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How Often Does a Judge Reject a Consent Order in the UK?

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Making arrangements for your finances is one of the most important and complicated aspects of a divorce. You’ll need to separate your finances and assets from those of your spouse, a process that is not always straightforward. Many couples prefer the...

Ex-partner is making false allegations - What should I do?

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When an ex-partner makes false allegations, it can be easy to become distressed and overwhelmed. In particular, false allegations in family court or during a divorce can be damaging and have real-life consequences unless handled with care. It’s...

What is a child arrangements order?

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If you are going through a divorce or separation, making the right arrangements for your children is likely to be a major concern. A child arrangements order will set out the way in which a range of parenting issues will be dealt with, providing a level of...

Who pays the solicitors' fees in a divorce?

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If you are facing a divorce, you may have concerns over the payment of your legal fees. We take a look at who pays the costs of a divorce and what likely expenses you might incur. When you divorce, there are different aspects that will need to be dealt...

Can I Legally Stop My Ex Introducing A New Partner To My Child?

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The short answer is, yes, you may potentially be able to stop your ex-partner from introducing your child to their new partner. However, what you need to understand is that this will only normally be possible if there is a good reason related to your...

Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) Hearings: What to expect

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The purpose of a Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing is to help parties going through a divorce or civil partnership dissolution to reach a mutual agreement about their finances.  Parties going through a divorce or civil partnership dissolution...

Expert Answers UK's Most Commonly Asked Surrogacy Questions for National Surrogacy Week

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In light of National Surrogacy Week 2023, Anuradha Kurl, partner and solicitor at Crisp & Co, has answered the most commonly searched surrogacy questions in the UK. In 2019, National Surrogacy Week, 1 st -7 th August 2023, was established to increase...

What is paternity fraud, and is it a crime?

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If a man is led to believe by a woman that he is the father of her child when he is not, and the woman knows that he is not, this is paternity fraud. In limited circumstances, he may be able to bring a claim for damages if he has paid money to maintain the...

Law Commission releases new proposals to overhaul surrogacy laws

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Today the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission have announced joint proposals for the Government to overhaul surrogacy laws. The report highlights that a more progressive stance should be taken towards Surrogacy and...

The Spring Budget's affect on pensions in divorce settlements

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In yesterday’s budget, the government have announced changes to pensions, the first being the annual allowance (the most you can save into your pension pot in any tax year) has increased from £40,000 to £60,000. As well as this, the...

Partnership Announcement

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We are delighted to announce the appointment of 3 new partners to Crisp & Co from our talented senior associate team. Our new partners as of 1 st March 2023 are Jenine Imms, Anuradha Kurl and Elaine Morrison. The new partners have all shown...

Expert Answers LGBT+ Legal Queries for LGBT History Month

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Associate Solicitor at Crisp & Co, Maryana Tuka, answers family law queries with a focus on the LGBT+ experience, for LGBT History Month in February. LGBT History Month is an annual month-long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender...

How much child maintenance should I pay in the UK?

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Getting divorced or separated is never easy. There are plenty of legalities to arrange during this emotionally testing time. If you and your ex-partner have children, one of the key issues you’ll need to agree on is child maintenance, ensuring that...

Is Surrogacy Legal in the UK?

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Surrogacy is a popular option for single men or women and same sex partners who want to have a child. As part of the arrangement, a woman (the surrogate) gives birth to a child for an individual or couple (the intended parents). The process helps people to...

Elaine Morrison is featured expert on Made By Mammas Podcast

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Elaine Morrison recently joined Zoe Hardman and Georgia Dayton on the  Made By Mammas Podcast . During the episode Elaine answers listeners' questions on prenuptial agreements, the concept of "birdnesting", amicable separations and so...

Can You Co-parent with a Narcissist?

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A narcissist is an individual who excessively admires themselves, craves attention and believes they are the most important person in the world. Attempting to co-parent with someone like this, who puts themselves before everyone else and wants to control...

Can a divorce cause PTSD?

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Going through a divorce can a very stressful experience, both for the couple themselves, and for the rest of their family. Bringing a long-term relationship to an end is always likely to be difficult, even where the separation itself is reasonably amicable. ...

A Day in the Life of a Trainee Solicitor at Crisp & Co.

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I am Charlotte Creighton, a Trainee Solicitor at Crisp & Co. I hope this brief blog will give some insight into the process of becoming a qualified Solicitor and the life of a Trainee Solicitor in a Family Law Firm . I began my legal journey at...

Can Menopause Cause Relationship Breakdown?

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Millions of women across the UK experience symptoms of the menopause every day, but unfortunately we still don’t fully understand all of the physical, emotional and mental effects it may have. There does however, seem to be a correlation between...

Who Gets the Pets in a Divorce?

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For many, the question of who gains custody of the family pet during a divorce can be a major concern. People form strong bonds with their animal companions and deciding who is the best candidate to care for them during a divorce is a difficult and...

Is My Ex Partner a Narcissist?

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Divorce and separation can often be very difficult and, in some cases, can be particularly distressing. This is especially the case where your ex-partner proves to be very difficult to deal with both during and after proceedings. Some of the common issues...

Crisp & Co are members of The Surrogacy Network

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The Surrogacy Network brings multi-disciplinary organisations, including fertility clinics, surrogacy and family law legal experts, fertility counsellors, surrogacy advocates, organisations and charities, researchers and healthcare professionals. Membership...

10 Common Misconceptions About Adultery and Divorce

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Discovering your spouse has committed adultery can be devastating to your marriage. Whether the relationship was already struggling or it has come completely out of the blue, it is normal to feel betrayed and like you can no longer continue with the...

London Legal Walk 2021

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Crisp & Co are taking on 10k on Monday 18 October in support of frontline free legal advice services. We are walking with the Lord Chief Justice and thousands of lawyers to raise funds for the London Legal Support Trust which funds Law Centres and pro...

Surrogacy Solicitors - Legal advice after your child is born

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Having a child through surrogacy is an exciting and joyful time. But it can also be worrying, relying heavily on trust between you and the surrogate. During this time it can be comforting to have advice about your legal rights as well as some emotional...

Sperm Donation - How Does It Work?

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More and more people, whether they are in a hetero-sexual relationship, same-sex relationship or are single, are using sperm donation to conceive. Intended parents can do this using sperm of an unknown person via a licensed clinic or via a person known to...

A Day in the Life of... a Trainee Solicitor

Nhu Vo
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a Trainee Solicitor? Training to become a solicitor takes years of hard work and studying as well as experiencing how a real-life law firm operates on a daily basis. In this blog our two Trainees, Laura...

Good Divorce Week 2020 - How We Can Help You Have a Good Divorce

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30 November 2020 marks the start of Resolution’s annual Good Divorce Week. Every year, the family law organisation, Resolution, runs a campaign to raise awareness about an issue close to the hearts of its members. This year, the focus is on the ...

A Day in the Life of... an Associate Solicitor

Anu Kurl
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Have you ever wondered what your family law solicitor gets up to day to day? Do they spend all day rushing from court hearing to court hearing or is it all office work? Actually, it’s a bit of a mix of everything; some drafting, some court work, and...

Interim Maintenance - What is it?

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Going through a divorce or civil partnership dissolution is stressful for everyone involved. There are so many threads to untangle with your former partner, from deciding on future living arrangements to sorting out childcare and deciding how to split your...

Can an Adult Be Legally Adopted in the UK?

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Adult adoption is legal in many countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan and Germany, however, the UK is not one of them. Only a child under the age of 18 can be legally adopted in the UK and, unfortunately, many do not realise until it is too late. But...

Form E - What is it and how do I complete it?

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If you need the court to assist with financial matters on divorce or dissolution, you and your former partner will have to complete a document called Form E. Your family lawyer may also ask you to (and help you) complete Form E if you want to resolve...

Do sperm donors have parental responsibility in the UK?

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Thanks to scientific advances, there are a number of options available to individuals and couples who are unable, or find it difficult, to have children. One such option is donor insemination, otherwise referred to as sperm donation. This where an egg is...

How does surrogacy work in the UK?

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Surrogacy is an increasingly common option for couples and individuals who wish to start a family but are unable to conceive themselves. In fact, according to the Law Commission , the number of children born through surrogacy could be up to 10 times higher...

What happens if my ex-partner stops paying child maintenance?

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Raising a child by yourself is a difficult and emotionally taxing task, but your situation can become even more complicated if you stop receiving child maintenance payments from your ex-partner. Missed payments can be detrimental for both you and your...

How does parental responsibility work in civil partnership dissolution?

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The breakdown of a relationship is an emotional and stressful time which can be made even more difficult if you are considering what arrangements need to be made for your children in the future. Having parental responsibility means you have rights and...

Do I have to share my pension during divorce?

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If you are going through a divorce, there are plenty of financial arrangements that need to be made. As your pension is likely to be one of your highest value assets, it is important to understand how it could potentially be divided between yourself and your...

Can my ex move abroad or to a different part of the country with my children after divorce?

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Relocation after divorce or separation is a common cause of dispute between parents, particularly if one parent wishes to move abroad with the children from that relationship. There may be legitimate reasons for the move, for example they have a new partner...

Can I change a Consent Order?

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A Consent Order lays out the financial arrangements between a divorcing couple, usually after the Decree Nisi has been issued, and makes them legally binding. Divorcing couples are encouraged to try to amicably come to an agreement between themselves or...

What are my rights as a father following a separation or divorce?

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Separating from your partner is a stressful time and the feeling of uncertainty of what happens next can be overwhelming, particularly if you have children and you’re worried about being able to see them. There is a misconception that the law always...

When can you get an annulment?

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An annulment is a way of ending a marriage, similar to a divorce. However, unlike a divorce where you must wait up to one year before you can apply, you can apply for an annulment at any time after the wedding. It is important to note that if you apply for...

What can be included in a financial agreement?

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When a couple gets divorced, they may make a financial agreement to set out how assets such as money and property should be divided. If both parties agree, it is normally possible to avoid court, however, if an agreement can’t be made, then the couple...

Can I get a divorce in the UK if I now live overseas?

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Divorce laws differ greatly around the world, so if you or your spouse want to petition for divorce while living abroad, it’s essential to seek advice as soon as possible from a solicitor. Getting a divorce in the UK when you or your spouse lives...

No-fault divorce to become law in the UK

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The Justice Secretary, David Gauke, announced on the 8 th February that no-fault divorces will be introduced into law. This follows on from a consultation that was launched at the end of last year to propose changes to the law, amid calls from campaigners...

Who has the parental rights to a child when not married?

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Parental Responsibility is defined by the Children Act 1989 as ‘all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property’. This can include things such as where...

What is a cohabitation agreement?

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A cohabitation agreement is a legal document between unmarried couples who are living together or about to move in together. It outlines what will happen to things like the finances, the property, and children should you decide to separate. It’s...

What is a special guardianship order?

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A special guardianship order is a legal order appointing one or more individuals to be a child’s ‘special guardian’ until they turn 18. As determined in The Children Act 1989, a special guardian will take on parental responsibility for a...

Everything you need to know about the adoption process

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Deciding to adopt a child is a momentous moment in a person’s life, and although the process can sometimes be slow and complex, becoming an adoptive parent can be very rewarding. Knowing what to expect from the adoption process can make it seem less...

How do post-nuptial agreements work?

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Many people are familiar with the concept of a pre-nuptial agreement, or ‘pre-nup’, that allows you to protect yourself in the event of divorce. However, fewer people are aware that you can also create a similar agreement after you are married...

Is it time for no fault divorce in England and Wales?

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Tini Owens first hit the headlines last year, when the Court of Appeal ruled that she could not divorce her husband of 40 years as there was insufficient evidence of unreasonable behaviour on the part of her husband, who was defending the divorce. In...

What are the grounds for annulment of a marriage?

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Having your marriage annulled means showing that the marriage was never legally valid in the first place and thus having it declared void. This means that, legally, it will be as if your marriage never took place leaving you free to marry again. There are...

Sperm donation, egg donation and surrogacy: understanding the legal implications

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For LGBT+ individuals and couples deciding to have children, sperm donation, egg donation and surrogacy are increasingly popular options. While these methods can be an effective and emotionally satisfying way to create a family, there are certain legal...

Who has parental responsibility for a child?

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Parental responsibility gives a parent the right to make key decisions about a child’s upbringing, while also giving them a duty to provide for the child’s welfare and making them legally responsible for the child. In most cases, a child’s...

The Benefits of Mediation

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Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process that can be used for both personal and business matters. It offers a way for two or more parties in dispute to agree a mutually satisfactory solution that allows everyone to move on. Mediation provides a...