Protecting Your Parental Rights: Declaration of Parentage Explained
Modern relationships take on all forms and unplanned children may be born to couples who are not...
News
It is fair to say that tensions can run high in any relationship at times, but perhaps more so now given that your partner is one of the only people (if not the only person) you have seen for a prolonged period because of the coronavirus lockdown.
News sources have reported that as a result of the lockdown in China, divorce rates in the country increased dramatically. Restrictions are gradually being lifted in England and the surrounding nations and many people are likely considering the future of their marriage or civil partnership.
Courts in England and Wales are still operating to provide a limited judicial service with Judges still making decisions in family law cases.
In March 2020, the Lord Chief Justice issued guidance stating the default position is that hearings should take place remotely. How such a hearing is conducted will depend on the court; it could be by telephone or via video conference. Importantly, it was acknowledged that remote hearings would not be suitable for all cases.
Remote hearings can present a number of difficulties for those involved. Setting up (and maintaining) a remote connection may present challenges, especially if you do not have access to the internet at home or your broadband is temperamental.
Another cause for concern is that remote hearings still need to be held confidentially. A person who is not a party to the proceedings should not be present without the Judge’s permission. This includes children, which could be difficult if you are the only person in your household available to supervise them.
In short, you can still make an application to the court but it is worth noting that it is likely that it will proceed remotely. However, with lockdown restrictions now being lifted, we wait to see when courts will reopen fully and return to hearings with attendance at Court. It also remains to be seen whether some matters will continue to be conducted remotely moving forward, now that the IT infrastructure is in place.
Resolving a matter outside of court is known as using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The courts have a duty to encourage parties to use non-court dispute resolution if appropriate at every stage of proceedings. With the courts operating on a reduced scale as a result of coronavirus, ADR may be a suitable way to resolve your matter. You could consider the following options:
Whether divorce rates increase in England and Wales once lockdown is lifted ultimately remains to be seen. If you wish to discuss your options further, we offer a free initial consultation appointment where you can speak with one of our lawyers about your matter and decide how you wish to proceed from there. Please call us on 01722 412000 (Salisbury) or 01264 400500 (Andover) to arrange your free initial consultation.
ENDS
This is for information purposes only and is no substitute for, and should not be interpreted as, legal advice. All content was correct at the time of publishing and we cannot be held responsible for any changes that may invalidate this article.
Search site
Contact our offices
Make an enquiry