Family Law

Legislation to reduce the requirement for spouses to live apart for a minimum of four years out of the preceding five before they can be granted a divorce has been published. The Family Law Bill 2019 reduces the minimum living apart period specified in the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 to two years

The family justice system in Ireland is "at a crisis point" with reform frustrated by poor facilities, ineffective use of funding and an overly-adversarial approach to cases, the Legal Aid Board’s annual conference has heard. This year’s event, titled ‘Change is coming - Reform of

Scottish legal academics are developing a board game to help the public negotiate the complex legal world of marriage.

A couple whose marriage was annulled by the Greek courts because the husband had previously been married to the wife's sister suffered a violation of their article 12 rights, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled. Applicants Georgios Theodorou and Sophia Tsotsorou married in 2005, fou

The number of humanist wedding ceremonies in Northern Ireland has risen dramatically, with three times as many humanist ceremonies expected to take place this year as were held last year. Humanist weddings have been legally valid and binding in Northern Ireland since last summer, when the Court of A

Allegations of perjury during in camera hearings can be investigated by gardaí and prosecuted by them, the High Court has confirmed in a declaration with particular significance for family law and child care proceedings. Solicitor Clifford Sullivan of Co Wicklow firm LawPlus Solicitors told I

Claire Edgar, partner at Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors in Belfast, writes on new pensions guidance which has been published to help family law practitioners in ancillary relief cases. A recently published report provides guidance for how pensions should be treated in divorce. The Guide to the Tr

Plans to extend abortion access and same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland have been approved by the House of Lords, following revisions to the process and timetable. MPs voted last week to amend the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill to include provisions on abortion and marriage which will

The general scheme of the Family Law Bill 2019, which was approved by Government earlier this week, has been published. The primary purpose of the bill will be to amend the law in relation to divorce following the referendum on 24 May, but it will also include other minor reforms, such as providing

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan is expected to secure Cabinet approval today for new legislation to implement divorce and blasphemy reforms following recent referendum results. He will ask his Government colleagues to approve the drafting of a Family Law Bill to reduce the living apart period unde

Lady Hale, president of the UK Supreme Court, has made a significant departure from convention by criticising a piece of proposed legislation currently under consideration by MPs. In a speech to the International Centre for Family Law, Policy and Practice this month, Lady Hale said the Divorce (Fina

Children, young people and their families are "struggling to navigate" a family law system that is "crying out for reform", the Children's Rights Alliance has warned. The alliance today launched the first annual report of its helpline and legal advice clinics, which aims to help ensure all children

Divorces obtained in the UK may not be recognised in Ireland after Brexit, according to a briefing paper drawn up by the Bar Council of Ireland. Automatic recognition of British divorces in Ireland is governed by a 2005 EU regulation which will cease to apply after the UK leaves the European Union,

David Taylor, solicitor in the child and family law team at Comyn Kelleher Tobin, considers a recent High Court judgment clarifying the powers of the District Court under the Child Care Act 1991. A recent decision of the High Court found that the District Court judge was entitled to make an order un

Ireland's family law system is "broken and failing the most vulnerable in our society", solicitor Helen Coughlan has warned. Ms Coughlan, vice-chair of the Law Society's family and child law committee, made the remarks to the annual general meeting of Treoir, the national federation of services for