header-logo header-logo

Civil way: 7 April 2017

07 April 2017
Issue: 7741 / Categories: Features , Civil way , Procedure & practice
printer mail-detail

Online divorce going well; child seeks inheritance advice; new debt pre-action protocol; family, insolvency & CoP rule changes; & Isleworth landlords to watch it

THE END IS NIGH

The first and cautious stage of the online divorce project which has the judicial lead of Judge Philip Waller is now being assessed. It started on 25 January 2017 at the East Midlands divorce centre in Nottingham by courtesy of FPR PD36D with petitioners who satisfy specific criteria being recruited to “have a go” by completing their applications online. The application form has been using plain English (wherever possible!) with explanations of technical terms as they appear. Early indications are that the pilot has been a success, particularly in reducing the usual rate of bounce backs of around 40%. Additional features will now be added to the pilot with a view to having full online applications available to the general public by Autumn 2017.

The project’s aim is to provide an ‘end-to-end’ system for processing undefended proceedings for divorce, partnership dissolution, nullity and judicial separation and by Spring

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
The Solicitors Act 1974 may still underpin legal regulation, but its age is increasingly showing. Writing in NLJ this week, Victoria Morrison-Hughes of the Association of Costs Lawyers argues that the Act is ‘out of step with modern consumer law’ and actively deters fairness
A Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruling has reopened debate on the availability of ‘user damages’ in competition claims. Writing in NLJ this week, Edward Nyman of Hausfeld explains how the CAT allowed Dr Liza Lovdahl Gormsen’s alternative damages case against Meta to proceed, rejecting arguments that such damages are barred in competition law
back-to-top-scroll