All Things Family Law

It is perhaps of no surprise that the English courts have seen a massive rise in cases concerning dowry issues and, in particular, jewellery exchanged on marriage. The whereabouts of jewellery, its origins, its value and whether it has been unlawfully retained by one spouse are just some of the issues the court will need to tackle at an early stage. Gold jewellery is often a source of dispute on divorce

Parental alienation is very serious. It undermines the very fabric of a child’s emotional well being. But it is complex. The court must assess all of the evidence. Why does the child not want to see the other parent? Is it justifiable? Have they witnessed abuse? Is this creating a distorted sense of loyalty to one parent? Or is the child a pawn in a game? These are just a few of the questions that need to be considered. As a family lawyer I can say that I have been on both sides of the fence. Whilst of course the evidence and how you present it is key, a crucial element to any such case is the observations of Cafcass (they are the eyes and ears of the court and will advise the court). Set out below is a tool kit applied by Cafcass as behaviours indicative of alienation. Typical behaviours exhibited by a child where they have experienced alienating behaviours