No fault divorce finally comes into force on 6 April 2022.

The key feature of the Act is the ‘no fault’ divorce which will allow married couples to divorce without assigning blame.

Sometimes couples just want to separate without having to sling mud at each other, the old rules offered no other option if they have not been separated for two years or more.  The introduction of the ‘no fault’ divorce option will hopefully remove unnecessary acrimony between parties and allow them to focus on the bigger issues upon separation such as finances and children.

If you wish to discuss your options with a member of our family team, please get in touch.

Southampton office – kellybruton@newleafsolicitors.co.uk

Birmingham office – paulineorourke@newleafsolicitors.co.uk

Rugby office – francinebristo@newleafsolicitors.co.uk

Daventry office – amytrevellick@newleafsolicitors.co.uk

Another warm testimonial for Francine Bristo…

‘Thank you so much for your help and support throughout the process…I suppose times with covid have seemed strange without you seeing clients, however you’ve made me feel like the whole process has been caring and personal’.

From Mrs L

Christmas is not that far away so if you haven’t already you should discuss the arrangements for contact with your children over the Christmas holidays.

Many separated couples are able to agree the arrangements for the absent parent to have contact with their children on a regular basis throughout the year and the specific arrangements for contact over the Christmas and New Year period.

Unfortunately some separated parents are unable to agree the pattern of contact and if you are one who has yet to firm up the arrangements over Christmas you must start thinking about it now.

If you want contact with your children over Christmas and your ex partner says no or is offering less contact than you would like you should seek legal advice.

The first step is always to try to reach an agreement directly with the other parent but if that is unsuccessful you should seek legal advice.

Every case

Thank you to Purple House Clinic in Rugby for this blog.

Divorce

Divorce has been found to be one of the most stressful life experiences, along with the death of a spouse(Holmes and Rahe 1967). It therefore makes sense that there would be a significant adjustment process following a divorce, as might be expected following a significant bereavement. The adjustment process will be impacted by a number of factors including the circumstances around the end of the relationship. These might include infidelity, abusive behaviour, drug or alcohol issues, infertility, physical illness, differences in parenting style, different values or beliefs, sexual difficulties, communication difficulties or ‘drifting apart’ because other life priorities have made it difficult to invest time and effort into a relationship.

The Adjustment Model

Initially developed by Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1967) in relation to terminal illness and bereavement, this model provides a framework to understand the process we might go through following the

A warm testimonial for our Francine Bristo

“Francine was more than efficient and attentive, she’s been brilliant, always cheerful and has made what might have been a bit intimidating a friendly experience”.

Mr G

Our Amy Trevellick talks about what happens to your pets upon separation and whether a pet nup is right for you.

With the increase of pet ownership since the start of the pandemic, many people are now asking “what will happen to our pets if we separate?”. Of course, anyone who owns a pet will know that they soon become part of the family. It is therefore difficult to explain to client’s that their pets will only be considered a “chattel”, much in the same way as the furniture in their home, or their personal possessions. Unfortunately, the law has not developed in this area to keep up with the modern family owning domestic pets, and so this outdated approach remains in place.

When it comes to deciding the ownership of “chattels”, the law will consider who bought the item in the first instance. Insofar as this applies to pets, ownership is

Our Francine Bristo deals with the importance of discussing financial matters with your partner or spouse.

Most couples don’t make the time to have a conversation about the finances because it can lead to increased tension and arguments.  Money is emotional, evoking feelings of shame, fear, anger and frustration.  It is no wonder that people avoid talking about money and what would happen in the event of their relationship ending.  Ignoring these issues whilst they are small however, allows them to grow into larger problems.  There is nothing worse than dealing with the emotion of money combined with the emotion of separation.   It is better to discuss the finances and what would happen if you were to separate whilst you are on good terms.  Conversations help avoid misunderstandings and later upset.  It is useful for everyone to clarify the terms of your financial relationship so that you each understand the expectations,

A warm testimonial for our Francine Bristo in our Rugby office.

“Many thanks for everything you’ve done to make this process as painless as possible and looking out for my best interests where you could”.

Ms H.