Living together For more information on where you can marry and what you have to do to get married, see the General Register Office (www.gro.gov.uk) and the Church of England more…

Obviously that’s a tricky question and it depends on a whole series of largely subjective issues. People get married for many different reasons. Many couples want to celebrate the ‘big more…

Pre-nuptial agreements have an uncertain status in English law. On occasion, the courts have disregarded them although lawyers report that they are increasingly being used. The legal position seems more more…

If you are single (whether previously married, divorced, widowed or in a civil partnership that has been dissolved), you can marry anyone except: -someone already married or in a civil more…

You have to be over 16 years old and if you are under the age of 18 years you need the consent of a parent or person with parental responsibility more…

A marriage can take place in England and Wales at a register office, or a building approved for civil marriage, in an Anglican church or in any other religious building more…

There are a number of requirements you have to satisfy before you can get married the General Register Office has more details), such as: Residency: You can get married in more…

There are a number of common sense steps you can take if you don’t want to get married but want an approximation of its protections. The importance of at least more…

  … you move in to your boyfriend’s house, have a baby together, and then split up…? Your ex doesn’t have to pay you maintenance for your own benefit except more…

Yes. For unmarried couples, wills are doubly-important. It is estimated that two-thirds of people never get round to making a will. Put starkly: if you aren’t married to your partner more…

Property will be shared out according to the rules of ‘intestacy’ (if someone dies without a will they die ‘intestate’). Only people who are married, civil partners or some close more…

Children of the intestate person inherit if there is no surviving married or civil partner. If you are a surviving partner, then the children will inherit only if the estate more…

Unmarried partners, lesbian or gay partners not in a civil partnership, relations by marriage, close friends, and carers. However, even if you can’t inherit under the rules of intestacy, you more…

As a parent, you need to consider the difficult question of who might take care of your children in the event of your death. A guardian is someone who is more…

The Children Act 1989 provides that guardians may be appointed by a parent with parental responsibility for the child, an existing guardian or by a court order. Thanks very much more…

If, on the death of the person making the appointment (even if the parents are separated or divorced): there is a surviving parent with parental responsibility; and the deceased did more…

Yes; even if you are appointed a guardian in someone’s will, you can refuse. Such a refusal has to be in writing signed by the proposed guardian and made within more…

The Civil Partnership Act came into effect at the end of 2005. The landmark legislation enables gay and lesbian couples (aged 16 years and over) to register their relationships.

Obviously that’s a tricky question and it depends on a whole series of largely subjective issues. People get married for many different reasons. Many couples want to celebrate the ‘big more…

The estate passes to the Crown (known as bona vacantia). The Treasury Solicitor is then responsible for dealing with the estate. The Crown can make grants from the estate but more…

… you move in to your boyfriend’s house, have a baby together, and then split up…? Your ex doesn’t have to pay you maintenance for your own benefit (except in more…

There are a number of common sense steps you can take if you don’t want to get married but want an approximation of its protections. The importance of at least more…

There are a number of requirements you have to satisfy before you can get married the General Register Office has more details), such as: Residency: You can get married in more…

A marriage can take place in England and Wales at a register office, or a building approved for civil marriage, in an Anglican church or in any other religious building more…

Again, you have to be over 16 years old and if you are under the age of 18 years you need the consent of a parent or person with parental more…

If you are single (whether previously married, divorced, widowed or in a civil partnership that has been dissolved), you can marry anyone except: someone already married or in a civil more…

It depends on whether you are married or in a civil partnership or not. If you aren’t married or in a civil partnership, then clearly there is no legal process more…

Divorce is the legal ending of a marriage granted by the courts because there has been an ‘irretrievable breakdown’ of the marriage. The process is governed largely by the Matrimonial more…

If you are divorcing your spouse, you need to send a divorce petition, court fees, a copy of your marriage certificate, plus a document called ‘a statement of arrangements’ for more…

There are a couple, not often used, but nonetheless you might want to consider: Judicial separation: This is not a divorce and you remain married to your partner. You cannot more…

The press often talks about ‘quickie’ divorces. Speed and the courts are two concepts that rarely go hand in hand and breaking up is no exception. If you want a more…

When you begin divorce proceedings you must fill out the ‘statement of arrangements’ form setting out the proposed arrangements for your children. The courts want to know, for example, where more…

Many fathers believe that they are going to be at a disadvantage when it comes to how courts award residence orders. Family law experts more often than not insist that more…

A sad but not uncommon problem arises when parents get divorced and typically the child goes to live with the mother and contact with the child’s paternal grandparents is denied. more…

On the breakdown of a relationship, you are both responsible for financially supporting the children irrespective of where they are living. (If you are married, you can also apply for more…

Each parent is responsible for maintaining their child (under the Child Support Act 1991). The Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 first gave courts the power not only to grant divorce but more…

The situation depends on whether or not you are married: Unmarried couples: If you are anxious about what will happen about your home on the break up of your relationship, more…

Unmarried couples: Whether you are joint tenants or the tenancy is in your ex’s name only an application can be made (under the Family Law Act 1996) to court for more…

Yes. Divorcing couples often feel that they are pushed into opposing camps but there are approaches that assist with achieving a conciliatory approach and achieving a working relationship after marriage. more…

The Civil Partnership Act came into effect at the end of 2005. The landmark legislation enables gay and lesbian couples (aged 16 years and over) to register their relationships. They more…

Property will be shared out according to the rules of ‘intestacy’ (if someone dies without a will they die ‘intestate’). Only people who are married, civil partners or some close more…

Yes. For unmarried couples, wills are doubly-important. It is estimated that two-thirds of people never get round to making a will. Put starkly: if you aren’t married to your partner more…

… you move in to your boyfriend’s house, have a baby together, and then split up…? Your ex doesn’t have to pay you maintenance for your own benefit, even if more…

There are a number of common sense steps you can take if you don’t want to get married but want an approximation of its protections. The importance of at least more…

There are a number of requirements you have to satisfy before you can get married the General Register Office has more details), such as: Residency: You can get married in more…

If you are single (whether previously married, divorced, widowed or in a civil partnership that has been dissolved), you can marry anyone except: someone already married or in a civil more…

Pre-nuptial agreements have an uncertain status in English law. On occasion, the courts have disregarded them although lawyers report that they are increasingly being used. The legal position seems more more…

Obviously that’s a tricky question and it depends on a whole series of largely subjective issues. People get married for many different reasons. Many couples want to celebrate the ‘big more…

Pre-nuptial agreements have an uncertain status in English law. On occasion, the courts have disregarded them although lawyers report that they are increasingly being used. The legal position seems more more…