2018

I suspect that for many, the perception of land law is that it involves hours of delving into musty files and poring over aged documents. Whilst this can sometimes be the case, it is an area of law which will often cast an interesting light on societal change. A recent Supreme Court decision is an … Continue reading →

Following consideration having been given and the determination made that the Mitchell/Denton principles apply in a given situation the mind must turn to the manner in which those principles are likely to be applied in the relevant circumstances. Given the nature of the discretion afforded to the court in an application for relief from sanctions … Continue reading →

Since the ending of legal aid in private law proceedings, it has become more frequent for cross examination to be conducted by litigants in person, including in cases where the court has deemed that there should be a fact finding hearing, before determining what if any contact should be ordered. The recent case of PS … Continue reading →

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 brought with it new powers in order to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB). It introduced, amongst other things, the Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), the civil injunction and the closure order. Local Authorities and Police Forces, amongst other organisations can apply for these; but when thinking about these powers, … Continue reading →

A recent appeal decision Re A and R (Children) [2018] EWHC 2771 (Fam) acts as a useful reminder of the question of appeals arising from fact finding hearings but also raises other issues routinely encountered in private law cases. The case concerned two boys aged 7 and 6 in respect of whom bitterly contested s8 … Continue reading →

When is something that appears to be a matrimonial asset not in fact a matrimonial asset and how does a non-matrimonial asset become a matrimonial asset and, what difference does it make? The very recent High Court case of IX v IY [2018] EWHC 3053 (fam) concerns this issue and, whilst my colleague Dean Thistle … Continue reading →

Following the implementation of the Mitchell/Denton principles compliance with rules and practice directions has become far more important than it previously had been. Whilst the additional clarification given in Denton has provided a greater understanding of what is expected when seeking to apply for relief from sanctions there remain many examples of misunderstandings and misinterpretations. … Continue reading →

The presence of Litigants in Person (LiP) in court proceedings is now commonplace. The proportion of cases that involve a LiP on both sides of a dispute continues to rise as do those cases where at least one party is a LiP. In the former, whilst of course not ideal as the assistance of a … Continue reading →

On the 16th November 2018 the Flexible Operating Hours (“FOH”) Pilots: Prospectus for Civil and Family Court Pilots was published. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (“HMCTS”) announced that early and late sittings will now be trialled over six months in civil and family courts in Manchester Civil Justice Centre and Brentford County Court, commencing in … Continue reading →

CHILDREN & SOCIAL WORK ACT 2017 This Act received Royal Assent on 27.04.17 and, although most of it is not yet in force (except section 10 and Schedule 1, which deals with placement in secure accommodation outside England and Wales) Chapter 1, section 1 of the Act is a helpful reminder of the following “corporate … Continue reading →

Whilst only 3 weeks into Pupillage, I can tell you that I both thoroughly enjoy being a Pupil barrister and that it is unlike any job I have ever done. Becket Chambers has been immensely welcoming to me and every member of Chambers has made an effort to chat, say hello and help me with … Continue reading →

Some time ago now I wrote an article about the Supreme Court case of Wyatt and Vince. That case explored the issue of whether a party to a marriage can make a claim many years after the marriage has ended; to which in short, the answer was, Yes. The recent High Court case of A … Continue reading →

QUARTERLY DIGEST PRIVATE LAW Disclosure Lancashire County Council v A, B, and Z (A Child Fact Finding Hearing Police Disclosure) [2018] EWHC 1819 (Fam) 25th July 2018 Knowles J This was a fact-finding hearing following the death of a child whilst in both parents’ care. During the trial, it became clear that the police held … Continue reading →

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (“MCA”) introduced a framework for assessing mental capacity, enabling the court to assist persons who lack capacity to manage their affairs by taking decisions or by appointing decision-makers to act on their behalf. MCA is not retrospective and not relevant in considering the validity of wills made prior to 1 April … Continue reading →

This case involved two parties who had married in 2000 and subsequently separated in 2010. The marriage produced one child who continued to reside with the wife. On 10th December 2012, a final financial remedy order was made dividing the capital unequally in the wife’s favour in order to enable her to purchase accommodation for … Continue reading →

Committal CH and CT [2018] EWHC 1310 (Fam) Baker J The paternal grandmother (PGM) and her partner applied for a child arrangements order (CAO). A CAO was granted but M did not comply with the order. The PGM applied for enforcement of the order and argued that only a suspended sentence of imprisonment would make … Continue reading →

Fact-Finding: Ground Rules Re M-Y (Children) [2018] EWCA Civ 1306 McCombe and King LJs P was the eldest of 4 children. P alleged that she had been physically chastised by her mother (M) including punching and kicking and sexually assaulted by M’s partner (S), after moving from Romania to live with them in the UK. … Continue reading →

Those readers who follow legal stories in the press will not have failed to notice a spate of cases concerning end of life decisions. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that an application may no longer be needed for an order to withdraw life-sustaining treatment for a person with a ‘prolonged disorder of consciousness’. “An … Continue reading →

Prohibited Steps Orders are often regarded as a protective means available to a parent who has concerns about another party involved with their child. Whether the issue be the removal of a child from the jurisdiction or simply an order preventing an individual from undertaking a certain act, perhaps naively, Prohibited Steps Orders are used … Continue reading →

Many claims under the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (“the Act”) seek an order for sale of the property in question, however it may be the case that the claimant does not want the property to be sold, but instead to retain it as a sole owner, effectively removing a co-owner … Continue reading →

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the Court’s approach to pensions in financial remedy proceedings generally and revisit specific issues such as pension off-setting and Duxbury calculations raised in my previous article published in July 2016 under the title, “Financial Remedy: Pension Values and Offsetting – Quo Vadimus”. PENSION OVERVIEW … Continue reading →

The stress and cost of financial remedy proceedings are often overwhelming for couples unfortunate enough to have to endure them. However spare a thought for those for whom jurisdiction is in issue; the parties effectively have to fight over the correct jurisdiction in which to have the fight. The Court of Appeal recently considered when … Continue reading →

Background Paragon Asra Housing Limited (“the Appellant”) is a provider of social housing. Mr Neville (“the Respondent”) was an assured tenant of the Appellant. Under Clause 3 of the Respondent’s tenancy agreement there were a number of- quite standard – obligations. These included: – barring him from using the flat for illegal or immoral purposes; … Continue reading →

Frequently in this modern age, clients in private law proceedings, will have covertly record either their children or the other party to proceedings saying something that they think that the court ought to hear at some stage during the proceedings. The usual test as to whether it should be introduced into evidence is whether the … Continue reading →

The Facts I acted recently in a case involving a right of way over an access running along the back of a terrace of houses and out to a public highway; my client (“D”, the Defendant) owned a house towards the “mouth” of the right of way and his neighbour (“C”, the Claimant) owned a … Continue reading →

In February 2017 I wrote an article on the case of Mills v. Mills [2017] EWCA Civ 129 (http://becket-chambers.co.uk/2017/02/28/upward-variation-periodical-payments-recipients-financial-recklessness-political-hot-potato/) which considered whether capital needs could, in effect, be revisited in a future application to vary periodical payments. The case has now been reconsidered by the Supreme Court; here I provide a reminder of the original … Continue reading →

Is the family justice system in crisis? Yes says Sir Andrew McFarlane, the new president of the Family Division of the High Court, who took over that role in July 2018. Sir Andrew was speaking at the launch of a Care Crisis review, an independent study by senior lawyers, social workers, charities & academics into … Continue reading →

Introduction This article explores the recent case of Clay v TUI Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 1177. Mr Philip Clay brought a claim for damages for personal injury against TUI UK Limited. Mr Clay sustained injuries when he fell from a balcony at a hotel in Tenerife, where he and his family had gone on a … Continue reading →

re M (A Child) [2017] EWCA Civ 2356 Introduction In a lead judgment from Jackson LJ the Court of Appeal have reiterated the guidance in Re F (A Child) (International Relocation Cases) [2015] EWCA Civ 882 that “an analysis of some sophistication and complexity” is required before granting an application for relocation. This case makes it … Continue reading →

When conducting a family law case, chattels are normally dealt with in one of two ways. In some cases, clients will argue tooth and nail over all chattels involved and the arguments themselves will form a large part of proceedings. However, in other cases, chattels are an afterthought, discussed at the door of the Court. … Continue reading →

Introduction This article explores the recent legislative changes that came into play in April 2018. From 6th April 2018, parts of the Housing and Planning Act 2016　”The Act” commence introducing banning orders and a database of rogue landlords and property agents in England. This article focuses on those two main areas of change. In the … Continue reading →

Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division, has announced that a final approved draft of the revised Practice Direction 27A (which awaits only formal signature by the relevant Minister) is due to come into force on 23 July 2018. The basic PD27A remains as before but with some minor changes. The three main changes … Continue reading →

R (on the application of Perinpanathan) v City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court and Another [2010] EWCA Civ 40 is the current leading authority on the question of costs in civil matters brought in the Crown or Magistrates’ Court by a public authority. It applies and extends the principles in City of Bradford Metropolitan DC v … Continue reading →

Once there has been a breakdown in the landlord and tenant relationship, and the landlord wants to seek possession, the default route is the instigation of formal possession proceedings. A problem that assured and assured-shorthold landlords are starting to encounter more frequently, however, is the Section 21 debarment that results from a failure to comply … Continue reading →

When a social tenancy has been in place for decades, establishing what has previously occurred, and how it might impact a legal dispute today, can prove a complex matter. One generally accepted rule, though, is that whether it is governed by the Housing Act 1985 (“HA 1985”) or the Housing Act 1988 (“HA 1988”) only … Continue reading →

Summary: In a case of potential relevance to anyone entering into a written contract, the Supreme Court has recently held that oral variations to such a contract may well be invalid. The case has wide reaching implications and changes the approach previously adopted by the courts. In its Judgment in Rock Advertising Ltd v MWB … Continue reading →

Probate (and for the purposes of this article I include Inheritance Act claims, which some would argue are family cases rather than probate) are one of the areas of law where there can be a plethora of parties represented by the one legal adviser. To those of us working in this area of law, it … Continue reading →

An interesting case has arisen where ‘misuse and abuse’ of the use of a s. 20 agreement has occurred. Let’s first remind ourselves of the main case on this subject with which we are now familiar, Re N (Adoption:Jurisdiction) [2015] EWCA Civ 1112, [2016] 1 FLR 621, in which the President described the delay in … Continue reading →

Following the recent decision in Ilott v The Blue Cross and others [2017] UKSC the High Court has recently had the opportunity to consider the issue of reasonable financial provision in Thompson v Ragget and others [2018] EWHC 688 (Ch), this time from the point of view of a cohabitee. The Facts The claimant, aged … Continue reading →

It is a familiar problem. A divorce is being endured. It is, by definition, fractious and, most importantly, still fractious in respect of the children. Or, put in lawyer’s tongue, there are ongoing matrimonial finance proceedings, in which the children are the first consideration (section 25 (1) Matrimonial Causes Act 1973) but the “child arrangements” … Continue reading →

Introduction Hot on the heels of The Association of British Insurers (ABI) (in response to an apparent increase in whiplash claims) The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has campaigned for reform in package holiday gastric illness claims. Personal Injury reform is a topic that I have previously explored under “Personal Injury Claims- further reform … Continue reading →

The recently-reported case of Dobson v Griffey [2018] EWHC 1117 (Ch) provides a helpful reminder of the difficulties in cohabitation cases when seeking a share of a property that is held in another party’s sole name. The decision is that of HHJ Matthews sitting as a High Court Judge. The judgment considers the standard of … Continue reading →

The President has issued further guidance on cases involving parents with learning difficulties: President’s Guidance Family Proceedings: Parents with a Learning Disability, 10th April 2018: He refers to the leading cases: Re D (A Child) (No 3) (2016) EWFC 1: http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed158421 and Re Guardian and A (Care Order: Freeing Order: Parents with a Learning Disability) … Continue reading →

Many practitioners are accustomed to seeing cases that do not quite fall within the category of “parental alienation” yet are characterised by the resident-parent’s views impacting adversely on the arrangements for contact between the non-resident parent and the child and often, as a consequence, on the relationship between the child and non-resident parent.   Usually such … Continue reading →