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A MIAM is a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting. The purpose of a MIAM is to provide information about mediation and to assess whether mediation is a suitable way for the parties to reach an agreement, given the circumstances of a particular case. Each party will attend a consultation, on their own, and will have the opportunity to tell the mediator about any issues they wish to resolve through mediation. Information on what to expect from the mediation process will be provided and the mediator will assess suitability based on the information given. If both parties then agree to engage in mediation, a joint session can be arranged.

Our Family Law specialist, Gabriella Freeman, answers some of the most common questions about Non-Molestation Order.

As of May 2022, slightly over 59% of UK households own a pet. This equates to roughly 17 million households and 34 million domestic animals within these households. Unfortunately, with the rise in divorce rates, we have seen a rise in disputes regarding what happens to the family pet(s).

The divorce process in the UK went under a substantial change on 6 April 2022 when the No Fault Divorce came into effect. This new legislation has replaced the old, and is designed to reduce and minimize conflict arising from divorce. The previous requirement to prove the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage by way of one of five “grounds” has been abolished and now a statement declaring said breakdown will suffice, without the need for justification.

A Child Arrangements Order is a legally binding Order created to ensure the welfare of a child. The Order defines who a child is to reside with and with whom they should have contact. The Order, which is most commonly sought during divorces and separations where the parents cannot agree on who the child will live with or how much they will see the other parent, essentially sets out the responsibility for care of the child.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that, for the year ending in March 2020 (directly before the pandemic), 2.3 million adults aged between 16 and 74 years experienced domestic abuse. The numbers are estimated to have been higher during the pandemic itself. Domestic Abuse is an unfortunate daily reality for an unreasonably substantial amount of people throughout the nation. However, despite being common, it is not given enough attention.

Parental responsibility is the legal responsibility to ensure a child is maintained, protected and supported. Parents with parental responsibility have a say in the most important factors in the child’s life, ranging from education, changing their name to where they live, and all those holding the responsibility must consent. For routine decisions, however, consent from all parties with parental responsibility is not required.

Prenuptial Agreements (Prenup) are created and signed prior to a marriage or civil partnership. The intention of the Prenup is to safeguard the couple’s individual assets and plan how to split finances, assets and child arrangements, in the event of a divorce.