Asaad v Kurter: The latest round in ‘non-marriage’ cases – is the tide turning? – Family Law Week

Posted February 14th, 2014 in conflict of laws, divorce, marriage, news by sally

‘Lily Mottahedan, barrister at 1 Hare Court, examines the court’s approach in determining whether a marriage was a “non-marriage” or a “void” or “valid” in the recent High Court judgment in Asaad v Kurter [2013] EWHC 3852 (Fam).’

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Family Law Week, 12th February 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Gay couple threaten to sue UK government over same-sex marriage – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2014 in civil partnerships, divorce, equality, homosexuality, human rights, marriage, news by sally

‘A gay couple from Barnsley are threatening legal action against the government after discovering they will not be able to marry on 29 March, when the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act comes into force, because they are already in a civil partnership.’

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The Guardian, 24th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Geraldine Morris looks at the changes ahead for family law & predicts some new developments – New Law Journal

‘Lawyers may not always think of themselves as business people; family lawyers in particular are often very client focused, looking to achieve the best outcome for parties who are going through what will often be one of the worst periods of their lives. It can be hard, when weighed down with a busy caseload, to peak above the parapet and take time to reflect on how family law is changing. All businesses change over time, some faster than others. Change within the family law justice system has accelerated at an incredible pace in the last few years and 2014 will be no exception.’

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New Law Journal, 22nd January 2014

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Finance and Divorce Update – Family Law Week

‘Jessica Craigs, senior solicitor and David Salter, Joint Head of Family Law at Mills & Reeve LLP analyse the financial remedies and divorce news and cases published in December.’

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Family Law Week, 2nd January 2014

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Judge Sir Paul Coleridge disciplined for stating views on traditional marriage – Daily Telegraph

‘A senior High Court judge has been disciplined for misconduct after speaking out over his support for traditional marriage.’

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Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

High Court judge disciplined over marriage comments – BBC News

‘A High Court judge has been disciplined for voicing his views on marriage through national newspapers.’

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BBC News, 17th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Hodkin and another) v Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages – WLR Daily

Posted December 17th, 2013 in appeals, law reports, marriage, registrars, Supreme Court by sally

Regina (Hodkin and another) v Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages [2013] UKSC 77; [2013] WLR (D) 492

‘A building in England and Wales could be registered as “place of meeting for religious worship” under section 2 of the Places of Worship Registration Act 1855, with the effect that a valid ceremony of marriage could be performed there, whether or not the services held there involved reverence to a diety.’

WLR Daily, 11th December 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

R (on the application of Hodkin and another) (Appellants) v Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Respondent) – Supreme Court

Posted December 11th, 2013 in appeals, law reports, marriage, Supreme Court by sally

R (on the application of Hodkin and another) (Appellants) v Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Respondent) [2013] UKSC 77 | UKSC 2013/0030 (YouTube)

Supreme Court, 11th December 2013

Source: www.youtube.com/user/UKSupremeCourt

UK set for first Scientology Church wedding after Supreme Court rules it a ‘place of worship’ – The Independent

Posted December 11th, 2013 in appeals, marriage, news, Supreme Court, taxation by sally

‘Scientologist Louisa Hodkin had brought legal action after the registrar general refused to allow her wedding service to be held at the organisation’s London chapel.’

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The Independent, 11th December 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Same-sex weddings to begin in March – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2013 in bills, Church of England, equality, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

‘The first same-sex weddings in England and Wales will be able to take place from 29 March 2014, Equalities Minister Maria Miller says.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme Court to rule on whether couple can marry at Scientologist chapel – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 11th, 2013 in appeals, marriage, news, Supreme Court by sally

‘The Supreme Court is expected to rule tomorrow (11 December) on whether a couple can marry at a scientologist chapel.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th December 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Gay discrimination and Christian belief: Analysis of Bull v. Hall in the Supreme Court – UK Human Rights Blog

‘The recent confirmation by the Supreme Court that it was unlawful discrimination for Christian hotel owners to refuse a double-bedded room to a same-sex couple was of considerable interest as the latest in a string of high-profile cases involving religious belief and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (and the first such judgment involving the highest court in the land). We have already provided a summary of the facts and judgment here, and our post on the Court of Appeal ruling can be found here.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 11th December 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Couples should not have children until they are ready to marry, says High Court judge – The Independent

Posted December 9th, 2013 in children, cohabitation, families, judges, marriage, news, statistics, taxation by sally

‘A senior High Court judge has argued that couples should not have children until they are ready to wed.’

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The Independent, 8th December 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Woman with IQ of 49 ‘was targeted for sham marriage’ – The Independent

‘A young woman with learning difficulties was “deliberately targeted” for a sham marriage to bolster a man’s immigration case, a High Court judge has ruled.’

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The Independent, 3rd December 2013

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Islamic “marriage” ceremony at home declared invalid by Court of Protection – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted November 25th, 2013 in Court of Protection, immigration, learning difficulties, marriage, news by tracey

‘A Local Authority v SY [2013] EWHC 3485 COP (12 November 2013].
A judge in the Court of Protection has ruled that a man who had “exploited and took advantage” of a young woman for the purpose of seeking to bolster his immigration appeal had engaged in an invalid marriage ceremony.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 25th November 2013

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

The courts are secular, says top family judge – Law Society’s Gazette

“The law has a neutral view of religious belief, the president of the Family Division said today, stressing the secular nature of the judges’ job.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 29th October 2013

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 – Shared Buildings Regulations – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 4th, 2013 in homosexuality, marriage, news, regulations by sally

“The Consultation seeks views on draft Regulations which provide arrangements for the registration of shared religious buildings to solemnize marriages of same sex couples.”

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Ministry of Justice, 3rd October 2013

Source: www.consult.justice.gov.uk

Court of Protection Update – Family Law Week

“Sally Bradley and Michael Edwards, barristers, 4 Paper Buildings, consider three important judgments of the Court of Protection.”

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Family Law Week, 20th September 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.co.uk

Sham marriage exposed after groom turns up with three different brides – Daily Telegraph

Posted August 19th, 2013 in fraud, immigration, marriage, news, sentencing by tracey

“A man who attempted to set up a sham marriage to stay in the UK was caught by officials after his ‘partner’ failed to remember his name when booking the wedding and was then replaced by a different bride on the big day.”

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Daily Telegraph, 17th August 2013

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 – Top Ten guide to the new act by Marisa Allman – Zenith Chambers

Posted July 31st, 2013 in civil partnerships, homosexuality, marriage, news by sally

“This is an Act to make provision for same sex couples in England and Wales and about gender change for married persons and civil partners. It does not;

– Change the law relating to marriage for couples of the opposite sex
– Abolish civil partnership or repeal the Civil Partnership Act 2004
– Extend civil partnership to couples of the opposite sex”

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Zenith Chambers, 24th July 2013

Source: www.zenithchambers.co.uk