SFLG FAMILY LAW NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2020

The Divorce Reform Bill has finally passed through parliament, but what impact will it have on divorcing couples? How will this change the landscape of family law? And what do we know about how the courts will interpret this new legislation in practice? In this month’s newsletter, we’ll look at all these questions and more!

SFLG Family Law is a monthly newsletter covering the latest legal developments in family law.

SFLG Family Law is a monthly newsletter covering the latest legal developments in family law. The newsletter is provided by the Society of Family Lawyers and features articles from all areas of practice, including divorce and separation, financial matters, custody and access, children’s rights, and mediation services.

All articles published on this website are for general information only. They should not be relied upon as legal advice or opinion. Readers seeking specific advice should contact a lawyer directly

AUGUST 2020

The purpose of the newsletter is to provide you with information on recent developments in Family Law, as well as updates on cases that have been published in the past month. The format will be similar to previous newsletters, but we have added some new features that we hope make it easier to read and understand.

The main focus should always be on current legal issues and events affecting our clients’ lives. It is also important for us at SFLG FAMILY LAW NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2020! To provide accurate information about what’s happening in Courtrooms across Australia!

We want you (our readers) – Our target audience – To know about all aspects of Family Law including Child Support; Parenting Orders; Financial Issues & Spousal Maintenance, etc…

From the Editor’s Desk

As you may have noticed, we’re changing the name of our newsletter to reflect its content. We want you to know that this is a change for the better—a reflection of our focus on family law issues and the growth of SFLG as a whole.

We’ll still be publishing an updated version each month, but now it will include more features than just news about upcoming cases and legislation updates. The new format will also allow us to share some of our best tips for navigating your case through all stages of litigation (including discovery).

SFLG NEWSLETTER: AUGUST 2020

• What’s in it? In addition to news about pending cases in your area (and sometimes across state lines), this newsletter also includes information about recent court decisions as well as trends on various topics such as divorce mediation, child custody agreements, and more! For example: “Top five ways judges use technology when making decisions.”
• How do I get it? You can sign up here or at [https://sflgfamilylawnewsletter](https://sflgfamilylawnewsletter)

Introduction

This newsletter is provided by the Society of Family Lawyers. The SFLG is a not-for-profit organization that exists to promote and support family law practitioners by providing information, news, and services that enhance professional practice.

The newsletter features articles from all areas of practice, including divorce and separation, financial matters, custody and access, children’s rights, and mediation services.

Divorce reform bill passes through parliament – but how will it impact on divorcing couples?

The Divorce Reform Bill was passed by both houses of parliament on Tuesday, 22 August 2020. The law will come into effect from 1 October 2020 and will affect divorcing couples in England and Wales.

The main changes include:

• The period for divorce has been extended from six months to two years, with couples now having to wait a year before they can apply again if their case is still unresolved. Previously you needed only three months’ notice before filing your petition; now it’s four weeks’ notice which means that people who want an uncontested divorce can do so much sooner than before!
• There are also changes in how much support a spouse must pay towards the other person’s care costs during their relationship (this applies regardless of whether or not one party wants alimony). The amount varies depending on whether there are children involved – if there aren’t any then payments won’t exceed £7k each year; if there are kids then payments rise depending on how many kids they have together plus what age they’re at when things start going downhill between them (elderly people tend not

What is the impact of the divorce reform bill?

The divorce reform bill will take effect from 1 October 2020. It has been introduced to parliament by the Ministry of Justice and is designed to streamline the divorce process and reduce the financial burden on couples.

The bill includes provisions that allow couples who have been separated for two years or more before filing for a decree nisi (the initial legal order that terminates a marriage), but who do not wish to end their relationship, to avoid court proceedings altogether by agreeing on how they want their assets divided.

In addition, it contains provisions allowing divorced partners living overseas to apply for Irish citizenship without first seeking permission from the Department of Foreign Affairs before doing so – something which can be complicated if you need someone else’s signature on your application papers!

Will I still be able to use my pre-nuptial agreement in the divorce process?

The divorce reform bill, which was introduced in January 2020, will require couples to use pre-nuptial agreements. However, it does not set any time limits for when this must be done.

For your prenup to be valid in court, all parties must sign it before getting married and have their names put on the document (otherwise known as a “signature page). If one party dies before the marriage but has not signed their name on this page then their estate cannot enforce its terms against those who are left behind because they may not know about them or what their terms were.

Also bear in mind that if you do die during your marriage then your assets may be divided among any heirs as per current law which means they could see themselves losing some value due to inflation over time if something happens during your lifetime such as death due illness etcetera.

Divorce reform bill and children’s rights – what now?

In the latest developments of divorce reform, passed by Parliament on 30 June 2020, children are now given a greater say in what happens to them in the event of a divorce or separation. The new law will govern all cases where both parents want their children involved in decisions about custody, access, and arrangements for care after separation.

Under Section 10 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995: “…an assessment must be made as to whether it is appropriate for those [parental] rights which have been exercised by a court during proceedings concerning an order under section 4(3)(a), or otherwise …to continue afterward.”

Changes to contact arrangements in custody cases

The law has changed about contact arrangements for children. It is now possible for parents to apply for a variation order which will be decided by the court on the balance of probabilities (i.e., it has to be more likely than not that this would be best for the child).

This means that if you are worried about how your child’s contact arrangements may impact their well-being, you can make an application to the court seeking variation of those arrangements.

What happens if I get divorced or separated late in life? Is there anything that can be done after this stage to try to prevent further conflict between myself and my former partner?

You may be wondering what happens if you get divorced or separated late in life. Is there anything that can be done after this stage to try to prevent further conflict between myself and my former partner?

The answer is yes! There are steps you can take now that will help prevent future disputes and make your divorce more amicable FAMILY LAW.

Conclusion

If you’re in the process of getting divorced, then this newsletter is for you! It aims to give readers an insight into how the divorce reform bill will affect them by explaining how it will change the way divorcing couples can resolve their issues.

The update also covers what happens if one party dies before reaching an agreement on divorce terms, as well as providing information on children’s rights and mediation services FAMILY LAW.