"familylaw" posts

Divorce, separation and co-parenting resources

Our tools and resources offer guidance and support for navigating this challenging time with compassion and understanding. From co-parenting tips to legal queries and emotional support, we've got you covered.

What is arbitration in divorce?

In such an emotionally challenging time as divorce, exploring alternative dispute resolution methods (amicable, mediation, arbitration, etc.) can provide a more flexible and efficient way to resolve any issues around children or the division of money and property without needing a ‘legal battle’.

Is 50/50 fair when dividing money and property?

In short, it depends. There's no defined formula for splitting money and property when you separate, and there are many factors that impact whether or not your agreement is 'fair' and in what context.

Single Parents’ Day 2023

Single Parents Day is a day to recognize and appreciate the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices made by single parents. The day is celebrated annually on March 21st, and it provides an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges that single parents face and to show them that they are valued and appreciated. It is a time to celebrate the strength and resilience of single parents and to offer them support and encouragement in their important role as caregivers.

Brandon Lewis is appointed as Secretary of State for Justice

We welcome the appointment of Brandon Lewis as Secretary of State for Justice and look forward to working together to continue to reduce the strain on divorcing and separating couples.

The rise of couples services in a post 'no-fault' divorce world

The introduction of no-fault divorce in England and Wales in April 2022 is changing how couples approach separation. The perverse necessity to play the blame game is gone. As a result, there has been a striking increase in couples seeking more amicable ways to settle their divorce arrangements. Many separating couples are now turning to services that can help them both together and which are not provided by lawyers at all.

What is a Divorce Specialist?

A Divorce Specialist refers to a professional who can assist you with the legal process of divorce. They can sometimes also help you navigate the emotional process too. At amicable, our experts are Divorce Specialists. They have a variety of backgrounds, primarily in law, although some also have backgrounds in psychology and counselling, as we can help with both the legal and the emotional process of divorce and separation, as well as parenting post-separation.

No-fault divorce has finally been introduced in England & Wales

We are thrilled to announce that today, No-fault divorce has been introduced in England and Wales. This represents the biggest change in divorce laws in over 50 years and something that we have been campaigning for as a company for a long time. amicable wholeheartedly supports this change and believe it will make a real difference in the way couples divorce as the new law will remove fault and blame from the process.

Government increases court fees for divorcing and separating couples in England and Wales

The government has announced that they will be increasing the court fee costs for divorcing and separating couples at the end of the month. This means, separating couples in England and Wales will pay more for applying for the legal paperwork associated with their divorce (unless you are eligible for a discount or exemption).

amicable wins High Court Judgment allowing couples to divorce without lawyers

A landmark judgment in the High Court validates legal services company amicable’s right to help divorcing couples negotiate financial settlements and create joint legal documents

Divorce, Separation & Dissolution terms explained

There can be a lot of new and confusing terminology to get to grips with when you separate divorce or dissolve your civil partnership. In this blog we have set out some of the commonly confused terms in everyday language and when they may be applicable to your situation.

When will no-fault divorce begin in UK?

No-fault divorce was introduced on the 6th of April 2022, replacing the previous system for divorce.

What is a decree nisi? A step by step guide on how to apply

If you are legally ending your marriage by divorcing or ending your civil partnership through a dissolution in England and Wales, there are four main documents that need to be completed. The ‘decree nisi’ is one of the four main documents involved in the legal process of separating.

Ticking the 'financial box' on my divorce application - what does it mean and should I tick yes or no?

This very common question creates a lot of confusion and panic, this blog aims to explain what it means and to help you understand if you should tick it or not. Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, for clarity, we are referring to the 'Do you want to apply for a financial order' question in the divorce/dissolution application (legally known as a D8).

What’s the difference between marriages and civil partnerships?

Looking for the key differences between marriage and entering into a civil partnership?’. We’ve listed some of the top ones in this blog.

Why we need to disrupt the family law sector UK

There’s a genuine problem with the way family law works in this country, and the impact it has on divorcing and separating couples and their families – so why has there been so little disruption? […]

The launch of amicable’s unique way to divorce

amicable’s unique way to divorce launches this week. Exciting times… So why do we believe traditional models are broken? The majority of people in the UK use a traditional way to divorce, usually, one of these […]

Grounds For Divorce : What are they and do I have them?

In England and Wales, you must be married at least a year and have divorce grounds to legally end your marriage. In this blog, I will explain what that means. You have divorce grounds if your marriage […]

No-fault divorce bill in England and Wales Guide – latest updates 2022

This guide will explain the meaning of ‘No-fault divorce,’ in England and Wales and how to start your divorce process.

Two years separation as the grounds for divorce

Now that no-fault divorce is law in England and Wales, you can no longer use two years separation as the reason for your divorce.

How to use adultery as grounds for divorce in England & Wales

In English and Welsh law adultery can be used as a ‘fact’ for the Grounds for Divorce if you want to prove that your marriage has broken down. There are five facts or reasons to ‘rely’ […]

The pros and cons of the online divorce

This week the government launched a nationwide way for couples to apply for a divorce online. The catalyst for this change? 40% of divorce applications are rejected due to errors. If you’re considering an online […]

No longer need your divorce lawyer?

There are many reasons why you may want to end your legal representation when you are going through a divorce and you may be confused or overwhelmed as to how to go about it. If you are currently being represented by a lawyer, as long as your all paid up for the legal fees you’ve accrued up until the point you decide that you no longer want to be represented, then you have the right to end their representation of you.

The Top 3 Common Law Myths You Should Know About

If you’re co-habiting and things go sour, you should protect yourselves by being aware of these three common myths when it comes ‘common law’ and your cohabiting rights.

Lawyers vs Machines

In 1996, a speaker told The Law Society that in five years’ time the predominant method of communication between lawyer and client would be email. The law society responded by banning the speaker from addressing […]

amicable featured in Legal Futures

Legal Futures’ Nick Hilborne wrote about amicable today, here’s what he had to say: Amicable app’ aims to take some of the pain – and cost – out of divorce A counsellor and a tech […]

Can you help us change the way the world views divorce?

amicable is looking for a limited number of beta customers, join us and manage your separation in a new and unique way by becoming the first users of our ground breaking app.   It’s our view that […]

Could a ‘mathematical equation’ be the solution - Gary Lineker

Newspapers such as the Telegraph report today that Gary Lineker calls for ‘mathematical equation’ to simplify costly divorce proceedings  –Read article We couldn’t agree more – and it’s something of a passion of ours. The […]

Mr V Mrs – Call The Mediator - Love it or loathe it, the programme creates debate

Whilst millions of people watched Call the Mediator, believing (or breathing a sigh of relief) that this kind of thing happens to other people, it’s a fact that in England & Wales, 42% of all […]

8 Jaw-Dropping Divorce Statistics

Separation can feel isolating but our divorce statistics show you’re not alone. Nearly half a million people each year in the UK face the break-up of a marriage or co-habiting relationship and half of those […]

amicable is announced as National Technology Awards finalist

Innovation of the year Press Release:amicable has been shortlisted for the Innovation of the year, in the National Technology Awards. The legal services disruptor, has been nominated for their ground-breaking app helping divorcing and separating couples […]

How to use desertion as the grounds for divorce in England and Wales

What does ‘desertion’ mean when it comes to divorce? Desertion in English and Welsh law is defined as one person in the marriage deserting the other for a continuous period of at least two years. […]

amicable raises angel investment in order to help more couples to separate amicably

amicable is delighted to announce that we have successfully secured £472,260 from a remarkable group of angel investors. Since launching to customers in January 2017, we have been amazed by the number of couples who […]

The Tini Owens divorce case and No-Fault Divorce

You’ve probably seen the coverage regarding Tini Owens in the news recently. This story has sparked debate over the last few years for a number of reasons. If you’d like a better understanding of the […]

Divorce law reform is finally on the horizon

Divorce laws in England and Wales have been due a review for some time now. It’s been a staggering 50 years since the last review, and in the words of David Gauke, “the ‘blame game’ […]