The modern family – the interpretation of children, spouses and civil partners in older trust deeds – Wilberforce Chambers

‘It has become cliché to say that modern familial arrangements are vastly different now to how they were 50 years ago, but that does not make it any less true. In 2019, almost half of all births were outside of a marriage or civil-partnership, and 3,440 children were adopted from local authority care. With the passage of the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013, and the Civil Partnership (Opposite Sex Couples) Regulations 2019, the range of relationships that can be legally recognised, and the form that this recognition takes are also very different. Given the age of many settlements, traditional definitions of “children” or “spouse” can cause real difficulties.’

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Wilberforce Chambers, 17th February 2021

Source: www.wilberforce.co.uk

When is a wedding not a marriage? Exploring non-legally binding ceremonies – Law & Religion UK

Posted January 13th, 2021 in civil partnerships, Law Commission, marriage, news by sally

‘Why might couples in England and Wales today opt for a non-legally binding wedding ceremony in addition to their legally binding one?’

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Law & Religion UK, 12th January 2021

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Civil partnership conversion for landmark gay couple – BBC News

Posted December 7th, 2020 in civil partnerships, equality, homosexuality, marriage, news, Northern Ireland by sally

‘Chris and Henry Flanagan-Kane were the first gay men in the UK to get a civil partnership back in 2005.’

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BBC News, 7th December 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Civil law, religion and marriage in the United Kingdom: a long read – Law & Religion UK

‘This began as a handout for the Cardiff LLM in Canon Law: it’s about the law on the formation of marriage – “weddings law” – rather than matrimonial law more generally.’

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Law & Religion UK, 11th November 2020

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Back bill to ban marriage for under-18 in England and Wales, MPs urged – The Guardian

Posted October 6th, 2020 in bills, children, civil partnerships, consent, forced marriages, marriage, news by tracey

‘The UK is undermining its international efforts to end child marriage because an exception to the law in England and Wales that allows 16 and 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent is putting children at risk, parliament will be told today.’

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The Guardian, 6th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

High court set to rule on humanist wedding recognition in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Although the government was authorised by parliament to legally recognise humanist weddings in 2013, it has not done so. More than 6,000 couples who have gone through humanist ceremonies since then have faced a choice between having a second civil ceremony at a registry office or having no legal recognition of their marriage.’

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The Guardian, 1st July 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Changes to Capital Gains Tax Reliefs When Spouses and Civil Partners Separate – Pump Court Chambers

‘Among all the other changes being made to people’s financial arrangements, firstly as a result of our anticipated Brexit, and then as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and their concomitant impact on economies, both macro and micro, share values, savings rates and property values, it’s easy to forget that significant changes have also been made to personal tax arrangements. For those in marriages or civil partnerships who are separating, or for those who have already separated and are going through divorce or dissolution proceedings and their associated financial remedy proceedings, that includes changes to Capital Gains Tax.’

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Pump Court Chamber, 27th April 2020

Source: www.pumpcourtchambers.com

What is a ‘relationship akin to marriage’? – Richmond Chambers

‘Under the Immigration Rules, a person who is British or Settled in the UK can bring their unmarried partner to the UK. This is sometimes referred to as a ‘partner visa’ or ‘de facto visa’. This is an option that more couples are currently considering, partly due to the ongoing restrictions around the world on wedding ceremonies due to covid-19.’

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Richmond Chambers, 1st May 2020

Source: immigrationbarrister.co.uk

Civil partnerships for heterosexual couples: what you need to know – Family Law

‘As of 31st December 2019, it is now possible for both same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into a civil partnership. The institution was initially devised solely for same-sex couples through the Civil Partnership Act 2004; it was meant to be a distinct separate relationship status for same-sex couples akin, but different to, a marriage. This has now changed and moving into 2020, heterosexual couples may opt for a civil partnership instead of a marriage.’

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Family Law, 5th February 2020

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Family Law Newsletter #32 – Spire Barristers

Posted January 9th, 2020 in care orders, civil partnerships, guardianship, marriage, news by sally

‘Articles from around the web, Legislation updates and Case Updates from Care Proceedings and Financial Remedy matters.’

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Spire Barristers, 6th January 2020

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk

Civil Partnerships – A new inequality created by the correction of an old one? – 5SAH

‘Civil partnerships are now to be open to all but the solution of that problem has led to another – while same-sex couples can convert a civil partnership to a marriage, there is no provision for opposite-sex couples to do the same.’

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5SAH, 9th December 2019

Source: www.5sah.co.uk

Civil partnerships legislation – unfinished business – Law & Religion UK

The draft Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (“the Regulations”) was the first item of the secondary legislation within the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019 (“the Act”) to achieve the necessary approval of both Houses under the affirmative resolution procedure. It was also the last item of debated business before parliament was dissolved on 6 November. Through section 2(2) of the Act the regulations were subject to a “sunset clause” which required them to be in force by the end of December, and as such, only limited time was available for its scrutiny and approval; this left a number of items of unfinished business, and these are summarized below.

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Law & Religion UK, 18th November 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Heterosexual couples may be allowed to convert marriages to civil unions – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2019 in civil partnerships, equality, marriage, news by sally

‘All heterosexual couples in England and Wales will be offered the chance to “convert” their marriages to civil partnerships, or vice versa, under plans being considered by ministers.’

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The Guardian, 10th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Financial Remedy & Divorce Update, June 2019 – Family Law Week

‘Naomi Shelton, Associate, Mills & Reeve LLP considers the important news and case law relating to financial remedies and divorce during May 2019.’

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Family Law Week, 20th June 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Private Lives and Public Sorrows – Family Law Week

‘Hazel Wright, Partner with Hunters Solicitors, highlights three cases which have emphasised the usefulness to family lawyers of the Human Rights Act.’

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Family Law Week, 30th April 2019

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted March 27th, 2019 in bereavement, civil partnerships, health, legislation, marriage by tracey

Healthcare (European Economic Area and Switzerland Arrangements) Act 2019

Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration etc) Act 2019

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

How far should family law reflect modern family life? The case of cohabitation, equal civil partnerships and the common law marriage myth – Transparency Project

Posted March 27th, 2019 in bills, civil partnerships, cohabitation, equality, families, marriage, news, statistics by sally

‘There is no longer just one way of ‘doing’ family in modern Britain. With much greater gender equality and social acceptance of different family forms, how we organise family life and our personal relationships has changed considerably in recent times. In some ways, the law in England and Wales has kept pace with change – same-sex civil partnerships in 2004 and same-sex marriage in 2013 are shining examples of progressive legislative landmarks. Yet we have witnessed clear policy reluctance to offer legal protection to opposite-sex couples who reject marriage, despite Law Commission recommendations in 2007 and despite many other countries including Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand having reformed their cohabitation law.’

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Transparency Project, 26th March 2019

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Opposite sex civil partnerships – Religion & Law UK

Posted March 26th, 2019 in bills, civil partnerships, marriage, news by sally

‘On 15 March, the Commons considered and agreed to the Lords Amendments to Tim Loughton’s Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill, which now goes for Royal Assent. We noted that “at some point … the Government will bring forward proposals for a digital registration system and will be introducing Regulations for opposite sex civil partnerships”. Many (other) commentators were quick to suggest that the changes relating to civil partnerships, marriage certificates, &c had already been incorporated within the law. However, an examination of the Bill documents reveals that it is comprised of enabling provisions, and additional secondary legislation is necessary before any of its provisions pass into law.’

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Religion & Law UK, 26th March 2019

Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com

Proposed legislation to create heterosexual civil partnerships will still not create a “common law” marriage – Family Law

‘In June 2018 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of a heterosexual couple who had argued that their inability to formalise their relationship through a civil partnership was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Prime Minister indicated in October that she would legislate to give all couples the same choices as to how to achieve legal recognition of their relationship for the first time, writes Ashford’s family solicitor Emma Mackay.’

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Family Law, 22nd November 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk

Relationships as seen in the eyes of the law – Family Law

‘Relationships have been in the news in 2018. Not only did we see two Royal weddings, but at the opposite end of the romance spectrum, in June the UK Supreme Court ruled that it was discriminatory not to allow opposite-sex couples to form civil partnerships. Dianne Millen, an associate at Morton Fraser in Edinburgh, looks at relationships as seen in the eyes of the law.’

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Family Law, 13th November 2018

Source: www.familylaw.co.uk