"familylaw" posts

Tips for managing your mental health during a divorce

Divorce is one of life’s most stressful events, and when mental health challenges are involved, the situation can become even more complex. Prioritising wellbeing, understanding how mental health can impact divorce, and seeking the right support can make a significant difference in how both you and your family manage the transition.

Ending a cohabitation relationship

Around 22% of couples who live together aren’t married or in a civil partnership. Many people think they automatically gain rights to their partner's property and belongings if they live together for a long time. However, in reality, if they break up or if one partner dies, couples who aren't married or in a civil partnership don’t have the same rights or protections as married couples unless they have legal arrangements like a will.

The two D's - death and divorce with Octopus Legacy

You’ve decided you want to separate from your ex-partner, and you’re going through the divorce process. Alongside divorce, there’s another ‘d’ word to consider – what do you want to happen to your assets when you die?

What is a cohabitation agreement and when would you need one?

A cohabitation agreement, also called a ‘living together agreement’, records arrangements between a couple who are living together.

How legal tech is shaping family law with Richard Susskind - The Divorce Podcast

In this episode, Kate is joined by Professor Richard Susskind OBE KC (Hon) to discuss the future of family law and legal services.

How to create a budget after divorce or separation

Like many things in life, the key to successfully getting back on your feet in the event of a divorce or separation is preparation and planning. Because everyone views partnership in different ways, and everyone views money in different ways.

A step-by-step guide to same-sex divorce

Same-sex marriage has been legally recognised in the UK since July 2013. Before this, same-sex couples could enter into a civil partnership rather than a marriage.

amicable & non-court dispute resolution

The Family Court exists for children and family matters and is required to follow the ‘Family Procedure Rules’ (FPR). These rules were updated on the 24th of April with a focus on helping families resolve issues outside of the court.

Do you have to get a consent order for child arrangements?

In this blog, we will discuss the different options available and things some legal topics which might cause confusion (ie. the ‘no-order principle’).

A Child’s Right to Matter with Angharad Rudkin and Helen Adam - The Divorce Podcast

In this episode, Kate is joined by clinical psychologist, Angharad Rudkin, and solicitor, mediator, and campaigner Helen Adam.

The role of friends and family in navigating divorce, separation and co-parenting

Separation and divorce is something that can be achieved amicably with the children’s best interests and our own mental health at heart...

Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget 2024 has been announced today

In this blog, we look at the Budget's impact on divorce, separation and dividing money and property as part of a separation.

Grandparents, parental separation and divorce

In this blog, we'll explore some legal basics surrounding grand-parenthood and divorce, and provide tips to help you navigate this.

Family mediation: what you need to know

What is family mediation? Family mediation is an alternative form of dispute resolution (ADR) following a relationship breakdown. Read this guide to find out more.

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 2025

Single Parents Day is a day to recognise 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 introduced in England & Wales – When was no-fault divorce introduced?

We are thrilled to announce that today, No-fault divorce has been introduced in England and Wales.

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.

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

A simple guide to divorce and wills

If you’re mid-divorce or post-divorce, you may well feel like you’d rather not see another legal document right now. But when it comes to your last will and testament, there’s no better time to get things sorted. It’s not even that expensive, or difficult. Here’s why.

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).

The top three common law myths you should know about

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

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.

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 […]

Why we need to disrupt the family law sector in the 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? […]

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 […]

Eight 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 […]

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 […]

What is no-fault divorce and how does it affect separating couples in England & Wales?

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

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 […]

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’ […]

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 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 […]

Owens v Owens: ‘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’ […]