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    Family Law in 2024

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    As we come to the end of another year, our lawyers reflect on some of the changes (or lack of!) in family law in 2024, and the impact on people going through family law issues.
    Julian Hawkhead, Senior Partner
    Can it really be a year since I last wrote an introduction to the Stowe Family Law end of year blog? In many respects, time has flown by so quickly, but sadly, as my colleagues discuss in the following articles, where the need for reform in key areas of family law is concerned, progress is not as fast.
    Firstly a few words about Stowe Family Law. It has been quite a year for the firm as we continue increase our capability to support more people as they require family law services increasing the number of specialist lawyers across more locations nationwide. Throughout 2024 we opened more offices taking our total number of locations to 94 and we now have 205 specialist family lawyers. We also said goodbye to Livingbridge as our former partners with whom we have achieved so much over the last 7 years and we welcomed our new partners Investcorp to support us through the next exciting chapter. We have some really exciting plans so watch this space!
    With a new Labour Government in place, now is the time to prioritise a legal system that is there to protect the vulnerable and is readily accessible to those in need. It is an essential foundation for a stable and safe society.
    In other areas of the family law world, we have seen an increased impetus to keep couples out of the court system and encourage them to adopt alternative routes to reaching a resolution whether that is mediation or other forms of dispute resolution. The rules that have been introduced feel more stick (through costs sanctions) than carrot but there is no doubt that a resolution reached consensually is longer lasting and less damaging to all parties.
    The need for rights for couples living together without a legal marriage or civil partnership continues to be an area of focus for family law professionals, although there seems to be diminishing hope that the Government will prioritise reform here. A clear legal framework is necessary to define what happens when cohabiting relationships end is much needed.
    I hope you enjoy reading these short articles written by my colleagues and may I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas season and a healthy and prosperous 2025.
    Tamara Adams on development in fertility law
    This year has not seen as much progress in fertility law as we, as family law professionals, would have hoped. However, some steps have been taken with the amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Previously female same-sex couples had to undergo screening for infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, C and rubella which could cost up to £1000 and was prohibitive for many. As of November this year, the screening requirements for same-sex couples are on par with those for heterosexual couples as these requirements have been relaxed. In addition, same-sex couples where one or both partners have an undetectable viral load for HIV will be allowed to pursue IVF treatment.
    The ONS reported that women had an average of 1.44 children between 2022-23, the lowest recorded birth rates. Several reasons have been touted for this drop, including the impact of Covid-19, and social changes with women delaying having children to pursue a career. In this context, there is a need for change in fertility laws to make various methods of alternative journeys to parenthood more accessible and the legal process frictionless.
    Unfortunately, we are still awaiting key changes in surrogacy laws which many family law professionals hope to see. The complexities of legal parenthood being assigned to the birth mother, rather than the intended parents, followed by a lengthy process of transferring parenthood, is complicated, costly and stressful, and can be a deterrent. Recently, Baroness Meron met with the Law Commission to discuss the recommendations made in the Commission’s report which was released in March 2023. It is hoped that the Government will release a response soon, putting surrogacy on the agenda.
    I hope to see more change in 2025, particularly in surrogacy, to protect intended parents and make their journey to parenthood a joyful one.

    Ciara Pugh on the need for cohabitation rights
    Taking the media by storm this year was the fall in marriage rates, as reported by ONS, with rates falling to 49.4%, the first time they have dropped below 50%. Although same-sex marriages increased, and there were an estimated 167,000 people in same-sex marriages in 2022, overall marriage seems to be being replaced by couples choosing to live together as cohabitees.
    The fall in marriage rates reflects a changing society, and the need for the law to maintain pace with shifting priorities and family structures. There are a variety of reasons that could be attributed to the decline. For example, these ONS figures are from 2022, where the impact of the Covid pandemic was still being felt on the wedding industry. Nevertheless, the way we view marriage and relationships is constantly changing, and couples are either delaying or rejecting marriage entirely.
    What this does mean is more people are choosing to live together as cohabitees rather than getting married. Although cohabitation is the fastest growing family type in the UK, as it stands there is little to no financial protection for cohabitees should the couple break up or one party die without leaving a Will. This is the case regardless of length of time living together, or if the couple shares children (though there are some financial claims that can be brought for the benefit of children).
    Family lawyers have been campaigning for cohabitation reform for years. In October 2023, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of Labour MP Emily Thornberry’s promise to make cohabitation a priority should the Labour Party take hold of Government. Disappointingly, such a reform has failed to land on the Government’s agenda as yet, leaving many individuals vulnerable should their relationship end.
    However, the fall in marriage rates has renewed calls for cohabitation reform. I hope that in the not-too-distant future, there will be financial protection for cohabitees. This could be in the form of an opt-in or opt-out system where couples choose whether they wish to have rights. These are unlikely to be the same as those afforded to married couples, but financial protection is needed to protect vulnerable individuals. Our new Labour Government is confronted with an exciting opportunity to finally reform this highly problematic area of family law and let’s hope we see some change!

    Rachael Lodge on the drive to avoid court
    The Family Justice System has been working hard over the past few years to reduce acrimony in divorce and family proceedings, and to ensure families going through relationship breakdowns have the best chance at setting themselves up for a more positive future. This is all within the context of a struggling court system which is underfunded and over-stretched.
    As such, one of the most significant changes in 2024 was an update to the Family Procedure Rules. These are a set of rules followed by courts nationwide which govern practice and standardise court procedures. In April of this year, the rules were updated to place a greater focus on reaching amicable agreements, using non-court dispute resolutions (NCDR) such as mediation, collaborative family law and arbitration.
    The main changes are a wider definition of what NCDR means, broadening the scope beyond just mediation, and including methods such as arbitration, collaborative divorce and private financial dispute resolution hearings.
    Divorcing couples will now need to actively engage in NCDR, or provide a valid reason why this is not possible by laying out their views in open correspondence. Parties now have to express why NCDR is inappropriate in their case using the new FM5 form (for example, due to safeguarding concerns), where before this was simply a tick box exercise. The exemptions for not taking part in NCDR are more limited, and failure to engage may result in cost sanctions. We have already seen this acted on by Judges in several cases in the latter half of the year.
    Although courts could previously adjourn proceedings where Judges felt NCDR would be appropriate, they can now do this without the agreement of the parties.

    The hope is that moving forward, parties family law issues will be able to find constructive ways to resolve differences instead of using the courts. This will not only give the family courts more breathing room but will mean families can build a better post-separation future. The Ministry of Justice is undertaking a wider push to support families by ensuring they are aware of all the options available to them and supported throughout.
    Emily Davies on the Pathfinder Pilot
    The Pathfinder Pilot was initially introduced in March 2022, launched in a small number of family courts, to trial improved information sharing between services like local authorities with the courts. The pilot was a response to a review into the Family Justice System that highlighted how the adversarial nature of family courts and the system itself worsened conflict and further traumatised domestic abuse victims and children. Almost three years later, now is a great opportunity to reflect on the change and development in the pilot itself, and the impact it has had on families.
    The pilot model requires detailed investigations to be conducted by Cafcass – the independent body advising family courts what is safe for, and in the best interests of, the children. Cafcass will prepare a Child Impact report, where they have an opportunity to hear from the child/children before the first hearing to better understand their worries, wishes and feelings, and to evaluate the potential impact of the ongoing family law proceedings, on the child/children involved. Cafcass also investigates any welfare issues, allegations of domestic abuse, and identifies whether non-court dispute resolution would be appropriate. The pilot aims to ensure that children of separating parents are listened to throughout the process, and are given more opportunities to express themselves, as well as improve the experience of survivors of domestic abuse.
    Furthermore, the Pathfinder scheme is working to minimise the trauma domestic abuse victims (and their children) experience going through the justice system when separating from their abusive partner. The improved information sharing through the holistic multi-agency approach and early onset information gathering, means victims do not have to be re-traumatised by telling their story multiple times.
    February 2024 saw the end of the initial phase of the pilot, and it was then rolled out to two further locations, Birmingham, and South-East Wales, ahead of a planned national rollout. Although the national rollout has yet to be confirmed, the progress made by the initial phases of the pilot have been positive. The change in process is being carefully monitored by legal professionals, as well as policymakers and Cafcass.
    At present, it is apparent that a national rollout is not yet on the cards. However, I hope a review into the pilot will be produced in 2025, looking ahead to a nationwide implementation as the family justice system moves towards less adversarial, non-court-based approaches.
    Read more about the Pathfinder Pilot.
     Jake Mitchell on AI and Family Law
    Technology is evolving, and in 2024 we have felt its impact in the legal world. Some of the fastest moving tech is the use of Artificial Intelligent (AI) and its usage in family law.
    AI is not robots, but computer simulation. In law, language models like ChatGPT have an enormous amount of data, phrases and sentences plugged in to predict “what comes next?” in a sentence, forming complex answers. AI can answer questions, but you should take care it is not always accurate. You may have noticed Google’s new AI Overview, which takes a question you’ve searched, and pulls information from various top performing sites to give you a quick answer without needing to click on a particular website. This is helpful to an extent but should not be taken as ‘gospel’ as if the source AI takes from is wrong, so is the answer.
    In family law, AI can be used to make our processes more efficient, saving the lawyer time and saving client money. AI can answer questions outside of office hours, check your documentation for spelling/grammar errors, summarise documents and even take a first-draft note of meetings. It can summarise long documents and organise your thoughts and papers. AI can also help with legal research, but beware, in the US there have been instances of AI entirely inventing cases.
    This is likely only the beginning of some more impressive changes. However, as the technology grows we need to be ever more mindful of the pitfalls. Errors are common, answers not always correct, and oversight of activity is very important. AI won’t replace everything your lawyer can do, and family law involves supporting people going through deeply personal, emotional issues, where empathy and understanding is required. AI cannot replace this, but it can be part of the team.
    Sarah Scriven on Domestic Abuse Protection Notice Pilot
    On 27th November 2024, domestic abuse protection notices (DAPN) and domestic abuse protection orders (DAPO) were introduced by way of a pilot scheme, expected to last one year. It is hoped that these measures will provide better protection to victims of domestic abuse.
    The pilot is taking place in certain areas: London boroughs of Croydon, Sutton and Bromley and Greater Manchester. The perpetrator must live in one of these areas.  The British Transport Police are also able to apply for DAPOs.
    A Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DAPN) is issued by police to a perpetrator to provide immediate protection for victims of all forms of domestic abuse, even where there is not enough evidence for a criminal charge. The perpetrator and victim must be personally connected. The police must consider that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a person has been abusive to the other person. The DAPN contains specific instructions to the perpetrator, for example not to attend the victim’s home. If the instructions aren’t followed, the perpetrator could be arrested. If the police issue a DAPN, they will also apply for a DAPO.
    A DAPO can also be made by the court to protect victims from all forms of domestic abuse. This order may be made by the court during ongoing criminal family or civil proceedings.  Applications may be made by the police, a victim or by someone not directly involved known as a third party, for example a friend, family member or social workers. Breaching a DAPO is a criminal offence.
    Prior to the pilot, the police could issue domestic violence protection orders, but these only last for 48 hours. A victim could make an application to the family court for a non-molestation and/or occupation order and in the criminal court, a restraining order could be made.
    The introduction of the DAPN and DAPO give victims, but also organisations such as the police and social workers and third parties such as a friend and family an avenue to use to seek protection and it will no longer be down to the victim to make the relevant application themselves.
    A DAPO has no maximum duration, and the court will consider how long it needs to last to protect the victim. A non-molestation will usually last for between 6 to 12 months but can last longer in exceptional circumstances.
    If the pilot is successful, DAPNs and DAPOs are expected to replace domestic violence protection orders. It is hoped they will give police a tool that is more effective and provides longer term protection to victims.
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    Final Word
    I hope you have found this wide array of topics interesting and should you want to find out more about any of the topics we have covered here or any other family law issues please do not hesitate to get in touch.
    With best wishes for the festive season,
    Julian Hawkhead More

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      Transparency Pilot expanded to include private family law cases

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      The Transparency pilot in a select number of family courts has been extended to now allow accredited journalists and legal bloggers to report on what they see and hear in private law cases, including children matters. This is another significant step in enhancing transparency within the family justice system and building trust and confidence.

      Background to the pilot
      The pilot was originally launched by the Family Division’s Transparency Implementation Group in January 2023, initially in three courts, Leeds, Cardiff and Carlisle. The media were able to report on certain public law cases, within specific regulations and under anonymity rules. In January 2024, after a ‘pioneering year of reporting’, the scheme was extended to sixteen further courts, including Liverpool, Milton Keynes and Dorset. In addition, private law cases were opened to the media in the original three courts.
      The Transparency Pilot aims to improve trust in the court system, and by encouraging journalists to witness cases, the hope was that journalists would use their rights to raise public awareness of the workings of the family courts.
      Although there have been concerns about the potential discomfort the presence of journalists could cause to families going through a court case, the pilot is being carefully monitored by the Transparency Implementation Group, with strict anonymity rules.
      The pilot has already seen significant successes and coverage, including a mini-series on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, the Press Association, BBC news, the Sunday Times, and the Guardian, to name just a few. In after the first year, President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane hailed the pilot as a ‘pioneering year of reporting’.
      Extension July 2024
      As of 15th July 2024, the pilot has been extended to now allow reporters access to private law cases, including children matters, in the latter sixteen courts. The control measures remain in place, and reporting is at the judge’s discretion, and if permitted, will be under a Transparency Order, protecting families and specifically children.
      The judiciary is committed to fostering a better understanding of the family justice system and improving confidence in it. The pilot aims to provide insight into the handling of public and private law cases, considering that one of the biggest barriers to people seeking legal help is the misinformation around court and legal processes. More

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      What is in store for family law in 2024?

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      2024 has the potential to see the conclusion of a number of UK government legislation amendments and consultations. Each carefully considered change will have a far-reaching impact on family law and those dealing with the personal impact of family law matters. So, as we begin the new year, we look at important changes on the horizon and suggest what may be in store for family law in 2024.
      Financial Remedies Court reporting pilot
      The spotlight on ‘transparency in the Family Court’ continues in 2024. Following on from last year’s introduction of measures to increase understanding and scrutiny of the system, a new pilot scheme is set to start on January 29th.
      The Financial Remedies Court (FRC) reporting pilot will allow accredited journalists and bloggers to report on financial remedies proceedings. These include financial issues arising from divorce and civil partnership dissolution, and child support cases.
      The FRC pilot will initially cover three trial courts: the Central Family Court, Birmingham, and Leeds. Notably, certain hearings, like Financial Dispute Resolution, will maintain confidentiality, preserving the privacy of those involved.
      Proposed amendment to Victims and Prisoners Bill affecting parental responsibility
      In January 2024 the Ministry of Justice’s proposed amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill moves to the next stage. The proposal announced in 2022 seeks to automatically remove parental responsibility for parents convicted of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of their co-parent.
      The legislation change emerged after the death of Jade Ward, whose partner and father of her child murdered her in 2021. He was found guilty and sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in jail. Since then, Jade’s family have lobbied for a change in the law to automatically remove parental responsibility so that convicted offenders can no longer seek information about their children or make key decisions about their lives.
      The Ministry of Justice have confirmed that there will be exemptions in cases involving domestic abuse.
      Possible outline of future financial remedies reform
      In 2023 the Law Commission of England and Wales launched a comprehensive review of financial remedy orders. The review examines how finances are divided among couples post-divorce or civil partnership dissolution, currently governed by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and Civil Partnership Act 2004.
      The aim of the review is to evaluate the effectiveness of current laws and ensure fairness for divorcing couples. Among other factors, the review set out to analyse discretionary powers of judges, explore wider powers for orders involving children over the age of eighteen, assess pension-related orders, review the mechanics and structure of post-divorce financial payments.
      The findings, anticipated in a scoping report in September 2024, may pave the way for significant reforms in future financial remedies legislation.
      Family court fees to rise
      Last month the UK Government completed a consultation which looks to increase court fees by up to 10% in 2024.
      The Ministry for Justice wants to increase revenue generated by the courts to ensure that they remain ‘sufficiently resourced’ to protect access to the courts for all those who seek justice.
      Users of His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), including the family court, contribute to the cost of the justice process by paying fees. Court fees generated £727 million of the total £2.3 billion cost to run HMCTS in 2022/23, with the remainder funded by the taxpayer.
      By increasing court fees by 10% the UK government is expected to generate up to £42 million per year. The key objectives of the price increase are to keep pace with increased costs, improve service delivery, subsidise the cost of free services, and reduce the overall cost to the taxpayer.
      Key 2024 family court fee increases include:

      Application for a divorce, or civil partnership dissolution – fees will rise from £593 to £652
      Application for a parental order – fees will rise from £232 to £255
      Application/permission to apply for adoption – fees will rise from £183 to £201
      Application for a financial order (other than consent order) – fees will rise from £275 to £303.

      Resolving family matters out of court
      In 2024 we’ll see a continuing emphasis on encouraging parties to seek resolution of their disputes outside of the court system. Last year the UK government carried out a consultation ‘Supporting earlier resolution of private family law arrangements’ to review mediation in family law.
      As a result, in 2024 we could see mandatory mediation for all suitable low-level family court cases (excluding those which include allegations or a history of domestic violence). The aim is to divert family disputes away from stretched courts and protect children from the impact of acrimonious and long-running court cases.
      It’s hoped the proposals will mean more people can make decisions and achieve resolutions with the support of a qualified mediator, rather than placing the decision with the family court.
      General election
      While the date of the next UK general election is still to be announced, it’s widely anticipated that the current Conservative government will call for an election in 2024.
      The latest voting intention polls suggest that Labour may win the next election, meaning a change in government. Whilst no parties have yet released their election manifestos, and the exact nature of any proposed changes to family law is yet unknown, we can expect to see some impact. More

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      2023 In Review – Reflections on the Year in Family Law

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      2023: A Year in Review
      Julian Hawkhead, Managing Partner, Reflects on the Year
      It has become something of a tradition for me to write a note as we draw towards the end of the year to reflect on what has happened over the past 12 months. Doesn’t the time fly by? This year I’m delighted to be joined by a few colleagues around the firm who have put down some thoughts on what has stood out for them over the course of 2023.
      At Stowe, it has been quite a year again! I’m trying to find some clever way of linking “Stowe” and “grow” together but have failed but yet again we have continued to cement our place as the most dominant family law practice in the country. We saw our colleague numbers increase to over 360 with a total of 178 lawyers serving 88 locations around the country. Yes, that’s right, we have 88 office locations, adding 22 new locations including those from Watson Thomas and Crisp & Co. this year. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know our new colleagues from those two firms, to learn about their ways of working and what they have done to make themselves successful to continue improve our own Stowe Way of Working.
      Our client numbers also increased by 25% and by early December we had over 4,000 progressing matters underway as we continue to strive to support more and more people.
      Joanna Newton on The Rise of the Legal Age of Marriage
      In February this year, the legal age of marriage rose to 18. This has meant that 16- and 17-year-olds who were previously allowed to marry with parental consent are no longer allowed to marry or enter a civil partnership in England and Wales.
      As of 27th February, it is now a criminal offence to arrange a marriage for under 18-year-olds under any circumstances. The offence is now punishable by 7 years in prison.
      The idea behind this new law is to better protect children from being forced into underage marriages and protect them from abuse and coercion. The change is to crack down on forced marriages which can cause lasting psychological, and sometimes physical, damage on a child. It is also part of the government’s continuing commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.
      Prior to the Marriage and Civil Partnerships (Minimum Age) Act 2023, the law had been unchanged since 1949 and had legitimised child marriage with children aged 16 and 17 permitted to marry with their parents’ consent.
      The mechanism of parental consent which existed under that law, whilst meant to be a safeguard, has, in some cases, proved to be a vehicle for parental abuse.
      This change is a welcome relief and over the coming years we will hopefully see it having a considerable impact reducing the number of forced marriages and violence against girls in particular.
      Gemma Davison on Changes to Fertility Legislation
      Earlier this year, the government announced that there would be a change to fertility law which aims to reduce the discrimination that female same-sex couples face when they are looking to conceive via reciprocal IVF (where one woman provides her egg and the other carries the child). It will also encompass a change for same-sex couples where one or both partners have HIV but the viral load is undetectable.
      Female same-sex couples will no longer be required to have an additional screening for infectious diseases (including rubella, hepatitis B and C) which will remove this extra barrier not faced by heterosexual couples and reduce costs by up to £1000.
      For same-sex couples with undetectable HIV viral loads, the change in legislation will mean that the couple will have access to IVF treatment, including known sperm or egg cell donation to friends or relatives.
      These changes will hopefully work to reduce the inequality that exists between same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples regarding fertility options and treatment. However, there is still a way to go.
      In August 2022 as part of the Women’s Health Strategy, the government committed to removing all financial barriers for same-sex couples that are not faced by heterosexual couples. We are still awaiting this change. I hope to see more progress in reducing discrimination in the fertility space and more support of this method of parenthood in 2024.
      Megan Brookfield on ‘Love bombing’ being Recognised as a Sign of Abuse by CPS
      In April this year, the Crown Prosecution Service updated their guidance on controlling and coercive behaviour to include the term ‘love bombing’. The guidance now advises prosecutors on the range of tactics perpetrators of abuse can use against their victim and discusses love bombing and what this entails. Love bombing is a phrase used to describe a scenario whereby the abuser will periodically carry out over-the-top loving acts in between other behaviour to confuse and control their victim. It is most commonly seen in the early stages of a relationship.
      The update is a positive step. It has highlighted the diverse ways in which perpetrators can exact control of their victim. Furthermore, it provides a degree of clarity on the role of love bombing and how it is a coercive tactic. It also gives family lawyers a legal framework with which to support clients and indeed when obtaining protective orders from the family court.
      There are still numerous challenges to face when proving coercive control. The updates in legal framework have certainly improved this, but it is clear that more work needs to be done to help and support survivors and their families, particularly for those seeking to leave their abusive relationship.
      Ashley Le Core on Child Arrangements in International Divorces
      Most of us will have seen something about the divorce of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner earlier this year. Their divorce raised some very interesting points in the family law space, including which jurisdiction should accept the divorce proceedings and associated financial remedy proceedings. This is particularly important to consider, as different jurisdictions will provide two differing ways of handling assets, which could favour one party over the other.
      However, most of the media drama of the divorce has been specifically about child arrangements, raising the issue of who gets the kids in international divorces, as Turner is British and Jonas is American. From media reports, it appeared that they had planned to settle their two young daughters in England. Initial divorce proceedings, however, saw some issues on this front, including accusations of child abduction.
      Unlike many divorces, these parents are of course very wealthy and therefore the reality is that wherever the determination is made that the children shall primarily reside, the other parent should be more than able to purchase an appropriate property in that country and therefore, the impact on the children will be drastically reduced. This is of course not available to every party in such cases.
      No absolute certain details are known about the long-term arrangements in relation to this divorce at this stage, but in the interim, the girls will travel between the UK and the US. In international divorces generally, it is unlikely the court would expect children to be travelling between countries on a regular basis, especially if they are of school age. In these cases, the primary focus has to be their schooling.  The onus would therefore be on one of the parents to do more of the travelling and to have a base in the relevant jurisdiction. The children then spend more quality time with their parents over longer periods such as school holidays.
      The Jonas/Turner divorce has been an interesting study in the various complex aspects involved in international and multi-jurisdictional divorces and has particularly drawn attention to what happens to children in such circumstances.
      A Final Sign Off
      There is little I can add to what has been said so eloquently above and a huge thanks to them for taking the time to share their thoughts. Family law is always evolving whether that is to reflect the changing values of our society, to adapt to the political or economic climate or to anticipate what factors such as new (and what can seem scary) technology. As a leadership team we are constantly surveying the horizon to see what might be coming up, whether that is a possible change of government or some new AI innovation. Whatever happens I do believe that 2024 will be great and exciting year.
      Wishing you and your families a safe, restful and joyous festive season.
      Julian, and all at Stowe Family Law. More

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      2022 in review – reflections on the past year in family law

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      Managing Partner Julian Hawkhead finishes the year with a look back at the significant developments for UK family law over the past twelve months, and reflects on another successful year for Stowe. 
      As another year draws to a close, I have paused in the frantic closing off of the calendar year to reflect on events in the life of Stowe and the wider family law world over the past twelve months.
      Whilst 2022 brought a renewed sense of hope, no one could have predicted the new challenges that we would face. It’s hard to believe that we started the year working remotely still and talking about the Omicron variant and booster vaccinations.
      During the course of the year we have tentatively returned to some “old” ways of life, returning to offices in greater numbers and greater frequency. Collectively it has felt like the ingredient we missed so much in lockdown; the ability to share and propagate ideas in person with colleagues. It has been great to come into the office and listen to lawyers bouncing ideas off each other, essential not only for problem solving but also sharing experiences and knowledge.
      A year of change at Stowe
      2022 has been a seismic year for Stowe Family Law. We opened 17 new office locations, recruited 68 new colleagues, and completed our first acquisition of another family law firm. As a result, the firm is one third bigger in scale than at this point last year. With this growth our lawyers have been able to help even more families handle the emotional and legal consequences of family breakdown as they are faced with the combined fallout of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
      The introduction of no-fault divorce
      The past year has also been a landmark one for family law with the introduction of no-fault divorce back in April. This was the culmination of many years of campaigning, and rightly seen as a triumph for those who have advocated for a blame free divorce process and the modernisation of antiquated divorce laws.
      Here at Stowe, we saw our first no-fault divorce client reach the end of their divorce process with a final divorce order granted in November. There’s no doubt we will see many more clients reach the end of the new process in the coming weeks.
      As a lawyer it has been a relief not to have to have to discuss with clients the causes of their marriage breakdown at great length knowing that one of the primary purposes was to work out how to draft a divorce petition with sufficient points of blame. The ability to focus on client issues that needed to be resolved, whether they relate to their children or their finances, without the additional “noise” of divorce blaming is a benefit for both client and lawyer.
      The call for cohabitation reform
      Unfortunately, similar success has not been achieved by campaigners for the introduction of laws to protect cohabiting couples. Cohabitation is the fastest growing family type in England and Wales. In 2021 there were around 3.6 million cohabiting couples in the UK compared with 1.5 million in 1996. Yet the myth of common law marriage persists and unmarried couples who split up face navigating a minefield of complex legislation to resolve financial issues.
      Family lawyers have been at the forefront of calling for change in this area for some time. In August the House of Commons’ Women and Equalities Commission produced a report into the rights of cohabiting partners. This called for the Government to reform family law to better protect cohabiting couples and their children from financial hardship in the event of separation and to provide greater financial security for cohabiting couples upon the death of one partner.
      The Government’s response was to reject the Commission’s recommendation, indicating that it considers existing work underway on the law of marriage and divorce must conclude before considering any change to the law of cohabitants on relationship breakdown. In particular, the Government has said it must focus on its commitment to conduct a review of the law of financial provision on divorce: It cannot fully reconsider the law relating to relationship breakdown of cohabitants before the review on financial provision for divorce has reached its conclusions and made its recommendations.
      In addition, the Government is considering the case for comprehensive reform to marriage law and considers that the law relating to the relationship breakdown of cohabiting couples could also not be considered outside the context of any wider reform to the law of marriage.
      So, it appears that there is no likelihood of reform to the law of cohabitation anytime soon, and we will continue to advise unmarried couples in the context of an unsatisfactory patchwork of legislation which very often leads to inequitable outcomes and financial hardship.
      For me this failure to establish any measures to protect financially vulnerable people coming out of cohabiting relationships is sadly a short-sighted decision of the government. To prioritise reform to financial remedies cases for divorcing couples in circumstances where there is already a framework, albeit some might consider an imperfect framework, above a need to provide financial protection to cohabiting couples where in a large number of cases there is currently none suggests to me that the government is making moral judgements on couples depending on whether they choose to “formalise” their relationship or not.
      In any event it leaves a large number of vulnerable people even more reliant on state funded financial support. We can only hope that parliament is able to solve this problem faster than it was able to bring about reform to no fault divorce.
      Delayed surrogacy bill
      Surrogacy is another area in which we had hoped to see significant progress towards reform this year. The law in this area has remained largely the same for 30 years and has not kept pace with scientific and societal developments. The Law Commission are in the process of preparing a draft bill which was due to be published in the autumn, but the Bill will now be delayed until spring 2023. Proposals for reform which are likely to be contained within the draft Bill include:

      The creation of a new pathway to parenthood which will mean that the intended parents will be the legal parents from birth of a child born of the surrogacy arrangement, subject to the surrogate’s right to object for a defined period from birth. There would be no need for the intended parents to apply for a parental order.
      There would safeguards or eligibility requirements along the pathway which would only apply to domestic surrogacy arrangements.
      The removal of the current requirement that at least one of the intended parents must have a genetic link with the child.
      The creation of a register to allow for those born of surrogacy arrangements to access information about their origins.

      The proposals are welcomed by practitioners but there is concern at the delay in the publication of the draft bill. Nevertheless, the Law Commission has shown commitment to ensuring that our surrogacy laws are effective and up-to-date, and optimism remains that we will see the introduction of wholesale reform of the surrogacy process in due course.
      Domestic Abuse Act
      Whilst the Domestic Abuse Act received Royal Assent in April 2021, many of its key provisions only came into effect within the last 12 months, and some are still awaited. The Act was hailed by the government as a landmark bill which would transform the response to domestic abuse, helping to prevent offending, protect victims and ensure that they have the support they need. However, many of the organisations who campaigned for the new law have identified significant gaps and omissions within the Act, and it is seen by some as a missed opportunity. For example, the law fails to deliver equal protection and support for migrant women and campaigners continue to seek amendments to abolish the no recourse to public funds omission and ensure that migrant women can apply for indefinite leave to remain independently from their perpetrator.
      There is also concern that the Act fails to address aspect of the Universal Credit system that facilitates and exacerbates abuse and that whilst there is now a statutory duty on local authorities to provide domestic abuse refuges, there is no similar provision for community-based services which has lead to concern that safe accommodation will be funded at the expense of services within the community, which are vitally important for many victims.
      In addition, perhaps inevitably, it is clear that without adequate resources from government to fund the measures implemented, the effectiveness of the Act will be limited.  Thus, while the Act has potential to improve the support provided to some victims of domestic abuse and have meaningful impact upon prevention, it is not a panacea.
      As we reach the end of 2022, the weight of cost of living increases, rising interest rates and a general economic maelstrom will, I am sure, be heavy on many readers minds and I hope you are able to stay safe and healthy as we hope for better times to come in 2023. More

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      in Family Law

      No-fault divorce has arrived

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      As we welcome the arrival of no-fault divorce in England and Wales, Stowe Senior Partner Julian Hawkhead reflects on what this family law reform means for divorcing couples and how it impacts the role of family lawyers.
      “It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine” sang the US band R.E.M back in the late ‘80s, capturing a sentiment felt by many family lawyers this week as no-fault divorce is introduced.
      The advent of no-fault divorce is the biggest change to impact marital or civil partnership breakdown in decades. The Divorce Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, after years of campaigning by various stakeholders in and around the world of family law, brings about the removal of blame or the requirement to live separately for at least two years as reasons for divorce.
      The new changes take effect from 6th April 2022 and it is hoped will bring about a paradigm shift in the way separating couples approach the process of divorce.
      Does taking the blame out of divorce mean the end of family lawyers?
      Not at all. For many years family lawyers have recognised that the reasons given for a couple separating have had little, if any, material impact on the future plans and arrangements that need to be made following on from their divorce. That one spouse or civil partner behaved in such a way that the other party could no longer be reasonably expected to live with them would not itself be a factor in separating financial resources or making arrangements for the children. A barrister I worked with for many years would often tell me that the family court is not a court of morals.
      Turning the focus to the future
      As a family lawyer for over 20 years, I have seen many clients who have focused so much on their past that it created a distraction and shifted focus away from resolving the important issues that needed to be addressed. When anchored to the past, separating couples can often find themselves unable to move forwards, either emotionally or practically, and yet the court’s have expressed a lack of interest either through irrelevancy or simply a lack of time to do so.
      Mr Justice Coleridge in a judgement published back in 2002, sought to discourage parties from undertaking a general “rummage through the attic of their marriage to discover relics from the past” in order to assert a greater level of contribution to the marriage than the other party. The same could be said for any individual who has had to harvest a list of reasons why they believed the marriage broke down as if to satisfy a judge’s morbid curiosity when reviewing the divorce petition. Save that the judge had no such curiosity, but was instead simply performing an out of date statutory duty to check that sufficient boxes had been ticked to enable a divorce to proceed.
      However, from 6th April the requirement to rely on behaviour or a period of separation to justify divorce ends and is replaced with a single assertion that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. It is not an assertion that can be contested by the other person and the reasons for disputing a divorce are limited to questions relating to the validity of the marriage or jurisdiction.
      A simpler divorce process
      The divorce process has also been simplified, removing rather archaic language such as “decree nisi” and replacing it with a simpler more functional description of “conditional order”.
      It needs to be said that this simplification of the legal process is not making it easier to get a divorce. There is and never has been such a thing as a “quickie divorce”, a phrase often used by the media and much maligned by people working in family law. The new process will take at least 6 months to conclude with a waiting period of 20 weeks from the date of issuing the divorce application before the applicant, or with the new law, both parties as joint applicants, can apply for the conditional order.
      This 20 week period is designed to give the couple time to pause and reflect on their marriage and to also focus on addressing the practical arrangements that need to be made such as agreeing arrangements for the children and making progress towards a financial settlement. Parties will be actively encouraged to reach agreement wherever possible, using mediation and other forms of out of court dispute options where possible.
      The role of family lawyers
      Interestingly, when Stowe Family Law conducted a survey a couple of months ago it showed that the majority of people when asked about no-fault divorce were unaware of the imminent changes. A significant number still believed that bad behaviour during the marriage was and should be a factor that would influence the outcome of other issues in the divorce. A divorce process which removes any element of blame or causation to the act of ending your marriage may be difficult for some people, but it is a responsibility that rests on the shoulders of family lawyers and all those who attend to the needs of people going through relationship breakdowns to keep their attention and focus fixed firmly on looking forwards rather than looking backwards.
      Whilst no-fault divorce will not remove the pain that people feel when their marriages or civil partnerships end, it will hopefully help them get through the legal process of separation with less emotional impact and help prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.
      Get in touch
      For more information on no-fault divorce please do get in touch with our Client Care Team using the details below or make an online enquiry More

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      in Children

      Stowe talks: How to successfully co-parent

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      Join family lawyer Sarah Barr-Young and our special guest Tom Nash, aka Mr Divorce Coach and internationally certified Life, Divorce & Business Coach, as he shares his advice on how to navigate and become a successful co-parent following a divorce or separation.In this free hour-long webinar, Tom will share practical tips and techniques to help you improve how you and our partner co-parent, including:
      Book now
      About the speakers 
      Tom Nash, otherwise known as Mr Divorce Coach, is an internationally certified Life & Business Coach, specialising in Divorce, Separation & Family Coaching. Accredited by the Association for Coaching, he also holds Master Practitioner certifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Timeline Therapy, Hypnotherapy & more.
      Partnering closely with family law professionals, he offers an alternative support resource for individuals, couples and their families, assisting in multiple disciplines that include but are not limited to:

      Understanding, Managing & Overcoming Negative Emotions (anger, sadness, fear, guilt, shame, etc.).
      Increasing Confidence & Self-Esteem
      Fostering Improved Communications Strategies
      Positive Mindset & Emotional Wellbeing Techniques
      1:1 Coaching
      Couples & Uncoupling Coaching
      Co-Parenting & Blended Family Coaching

      On a personal front, Tom has experienced divorce, co-parenting and the related ups and downs from a young age. First, during his parents’ acrimonious divorce at the age of 3 years old, and later in life as husband and father of his own marital breakdown. He is a successful co-parent, step-father and blended family specialist.
      Sarah Barr-Young is the Managing Partner of our Ilkley and Leeds offices and has far-reaching family law experience. She is widely regarded for her expertise in complex cases involving allegations of domestic abuse and safeguarding issues. She is frequently chosen for her empathy and unrivalled approachability, and as such, a large majority of her clients choose her due to personal recommendations. More

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      in Family Law

      International Women’s Day: The rise of women in law

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      The rise of women in law
      In honour of International Women’s Day, on the blog, we look at the rise of women in law and how the industry is changing to meet the modern lawyer’s needs, male or female.
      And no article being written today about the workplace could not touch on the impact of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic on how we all work and have embraced flexible and remote working. 
      Statistics released in June 2019  revealed that for the first time, the number of working solicitors in England and Wales had exceeded that of men – now 50.1% up from 43.4% in 2007. *
      So, is the age of the male-dominated law industry over?
      When Rachel Roberts, Yorkshire Regional Director at Stowe Family Law, graduated, she began her career with a strong, female mentor so believed that “anything seemed possible”. In fact, Rachel did not even consider her gender to

      “have an impact until I had children.”

      Having children and finding balance is a struggle many women in law face and is reflected in the statistics when we look at seniority in the industry, with women making up just 33% of partners in the UK (up from 31% in 2014). **
      Times have changed
      As the UK entered its first lockdown in March 2020, it is estimated that just under 50% of the country’s workforce shifted wholesale to working from home. (ONS data). 
      The Covid-19 pandemic has forced changed and dramatically accelerated shifts that were already underway in terms of increased working from home and flexible hours.
      What happens once the pandemic is over will vary from business to business. At Stowe, we believe our future solutions will need to prioritise flexibility and choice in terms of how both colleagues and clients interact with us and access services.  
      While this may be easier said than done, it is where our focus lies as we move forward in 2021. With over 75% of our team wanting to combine home and office-based working post-Covid-19, a hybrid model offering flexibility and choice for our colleagues is at the heart of how we will operate as a firm.

      “I am lucky to work for a firm that prioritises the well-being of its staff, and I work flexible hours so that I can still do the school run three days a week and attend school events (when we are not home-schooling)”, says Rachel. 

      Currently, over 50% of the leadership team and Managing Partners at Stowe work flexibly.
      But it is not just about the firm’s leaders,

      “I am a great believer in trusting your team to manage their diaries, workloads and working from home to allow them to meet their family commitments”, Rachel adds.

      At Stowe, over 30% of the workforce has a flexible working pattern, with countless more enjoying informal arrangements agreed with their line manager. 
      Rachel continues:

      “For me, it is about putting boundaries in place, so I will sometimes work at home in the evening, but for the large part,  my weekends are a precious time for us to spend as my family, and my work phone is switched off or out of sight.”

      Glass ceiling?
      In 2017, Lady Justice Heather Hallett spoke of her hopes that there was no glass ceiling and that the law had changed considerably for the better for women. A sentiment reflected in the fact that 66% of all partners at Stowe and 70% of lawyers are female.

      “Family law tends to attract more women, and it’s essential that we find ways to work around family commitments so that we retain our talent,” continues Rachel.
      “I have not encountered any obstacles to progressing up the career ladder because I am a woman, but I work at Stowe, and we have a large number of women in senior roles. I am not sure how much flexibility there is in larger law firms. I think, sadly, that too often the right things are said, but the requirements on a day to day basis make it impossible for women to advance in their careers and balance having a family.”

      Her advice to women considering entering law now is simple:

      “There is no limit to what you can achieve. The culture is changing, although, in big firms, it has a long way to go. So, get involved with organisations that care about retaining women in practice and focus on well-being.”
      “However, the whole sector now needs to change – men equally need to be able to have a healthy work-life balance and spend quality time with their friends and family.”

      Perhaps a positive outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic will be a continued uptake of flexible working, tailored for both women and men so they can enjoy a positive work-life balance. 
      Rachel is the Yorkshire Regional Director at Stowe Family Law. She is also an ambassador for Women in the Law, a non-profit women’s networking organisation designed to encourage, inspire and support the next generation of lawyers and women in business.
      Get in touch
      Find out more about a career in family law at Stowe Family Law. 
      *Law Society Annual Statistics Report 
      **Solicitors Regulation Authority More