase divorce numbers […]
Philip Meredith, instructed by Stephen Langdell of Bishop and Light Solicitors, has helped a father avoid prison after he was arrested for going out armed with a taser and a knife. As the Judge, Mr Recorder Collins, noted, the client had 12 previous convictions for 29 offences, and he could easily have faced up to 10 […]