Family Law

Remote hearings are not delivering effective access to justice in Northern Ireland's family courts, research by an Ulster University academic suggests. The new report by Professor Gráinne McKeever on the impact of Covid-19 on the family courts, based on interviews with practitioners and litig

Family lawyer Claire Edgar, partner at Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors, examines the issue of equality in divorce settlements. It is 20 years since the House of Lords handed down the seminal judgement of White v White, which decided that, when determining each spouse’s contribution to the ma

The High Court has granted a divorce and made a number of orders in relation to a family home, commenting that an abuse of privilege may have costs implications. Background

Parents whose children are subject of access orders should "try to agree what access can happen safely", the president of the District Court has said. In a statement issued on Saturday, Judge Colin Daly acknowledged that some parents "may be concerned that they cannot fulfil the terms of these order

Claire Edgar of Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors examines a recent case concerning the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The High Court in Belfast has recently handed down a decision in the Matter of K (a minor), a Hague Convention case in which Francis Hanna &

The Family Lawyers’ Association of Ireland (FLA) has established a committee of family law practitioners to scrutinise the government's proposals for family court reform. The sub-committee of four solicitors and four barristers, chaired by Dervla Browne SC, is now preparing a submission on the

The Legal Aid Board is bracing for an increase in demand and delays in accessing legal services due to the Covid-19 pandemic, its chairperson Philip O'Leary has said.

The Law Society of Ireland has welcomed yesterday's government announcement on family law reform as "reflective of the vision the Law Society called for". Justice Minister Helen McEntee yesterday announced that government ministers have approved the drafting of a Family Court Bill, which will provid

Family lawyers have welcomed progress on "long overdue" proposals to establish new dedicated family courts within the existing court structures. Justice Minister Helen McEntee today announced that government ministers have approved the drafting of a Family Court Bill, which will provide for the esta

Prominent family lawyer Marion Campbell has joined KOD Lyons after more than 10 years in private practice. Ms Campbell, who will head the firm's family law team, has practised as a solicitor since 1976, working at the Legal Aid Board for two decades and most recently leading Marion Campbell Solicito

The Family Lawyers' Association of Ireland has established a working group of child care law practitioners to make recommendations for reform of the Child Care Act 1991. Solicitor Gareth Noble of KOD Lyons has been appointed to chair the group, and is joined by Sarah Fennell BL, Lewis Mooney BL and

Family lawyer William Cross has taken a break from retirement to join Edwards & Co Solicitors as a locum. Mr Cross will support the firm's family department while partner Julie Tierney takes maternity leave.

The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) has remitted care proceedings in respect of a baby whose brother died to the Family Division after finding that the original judge may have expressed bias against one of the parties when she made a number of pejorative comments to her clerk about t

Family law issues have remained the dominant theme of calls to the Children's Rights Alliance helpline in its second year, revealing a "serious gap" in the family law system. The organisation established the helpline and free legal advice clinics in 2018 to ensure that all children have access to fr

Funding has been secured to allow the proposed dedicated family courts complex at Hammond Lane to go ahead, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said. The project, on a site adjacent to the Four Courts, was originally announced in September 2015 following years of criticism from family lawyers that th