Law firms across Scotland have noted in some cases a 125% rise in the number of post-nuptial agreements they are drafting. Most of these agreements are concerning second marriages or late bequests. Clients are using post-nuptial agreements to protect their own assets in the event of marriage breakdown.
Earlier this week the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of passing a bill banning the physical punishment of children.
The bill was lodged by MSP for the Scottish Green Party, John Finnie and supported by the SNP Government. The law is designed to remove ‘justifiable assault’ in Scots law, giving children equal protection from violence. Finnie said that he wants to send a clear message that physical punishment of children is not acceptable.
Campaigners urging for the law in Scotland to be changed to allow for adult adoption have taken their case to MSPs in Holyrood to argue their case. Nathan Sparling, 28, gave evidence in front of the Scottish Parliament’s public petitions committee to fight for his want to be adopted by his step-dad at the age of 27.
The latest civil justice statistics published today by Scotland's Chief Statistician Roger Halliday, shows the number of family law cases heard in the Sheriff's Court and the Court of Session is up slightly by around 3% in 2016-17 compared to that of the previous year. In 2016-17, there were 13,250 family procedure cases initiated, compared to 12,892 in 2015-16.
The Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission of England and Wales have begun their joint review of the laws on surrogacy.
The Court of Justice of the European Union has recently been asked to consider whether rights of access to children should also sometimes include grandparents.
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) has recently published the findings of research it undertook to try and establish whether child protection in Scotland has become more complex over time, and if so, in what way.
A report from the Fostering Network has stated that too many children are moving too often in care, with almost 50% of foster children with their third foster family.
The survey carried out by the Fostering Network found that over 30% of children between the age of 5-10 were living with their third foster family. Furthermore, 8% of all foster children living with their tenth or more foster family.
According to the foster network over 5,500 foster children, currently live with around 4,400 foster families in Scotland.
A new study has found that one in six councils do not have the capacity to meet the needs of working families.
Arguments at home and a breakdown of family relationships are some of the major reasons for children and youths becoming homeless according to a leading charity.
A legal challenge against the Scottish Government’s proposal to name guardians for every child in the country has been rejected by the top civil court in Scotland.
A survey has found that the majority of those living in the UK believe that childcare should be shared equally between parents.
The process of the breakdown of a marriage all too frequently becomes unpleasant due to the resentment the parties feel for each other. These disagreements are additionally fuelled by the complication of financial matters and childcare.
Child maintenance should become a matter for the Scottish Parliament so that parental co-operation and meaningful contact for non-resident parents can be promoted, according to a fathers’ rights charity.
A campaign to recruit for the Children’s Panel in Aberdeen began last week and will close on 15 September 2014.
For separated parents, on top of all other considerations when going on holiday with children, there is also the added element of making sure that the legal implications of taking children away are considered.
More younger people need to be encouraged to foster in order to avoid a recruitment crisis, the Fostering Network has warned, with the publication of survey results showing that almost one in three foster carers are now approaching an age where they may consider retiring.
Three out of four single parents have personally experienced stigma and one in three say it is on the rise, according to new research from single parents’ charity Gingerbread.
Plans to start charging parents who need to use the new Child Maintenance Service have been passed by the UK Parliament, despite a warning from former Lord Chancellor Lord Mackay that the charges for single parents were ‘unjustified in principle’.
