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Family Law
Empowering Families Through Partnership: BHP Law, Parent and Child Together North East, and Point North Unite for Impact
Parent and Child Together North East (PACTNE) has received vital funding from the BHP Law Community Fund, distributed by Point North, to support its mission of providing intensive, wraparound support for vulnerable families across Darlington, the Tees Valley, and the North of England. This grant has enabled PACTNE to recruit a part-time Family Support Worker, […]
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To Change or Not to Change: Navigating Name Decisions After Divorce
Ending a marriage can be tough, and changing your name after a divorce is a significant step many consider. This deeply personal decision can be overwhelming, but BHP Law is here to help. Whether you’re changing your surname or seeking advice, we’ll guide you through the legal steps, making the process as smooth as possible. […]
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Who has parental responsibility for my child?
Section 3(1) of the Children Act 1989 defines parental responsibility, often abbreviated to ‘PR’, as all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority which a parent has in relation to the child by law. It is very important to note that this confers not only rights over the child but also responsibilities. Parental responsibility continues until the […]
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Domestic abuse victims advised to turn off phones for UK emergency alert test
The government is set to test its UK emergency alert system on Sunday 23rd April 2023. The emergency alerts will appear on mobile phones UK-wide and will be accompanied by a loud siren-like sound, and vibration for up to 10 seconds. The idea behind this new system is to ensure that the public are informed of […]
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Minimum marriage age raised from 16 to 18 in England and Wales
The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 has come into force today, (27th February 2023). Effectively from today, 16 and 17 year-olds can no longer enter a marriage or civil partnership, regardless of parental consent. This amendment to the previous legislation means that it will now be a criminal offence to cause a […]
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Transparency Pilot within the Family Court – are Journalists now able to report on family cases?
We have seen a major change this week in the way in which information is shared with the public in relation to family cases. Mrs Justice Lieven, a Judge within the Midlands Circuit took time to explain the pilot that will allow journalists to report on Family Court proceedings. The Transparency Reporting Pilot is a […]
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Applying for divorce online, do you still need a lawyer?
On 5th September 2022, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) released a fact sheet detailing the position since the changes in divorce law came into effect on 6th April 2022. The statistics published are as follows: In its first month, the online divorce service received 13,000 applications from couples who applied to end their marriage. 2,771 were […]
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Resolving your family disputes: Court proceedings should always be the last option!
I could not agree more with Sir Andrew MacFarlane, the President of the Family Division, when he said that the Family Court is “fully stretched”. With proceedings in the Family Court taking anywhere between 16 weeks to 18 months in my experience, the system is indeed struggling. In an interview with BBC Radio 4 on Sunday […]
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What does a victim of domestic abuse look like?
At the moment it is difficult to avoid news updates on the Depp v Heard case ongoing in the USA. Both parties are making shocking allegations of domestic abuse against one another, and a lot is at stake for all involved. Johnny Depp’s lawyers played a recording in Court of Amber Heard saying “Men can’t […]
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Divorcing without blame: What new legislation means for divorcing couples
The long-awaited no-fault divorce legislation finally comes into force on 6th April 2022, changing the outdated approach to separation. The changes remove fault and blame from the divorce process, making it easier for separating couples to end marriages. The current law is almost half a century old, meaning it has no relevance to today’s societal […]
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