header-logo header-logo

No-fault divorce back in court

11 August 2017
Issue: 7758 / Categories: Legal News , Divorce , Family
printer mail-detail

Family lawyers have hailed the Supreme Court’s decision this week to allow Tini Owens to appeal her divorce petition, in what has the potential to be a ground-breaking case.

The Court of Appeal refused to grant Mrs Owens a divorce after she failed to prove unreasonable behaviour, in Owens v Owens [2017[ EWCA Civ 182. Hugh Owens refused to divorce his wife, leaving Mrs Owen no option but to wait for a further three years’ separation.

Welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the appeal, Nigel Shepherd, national chair of family lawyers’ group Resolution, said the case ‘has significant implications for the future of divorce law in England and Wales.

‘The simple fact is that this case should not have been necessary, and only by implementing a no-fault divorce system can we ensure such a situation doesn’t happen again. Support for no-fault divorce is growing, from family law professionals, the public and politicians.’

 

 

Issue: 7758 / Categories: Legal News , Divorce , Family
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
back-to-top-scroll