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    Introducing Stowe talks podcast series 4

    Stowe talks podcast
    Series 4 of Stowe talks podcast and videos series has begun. 
    As ever, in each episode hosts Liza and Matt are joined by a special guest to explore a specific topic in detail.
    Alongside our expert guests, in Stowe talks series 4 we explore:

    Parenting alongside a narcissist
    The dangers of DIY divorce
    How to prepare for your financial settlement
    Supporting teenagers through divorce
    Prenups, postnups and petnups
    The unique challenges of a relationship break down in the LGBTQIA+ community
    Creating financial wellbeing following separation
    Supporting male victims of domestic abuse
    Building your family through surrogacy.

    The latest episodes
    Series 4 of Stowe talks begins with ‘Parenting alongside a narcissist’, a 2-part conversation with renowned narcissist expert Dr Supriya McKenna.
    Building on our previous episodes, in part one Dr Supriya starts by explaining what narcissistic personality disorder is and how this manifests in their behaviour, especially during divorce and parenting.
    We then continue the conversation in part two, looking at learning to manage the narcissist behaviour, how to best support your children, dealing with legal and financial abuse, the family court, and learning how to raise the threshold of what triggers you.
    Quick links
    Listen to Stowe talks on spotify
    Watch Stow talks on YouTube More

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    October Stowe Support roundup

    Stowe Support is a dedicated home for Stowe’s free resources designed to help inform and support anyone with family law concerns.
    With new blogs, guides, podcasts, videos and events shared each month, here’s a handy Stowe Support roundup from the past month in case you missed anything.
    Here’s your monthly roundup of Stowe Support resources in case you missed anything.
    Latest blogs from Stowe
    What is financial wellbeing?
    World Mental Health Day: wellbeing during divorce
    Labour announce commitment to cohabitation reform
    Adopting a stepchild
    World Menopause Day
    Islamic divorce in the UK
    What happens if I’m separated but not divorced?
    What to do if you think your marriage is over
    Book your free webinar place
    Cardiff Break Up Club – Surviving Christmas after separation
    Stowe Talks – How to build a happy blended family with Nichole Farrow
    Watch recent webinars
    Stowe Talks – Creating financial wellbeing following divorce or separation
    Listen to Stowe talks podcasts on Spotify
    Our next series of Stowe talks podcast will be launched soon.
    In the mean time, you can click to catch up on previous episodes and follow us!
    Stowe Support
    To explore our full range of resources dedicated to helping people with family law matters, visit Stowe Support.
    Here you’ll find a wealth of helpful guides, videos and blogs on divorce and separation, finances, children, domestic abuse, cohabitation, alternative parenting, mediation, as well as support with relationships and wellness. More

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    July Stowe Support roundup

    Stowe Support is a dedicated home for Stowe’s free resources designed to help inform and support anyone with family law concerns.
    With new blogs, guides, podcasts, videos and events shared each month, here’s a handy Stowe Support roundup from the past month in case you missed anything.
    Here’s your monthly roundup of Stowe Support resources in case you missed anything.
    Latest blogs:
    The role of a divorce coach
    What is parental responsibility?
    Can I afford to divorce my partner?
    Who gets the mortgage? The new divorce battleground
    The rise in birdnesting after divorce
    Why Barbie and Ken need a cohabitation agreement
     Watch July’s Stowe talks webinar:
    Stowe talks webinar – Understanding and dealing with coercive control with Dr Emma Katz
    Listen to Stowe talks podcasts on Spotify:
    Our next series of Stowe talks podcast which will be launched soon.
    But you can click to catch up on previous episodes and follow us!

    Stowe Support
    To explore our full range of resources dedicated to helping people with family law matters, visit Stowe Support.
    Here you’ll find a wealth of helpful guides, videos and blogs on divorce and separation, finances, children, domestic abuse, cohabitation, alternative parenting, mediation, as well as support with relationships and wellness. More

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    No-fault divorce, one year on

    It’s one year since we welcomed the arrival of no-fault divorce in England and Wales (6th April 2022).
    As the biggest change to divorce law for decades, the advent of the no-fault process transformed divorce, separation, and civil partnership dissolution by removing the legal requirement for blame.
    For the past year, couples have been able to file for divorce without accepting fault or assigning blame to their partner, and without fabricating a reason where they don’t naturally fit into the five previously accepted grounds for divorce.
    No-fault divorce also removed the ability to contest a divorce.
    What was it like to divorce before no-fault divorce?
    Previously, irrespective of the reasons for divorce or the personal circumstances of a couple, there was a legal requirement to attribute blame to only one party, if they wanted to divorce in less than two years.
    The five reasons, or grounds, for divorce included unreasonable behaviour, adultery, separation after two years with consent, separation after 5 years without consent, or desertion.
    Why was no-fault divorce was introduced?
    Having to distil events into one crystallised reason and assign blame to only one party was unproductive for separating couples at best and frequently destroyed what was left of the relationship.
    Instead of conflict and stress, no-fault divorce paved the way for amicable collaboration, easing negotiations and reducing the overall mental health impact of divorce. It means that parties can find a way to move forward while focusing on the important issues, such as children, finances, and property.
    In addition, removing the ability to contest a divorce removed potential barriers for victim-survivors of domestic abuse, and those trapped in controlling relationships.
    Reflections on no-fault divorce one year on
    While no-fault divorce is a step forward that’s hugely benefited some, we must also consider the negative impact it has had on many couples going through the divorce process.
    No-fault divorce has removed the sometimes cathartic and understandable desire to blame. This has left some people frustrated. For example, if one party files for divorce following their partner’s infidelity, there is no longer a formal acknowledgement of their ex-partner’s misconduct or a way to hold them accountable for their actions. Whether divorce is a result of serious and sustained wrongdoing, or simply the result of growing apart, the divorce process is the same.
    Now, with no-fault divorce, it’s not essential to share the reason for the marital breakdown. However, as family lawyers we sometimes see that because this emotional line hasn’t been drawn at the outset, it can muddy the waters later in the divorce journey. Without an official vent, suppressed frustration about the cause of the divorce can occur. For many, tensions start running high later in the proceedings, creating further animosity and lengthier arguments over the practical elements of the divorce, such as dividing up assets and agreeing child arrangements.
    We must remember that most people going through a divorce are looking at matters through an emotional lens, rather than from a purely rational perspective. So, while no-fault divorce has certainly been a welcome change that has helped many couples to separate amicably, there is a flip side that should be acknowledged to help mitigate animosity further down the line.
    Useful links
    No-fault divorce has arrived
    The no-fault divorce process
    A complete guide to no-fault divorce
    How no-fault divorce impacted victims of domestic abuse More

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    Travelling abroad when your kids have a different surname

    It’s peak holiday season for UK families as the schools get ready to close for the six-week break. Travelling with kids can be tricky at the best of times but travelling abroad when your kids have a different surname can be complicated.
    Emma Newman, the Managing Partner at the Stowe Family Law office in Esher shares her first-hand experience and explains what a parent can do in advance to help prevent any issues.
    Many of us are now looking forward to enjoying some time away in the sunshine as the summer holiday approaches but if you have a different surname to that of your child you need to take action to avoid unnecessary stress.
    What is in a surname?
    Women are more likely to have a different surname to their children; some, like me, may be divorced from their child’s father and have remarried taking on a new name, others are married but have chosen not to take their husband’s surname whilst their children do, and of course, there are more and more unmarried couples who have children.
    The checks that are in place at ports, airports and international railway stations are designed to prevent children from being kidnapped and are all very understandable, but they have caused a huge amount of stress, upset and even missed flights for many parents and their children. This can easily be avoided by ensuring you carry the right documents. So, what can you do to ensure your holiday goes smoothly?
    Documents you may need
    Much depends on your particular circumstances but the officials need to be satisfied with your relationship with your child so the documents you may need are:
    Your child’s Birth Certificate:
    This document gives the name of your child, their date and place of birth and will match with the details on their passport. It will also give the full names of both parents at the time of their birth. So be careful; if your name has changed since your child was born you will need to take more documents with you.
    Proof of your change of name:
    This could mean travelling with your Marriage Certificate or a Change of Name Deed. On my last trip abroad I also found carrying an expired passport in the name I held at the time of my child’s birth (and therefore as set out in his birth certificate) was very useful as not only did it show what my name was then but it also had a photograph of me and the Border Official was able to marry up the Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and the expired and current passports.
    Prepare your children
    You might also want to warn your children that they may be asked questions directly by the immigration officials and they should not be worried and answer clearly and honestly. This is not the time for them to make jokes.  When I have been stopped at immigration my son was asked who I was, who my husband was, where he had been and how old he was.  It was made very clear that he needed to answer himself and I couldn’t answer for him.
    Consent to travel
    If you are not travelling with your child’s other parent, I would always ensure that you can prove you have their consent to your taking the child abroad.
    If there is a Child Arrangement Order in place which states that the child lives with you, technically you only need to obtain the other parent’s consent if you are going to be out of the UK for more than 28 days.
    However, in every other case, you should have the permission of every other person with parental responsibility for the child. If you don’t have this consent or a Court order, you are committing child abduction.
    I always recommend asking the other parent to sign a consent form before travel or to write a letter setting out their consent. The document should provide the full contact details of the other parent and specific details of the trip including the dates, destination and address. The other parent should sign the form. It is also a wise idea to attach a copy of the other parents’ passport to the consent form.
    Travelling abroad with children can be stressful enough. However, you can minimise some of the costs by ensuring you have enough space in your luggage to pack these multitude of documents. Happy holidays! More

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    Tales and myths of a common-law marriage

    What are the myths of a common-law marriage? Nearly half of people in England and Wales believe that unmarried couples living together have the same rights and obligations as couples who are legally married or who have entered into a civil partnership. However, this could not be further from the truth. This is the myth […] More