Family Law Information

Family breakdown can be a difficult time and there are different options for resolving family law issues such as finances, property and issues relating to your children. This is a guide to help you understand how you may be able to resolve your issues through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) without having to use the court process.

When parents separate there are sometimes decisions that need to be made about a child’s upbringing. This legal guide sets out general legal information about the types of orders the court can make in relation to children and answers some frequently asked questions.

This guide provides an overview of the family court process and procedure for disputes between parents which need to be resolved by making an application to the court for a child arrangements order, prohibited steps order or specific issue order.

This guide is designed to give you information about the rules the court follows in cases concerning children where there has been domestic violence (Practice Direction 12J).

Parental Responsibility (PR) is defined in the Children Act 1989 (CA 89) as all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authorities which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and the child’s property.

Parents have a legal responsibility to provide financially for their children even if they no longer live with them. When child maintenance is paid it can make a significant difference to the lives of families. This guide sets out the various types of child maintenance arrangements available to parents.

This legal guide explains the role of Cafcass and section 7 reports in the family court and answers some frequently asked questions.

This guide is designed to give you information about holidaying or relocating with your children when parents do not agree.

This guide is designed to give you information about the basic legal principals that apply to child abduction.

This legal guide gives information about your legal status as a child’s birth mother, nonbirth mother or step parent. It also looks at the legal status of your child’s biological father.

This guide explains civil partnerships and how to enter into a civil partnership.

This guide sets out the law and procedure if you wish to end your civil partnership.

Dividing up your property when your civil partnership breaks down can be very complicated. This information sheet sets out the law in relation to dividing your finances when you separate from your civil partner and providing financial support to children of your civil partnership.

This legal guide will give you information about the protective orders available to you through the criminal courts and Family Court.

This guide will focus on your legal options as a survivor of domestic violence.

Briefing on updated changes effective from 3rd September 2020.

It is a criminal offence in England and Wales for someone to subject you to coercive control. If you experience this kind of abuse you can report it to the police. You may also be able to apply to the Family Court for protection. This legal guide is designed to give you information about the ways in which the law can protect you.

This guide is designed to give you information about criminal investigations and the police.

This legal guide sets out information about what happens once the perpetrator has been charged with a criminal offence.

If you have experienced a violent crime you may be eligible to apply for compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012. This legal guide is designed to give you information about criminal injuries compensation, who can apply for it and how.

This guide sets out your housing rights if you are experiencing domestic violence and are currently living with your abuser. It also looks at the legal options which are available if you can no longer stay in your home and need to find somewhere else to live.

This legal guide explains the immigration law and policy relevant to women from abroad who are in the UK on a spouse or partner visa and are experiencing domestic violence.

This guide sets out some sources of advice and support for those who are involved in Family Court proceedings.

This guide gives information on preparing for a Family Court hearing. It also covers what to expect on the day and safety whilst in court.

Going to court can feel daunting, especially if you do not have a lawyer. It is usually helpful to prepare a position statement for the court and the other party to read before each court hearing. This legal guide will give you information about how to write a position statement.

It can be difficult to know whether it is the right time to make an application to court. Writing a warning letter can be a good way of avoiding court proceedings. Sometimes it is not safe to send a warning letter, in which case you may need to go directly to court without informing the other party. This legal guide will give you information about how and when to write a warning letter.

Preparing court documents can be daunting, especially if you don’t have a lawyer. This legal guide will give you information about how to write a witness statement.

This guide will give you general information about court documents including how and when to send them to the other party, and what the court expects when you are managing court papers.

Court bundles can be a helpful way of organising documents and referring to them during court hearings. This guide will give you information about how to prepare a bundle for a Family Court hearing.

This guide will give you information about when you can appeal a family court decision and how to do it.

This guide will help you understand what a McKenzie Friend is and what you should expect from someone who is acting as a McKenzie Friend for you or the other side in your case.

This guide will help you understand what a McKenzie Friend is and what you should expect from someone who is acting as a McKenzie Friend for you or the other side in your case.

This legal guide will give you information about the practical steps the criminal and family courts can take to help you attend court and give evidence if you are a victim of domestic abuse or sexual violence.

This legal guide explains the law which prevents survivors of domestic abuse from being cross-examined (questioned) by the abuser, or from having to cross-examine the abuser.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Family Court is still open. The court has changed the way it hears cases so that any urgent hearings can continue.

This legal guide provides an overview on when you will be able to access legal aid for family law issues and, if you are a victim of domestic violence, what evidence you will need to get legal aid for issues involving children and relationship breakdown.

Briefing on updated changes effective from 3rd September 2020.

This is a list of the types of evidence the Legal Aid Agency will accept as evidence of child abuse for the purposes of family law legal aid.

This guide is designed to give you information about adoption from the point of view of the birth mother. It only covers the law in England and Wales.

This guide looks at parental responsibility from the point of view of a mother in prison. It only covers the law in England and Wales.

This guide is designed to give you information about your legal options while you are in prison if your child is living with their father or other family members. It only covers the law in England and Wales.

This guide looks at the involvement of social services with children. It is for women in prison who want to know what their rights are. It only covers the law in England and Wales.

If you are living with your partner or you are planning to live with your partner and you are not married or in a civil partnership, then it is really important to know your rights. This legal guide gives an overview of the law on cohabitation.

This guide tells you about the ways you can own property with your partner. It also explains what severing a joint tenancy means and explains how to do this.

This guide will explain when it is possible to apply to transfer a tenancy into your sole name.

This guide sets out the criteria that must be complied with for a marriage to be legally recognised. In this guide we will sometimes refer to your spouse, which means your husband or your wife.

Deciding that your marriage has ended can be difficult. This guide is designed to give information about the law and procedure on divorce.

This legal guide sets out the law when separating your finances following divorce or judicial separation.

This guide will explain when it is possible to apply to transfer a tenancy into your sole name.

This legal guide sets out the procedure when applying to the family court for a financial order on divorce.

You have the right to choose who you marry, when you marry, or if you marry at all. This guide is on forced marriage and the law.

If you are married then you have a right to live in your home, even if your home is only in your husband or wife’s name. This is known as matrimonial home rights or home rights. This guide tells you more about matrimonial home rights and how to register your matrimonial home rights.

This guide looks at funding legal costs for advice, mediation and representation in court when legal aid is not available.

This legal guide is for anyone who wants to know about the legal options available to young people experiencing particular forms of violence, including domestic violence, sexual violence and specifically, peer-on-peer abuse.