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A warning to those who don’t provide full financial disclosure

A final order in financial remedy proceedings usually dismisses all future capital and income claims that a spouse has against the other. However, in the recent High Court case of X v Y [2022] EWFC 95, His Honour Judge Hess made an order adjourning the wife’s capital claims for 10 years because of the husband’s dishonest disclosure in the proceedings […]

New partner for Thomas Mansfield’s Family law team

Thomas Mansfield Solicitors has welcomed family law specialist Kate Rayner to its 16-strong family law team. Kate joins as a Partner from a national family law practice where she headed up the Tunbridge Well’s office. A solicitor of over 20 years, she brings to Thomas Mansfield a wealth of experience in helping people and families resolve their issues […]

Thomas Mansfield’s Family team named in national legal guide

Thomas Mansfield Solicitors’ Family team continues to be recognised by The Legal 500, a leading legal directory which analyses and ranks law firms across the UK on the quality of their expertise, client service and standing in the market […]

Thomas Mansfield Solicitors announces three new partners in latest promotions round

Thomas Mansfield Solicitors has announced three new partner promotions at the firm. The promotions have been made in the Employment and Family Law teams and reflect the firm’s continuing growth and success […]

Court is essential, but it’s not for everyone

Sir Andrew McFarlane, head of the family courts in England and Wales has reportedly said that divorcing couples too often believe their issues are ‘legal’ ones, when in fact they are ‘relationship’ issues that could be resolved without the court’s involvement […]

When actions speak louder than words

Depp v Heard. Vardy v Rooney. The media frenzy around these very public court cases may have died down, but the impressions formed of those involved will last a lifetime. As spectators, we follow the ups and downs of these trials, picking up titbits in the press or becoming drawn into watching hours of live footage […]

Why what you say after a separation really matters

“Even Kanye shouldn’t be trash talking on social media unless, as may be the case, he has a divorce court death wish.”  The words of a New York family attorney, reported in a divorce feature in the Independent. The piece referred to Kanye West (Ye) as having been ‘ranting publicly about Kim Kardashian in the name of fatherhood, which many saw as bullying and intimidation.’ […]

Family Court Statistics January to March 2022 show continued backlogs and delays

Today, the Ministry of Justice released a set of statistics from the Family Courts for the first three months of this year. The figures show a 14% growth in the number of started cases as compared to the seasonal dip in the previous quarter. Still, the new cases are down 6% in comparison to January […]

Is mediation a ‘hoop to jump through’ before you can issue court proceedings?

The Ministry of Justice recently published a summary on people’s attitudes towards various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation. While it is mandatory to consider mediation before issuing court proceedings in the family court, the survey showed that some dismissed mediation in family cases as “an attempt to put relationships back together” or “a token step along the inevitable road to court.” […]

Taking the fight out of family separation

The introduction of no-fault divorce is long awaited legislation that is the first change to divorce law in 50 years.  The much heralded ‘end to the blame game’ has arrived and we have now entered a digital age of divorcing online and with no paper process involved whatsoever […]