Family Law

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

Legislation to reduce the period of time couples must live apart before divorcing will be brought forward following a resounding vote for reform in the divorce referendum. The Government's proposal to amend Articles 41.3.2 and 41.3.3 of the Constitution to allow the Oireachtas to legislate on the ma

Barristers Ferga McGloughlin and Angela Collins discuss the impact of the divorce referendum on Irish family law in the first episode of the Irish Women Lawyers Association (IWLA) podcast. The two family law experts are the inaugural guests on the IWLA Podcast, hosted by professional podcast produce

Dear Sir, On the 24th May 2019, there will be a referendum to change the Constitutional provisions regulating divorce in Ireland. The proposed changes are:

The Law Reform Commission may not issue a report on whether pre-nuptial agreements should be given legal recognition in Ireland until 2021, according to reports. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has refused to commit to the introduction of a legal framework for pre-nuptial agreements until the law

Prominent lawyers calling for a Yes vote in the forthcoming divorce referendum will officially launch the Lawyers for Yes campaign at Blackhall Place this afternoon. The launch event will hear from Catherine Ford BL; Peter Ward SC, chairperson of FLAC; Eilis Barry BL, chief executive of FLAC; family

The Law Society of Ireland has announced its support for proposed constitutional amendments to remove the minimum living apart period for spouses seeking a divorce from the Constitution. In a major new report written by Dr Geoffrey Shannon, a member of the Law Society's family and child law committe