Dawn Keane

Delays in the Family Court have long been a source of frustration and stress for parents, carers, and, most importantly, children. Cases have often taken many months to conclude, with long gaps between hearings, increasing conflict between parents and...

West Yorkshire has become the latest region to adopt a new approach to private family law proceedings. The system, called Pathfinder , is designed to prioritise children’s welfare, streamline case management, better support victims of domestic...

What can you do if you suspect your partner - or the partner of a friend or loved one - has a history of violence? Your right to ask the police about a partner's history Under the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme...

After a lengthy consultation period, the so-called ‘no-fault’ divorce is due to come into effect in England and Wales on 6 April 2022. From this date, separating couples will be able to get a divorce, civil partnership dissolution or legal...

On 20 th January 2020, Stalking Protection Orders came into effect. These were introduced by the Stalking Protection Act 2019 to protect victims from harassment or intimidation from strangers or non-family members. Under this new legislation, the...

These days grandparents often play a huge role in their grandchildren’s lives, frequently providing child care. Sadly, when parents break up, many grandparents worry that contact with their grandchildren could be affected. If you have found...

Divorce and separation are sadly dominating much of the media this month – the spike in divorce proceedings in January is often the result of additional pressures faced by couples over the Christmas and New Year period. You can get a divorce in...

Family law specialist Clive Masters sets the record straight. The question of whether to re-register a child’s birth if the natural parents subsequently marry can be confusing....

While many parents will greet their children’s return to school with a sigh of relief, for some the end of the summer holidays could also mark the start of a divorce. Alongside Christmas and the New Year, the long summer holidays can represent a...

A recent court of appeal decision reported in the media earlier this week has caused quite a stir. A wife, who petitioned for divorce on the grounds that her marriage had irretrievably broken down because of her husband’s behaviour, has been...

It is a sad reality that holidays put pressure on family life. This is especially true of the period over Christmas and the New Year. The strain on families over the Christmas and New Year period can often lead to relationship breakdowns. Sadly, statistics...