How to Fund Your Divorce if Your Spouse Can Outlitigate You
“For what is wedlock forced but a hell, An age of discord and continual strife?” (William Shakespeare in Henry VI Part I) This article is a balm for anyone unfortunate enough to be stuck in an unhappy marriage full of Shakespeare’s “discord and continual strife”, yet too scared to consider divorce because of the costs. […]
Wedding Bells? You Can Both Choose Your Own Surnames Now
“A family name holds the music of generations – it’s the first inheritance we receive.” (Attributed to Irish poet-philosopher John O’Donohue) The Constitutional Court has just confirmed (with some significant adjustments) last year’s High Court ruling that both partners in a marriage have equal rights to choose their surname. Previously, a woman – and only […]
Divorce Lawfare: The Serial Litigant and his Stalingrad Strategy
“This [the Stalingrad Strategy] is a strategy of wearing down the plaintiff by tenaciously fighting anything the plaintiff presents by whatever means possible and appealing every ruling favourable to the plaintiff. Here, the defendant does not present a meritorious case. This tactic or strategy is named for the Russian city besieged by the Germans in […]
Divorce 101: A Simple Guide to the Legal Side
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” (C.S. Lewis) Divorce is traumatic, to the extent that it’s widely considered to be the second most stressful life event (behind only the death of a spouse, and ahead of marital separation and going to jail!). […]
Good News for Grandma: The Law Wants You to Have Access to Your Grandchildren
“Grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child’s growth as vitamins.” (Quoted in the judgment below) One of the greatest tragedies of family fall-outs will always be the effect they have on the children involved. A recent High Court fight over a granny’s attempts to have contact with her two grandchildren in the face […]
How to Avoid Fighting Over the House – A Guide for Life Partners
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of bandages and adhesive tape.” (Groucho Marx) It’s a perennial topic of dispute in our courts. A couple lives together, sharing the same roof and everything else in perfect happiness and harmony. Until it all goes south. Then the gloves come off and, particularly if our erstwhile […]