LegalQuines: Aberdeen Family Law Solicitors Go Social to Connect with Clients
Meet LegalQuines, brought to you by the family law team from Balfour and Manson, Scottish solicitors based in Aberdeen and the creative minds behind Family Law Aberdeen. They’ve taken a fresh and innovative approach to connect with clients by launching a fun and engaging social media presence called LegalQuines. You’ll find LegalQuines across multiple platforms, including Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok. By diving into the world of social media, these lawyers not only showcase their expertise in family law matters like divorce, child custody, and property disputes, but they also make themselves more approachable and relatable, bridging the gap between legal professionals and the public. Check out the LegalQuines Instagram account for eye-catching posts about their work, featuring case updates, helpful legal tips, and inspiring success stories. Their Facebook and LinkedIn profiles offer similar content, tailored to each platform’s unique audience. And for a quick burst of info, their TikTok account shares short, informative videos that make complex legal concepts easy to understand and engaging. With this multi-platform strategy, they make legal services more approachable, encouraging those in need of advice to get in touch. Following LegalQuines on social media not only gives you access to valuable family law insights but also lets you learn more about the solicitors themselves. Their one-of-a-kind platform blends professional expertise with relatable, easy-to-understand content, breaking down barriers and helping clients and potential clients better understand their situations and the family law implications. Follow LegalQuines on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok to experience this fresh take on connecting with clients in the world of Scottish family law solicitors. Need legal advice about your own situation from one of the LegalQuines solicitors? Just complete their enquiry form or give them a call on 01224 515591 today!
Increase in Family Law Civil Cases
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. In 2016-17 the majority of family cases initiated – around 76% – were for divorce or dissolution hearings. In total there were 7,938 divorces or dissolutions granted, nearly all of which were heard in the Sheriff’s Court. Only 104 cases – around 1% – were heard in the Court of Session. 18% of the family cases initiated concerned parental responsibilities and rights, the remaining 5% concerned other issues such as adoption. Despite the slight increase in divorces and dissolutions in 2016-17 compared to the previous year, the overall trend since 2008-09 continues to be for the number of divorce and dissolution cases to decrease year-on-year. This decline is a trend which follows the rest of the UK and other developed countries in recent years. A variety of explanations have been given for this shift – including an increase in people who choose never to get married and instead cohabit with their partners. There is also a greater tendency for those who do get married to do so later in their lives when couples have a better grasp of who they are, meaning they are better able to manage and avoid any potential conflicts. Contact Us For expert legal advice on marriage, civil partnership, cohabitation and divorce, contact our specialist family lawyers today.
Rise in Post-Nuptial Agreements
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. What is a Post-Nuptial Agreement? A post-nuptial agreement is an agreement made between spouses as to what will happen to their pre-marital and marital property in the event of divorce or separation. Pre-nuptial agreements have long been used to divide assets in the event of marriage breakdown, but lawyers have noted a massive boom in the last 12 months in relation to post-nuptial deals. This is potential as a result of changes in financial circumstances after many years of marriage – especially in a second marriage where family structures may be more complicated. People also live longer in modern times, with elderly relatives leaving gifts to married relatives which they may with to ring-fence for their own children. Postnuptial Agreements Lawyers Aberdeen Family Law Aberdeen is a team of forward-thinking family lawyers who provide clear and confidential advice on all areas of family law. Our team is highly experienced in assisting couples to draft pre, and post-nuptial agreements that suit their particular needs, so contact us today to find out how we can help you. Each party should appoint their own solicitor to represent them in the drafting of the above agreements to ensure they have each been independently advised. For advice on post-nuptial, pre-nuptial or cohabitation agreements, whether they are suitable for your circumstances and how we can help, please complete our online enquiry form.reements 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. What is a Post-Nuptial Agreement? A post-nuptial agreement is an agreement made between spouses as to what will happen to their pre-marital and marital property in the event of divorce or separation. Pre-nuptial agreements have long been used to divide assets in the event of marriage breakdown, but lawyers have noted a massive boom in the last 12 months in relation to post-nuptial deals. This is potential as a result of changes in financial circumstances after many years of marriage – especially in a second marriage where family structures may be more complicated. People also live longer in modern times, with elderly relatives leaving gifts to married relatives which they may with to ring-fence for their own children. Postnuptial Agreements Lawyers Aberdeen Family Law Aberdeen is a team of forward-thinking family lawyers who provide clear and confidential advice on all areas of family law. Our team is highly experienced in assisting couples to draft pre, and post-nuptial agreements that suit their particular needs, so contact us today to find out how we can help you. Each party should appoint their own solicitor to represent them in the drafting of the above agreements to ensure they have each been independently advised. For advice on post-nuptial, pre-nuptial or cohabitation agreements, whether they are suitable for your circumstances and how we can help, please complete our online enquiry form.
Scottish Parliament has voted in favour of Smacking Ban
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. The bill passed this stage at 80 votes to 29. There are 54 countries which have already passed similar legislation banning physical punishment of children and Finnie noted that it was an “international imperative” to bring Scotland in line with international best practice. Chief executive of Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity, Mary Glasgow, said: “This is not about blaming or shaming parents. Acknowledging that family life is better when hitting and violence is off the table helps with that cultural shift and brings the legislation up to date with where most people have already got to,” she said. Contact our Child Lawyers Aberdeen Family Law Aberdeen is a trusted and friendly team of local lawyers who can assist you with all aspects of child contact and child residence. Contact us today to find out how we can help. To find out how we can assist you in resolving issues relating to children, and other our family law services, please complete our online enquiry form.
New domestic abuse law now in force
The new law concerning domestic abuse in Scotland has now come into force, making coercive and controlling behaviour a crime. The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, passed by the Scottish Parliament in February 2018 has been widely supported and seen as the ‘gold standard’ of domestic abuse law. To accompany the law coming to force, a Scottish government awareness campaign was launched to improve public understanding of what coercive and controlling behaviour is, and how far-reaching the problem is in Scotland. The new legislation looks to tackle the full spectrum of domestic abuse, not just physical violence. The act makes provision for emotional treatment, where abusers isolate their partner from friends and family and make attempts to control their finances. This is all intimidating, violent and threatening behaviour which can have a severe effect on victims and can have an adverse impact on children. Police Scotland officers have also been provided with additional training to allow them to deal with the change in the law more effectively. Police can now include evidence of coercive and controlling behaviour where it forms a pattern alongside physical and sexual abuse. Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald, crime and protection lead for Police Scotland, said: “This new offence is groundbreaking. For the first time, it will allow us to investigate and report the full circumstances of an abusive relationship.” Our Expertise Family Law Aberdeen is a leading team of family lawyers. We have many years of experience in supporting and advising clients in Aberdeen and surrounding areas. We are widely experienced in all areas of family law so contact our friendly team today to find out how we can help you. Family Lawyers Aberdeen For advice on issues surrounding domestic violence including your rights concerning children and the home where you live, and how we can assist you, please complete our online enquiry form.
Law Society calls for reform of cohabitation law that is ‘unfair’ to grieving partners
A report completed by The Law Society of Scotland has highlighted that the laws regarding cohabitation are ‘problematic and disadvantageous to vulnerable and grieving people’. In 2011, there were 237,000 cohabiting couples in the UK. The report published in March entitled, Rights of cohabitants calls for a review of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 in light of these findings. The current law on cohabitation means that a cohabitant who has lost their partner may only apply to the court in order to inherit from their partner’s estate where their partner has not left a Will. Furthermore, where a cohabiting couple separates, cohabitants have only one year to make an application to the court, and the surviving cohabitant must make an application to the court within six months of the death. Research indicates that 76% of solicitors believe time limits are a problematic area of Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 John Kerrigan, a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Trusts and Succession Law Sub-Committee, said: “We have called for an amendment allowing the court to accept a claim made after the one-year time limit. There are many reasons why a court action may not be raised within one year of separation. Cohabitants may not be aware of their rights, or one or both parties may be suffering from the emotional effects of the relationship breakdown.” Our Expertise Family Law Aberdeen is a leading team of family lawyers. We have many years of experience in supporting and advising clients in Aberdeen and surrounding areas. We are highly experienced in all areas of cohabitation agreements and claims so contact our friendly team today to find out how we can help you. Cohabitation Agreements Aberdeen For advice on issues surrounding rights for cohabitants, including your rights concerning children and the home where you live, and how we can assist you, please complete our online enquiry form.
Calls for change of law to allow adult adoption
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. Currently in the UK, the law allows children to be adopted up until the age of 18. However, it is reported that the majority of those wanting to be adopted do not know this until it is too late. Adult adoption is already legal in countries including Canada, Spain, Germany, the US, and Japan, where it is used as a means of keeping businesses in the family. Originally hoping that the change would be as simple as rewording the Adoption & Child Act (Scotland) 2007, Sparling now understands he faces a tougher challenge. The current system means the rights and responsibilities of children are passed on to adoptive parents, and these rights and responsibilities are dissolved when the child turns 18; meaning a new system will need to be put in place for these laws to fit adults. Other factors raised for the pros of adult adoption include: Transferring Inheritance tax; Restoring relationships between adult adoptees and biological families; and, Formalising relationships of stepchild and step parent. The Petitions Committee have said they would take submissions from any relevant groups for this proposal and would arrange a further session at a later date. Contact our Adoption Lawyers, Aberdeen Family Law Aberdeen can provide you with first-class and professional legal advice regarding the adoption process in Scotland. Contact one of our approachable and friendly staff members today by completing our online enquiry form.Calls to change law to allow Adult Adoption
Research identifies ten questions to ask for martial success
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter identified ten key questions partners should ask each other before getting married, in order to minimise the possibility of future separation. The team compiled evidence from ten divorce lawyers and two judges about what the most common reasons for divorce are. The lawyers and judges agreed that the main reasons for divorce were: incompatibility, unrealistic expectations, an inability to face problems, and a failure to ‘nurture’ the relationship. The researchers then compared this information with the testimony of 43 couples who had successful or unsuccessful marriages. University of Exeter researchers used this information to identify ten questions couples should ask each other before getting married: Are my partner and I a ‘good fit’? Do we have a strong basis of friendship? Do we want the same things in our relationship and out of life? Are our expectations realistic? Do we generally see the best in each other? Do we both work at keeping our relationship vibrant? Do we both feel we can discuss things freely and raise issues with each other? Are we both committed to working through hard times? When we face stressful circumstances would we pull together to get through it? Do we each have supportive others around us? The research draws attention to some of the relationship skills that couples might commonly lack, and the team argued that a greater emphasis on learning these skills in schools would decrease the incidence of divorce. Contact Us For specialist legal advice on marriage and divorce, contact our expert family law solicitors today.
Relationship Quality can Impact on Wellbeing
Newly released data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has suggested that people who are separated, divorced, widowed or single are more likely to report poorer personal wellbeing than those who are married or in civil partnerships. Commenting on the statistics, Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive at relationship support charity, Relate said: “Good quality relationships are fundamental to our health and wellbeing. These statistics show that people who are divorced or separated are more likely to report poor wellbeing, suggesting that if we’re to reduce wellbeing inequalities, making relationship support available to everyone who needs it would be a good place to start. Counselling can improve communication and prevent relationships from ending unnecessarily, but it can also support anyone going through divorce or separation to move on with their lives, become successful co-parents and form healthy relationships in the future. “Whilst these statistics suggest that “single” people are more likely to report poor wellbeing, they don’t differentiate between single people in a relationship but not married or in a civil partnership and those not in a relationship. We know from a wealth of evidence that good quality relationships of all kinds have a positive effect on our wellbeing and that poor quality relationships can be detrimental, regardless of official relationship status. “With bad health the strongest factor associated with poor wellbeing, it’s important that the new Secretary of State for Health considers the strong link between health and relationships in the context of reducing wellbeing inequalities.” Contact Us For expert legal advice on relationship breakdown and divorce then contact our specialist family law solicitors today.
Figures Reveal Drop in Number of Marriages in Scotland
Newly published provisional figures from National Records of Scotland have revealed that 3,462 marriages took place in Scotland in total in the first quarter of 2018. This is apparently 116 fewer than during the first quarter of 2017 (a fall of 3.2%). the figures also show that there were 130 same-sex marriages between 1st January and 31st March this year, which is a fall of 15 (10.3%) compared with the same period of 2017. Twenty-two (16.9%) of the same-sex marriages registered in the first quarter were changes from civil partnerships. There were also 14 new civil partnerships (ten male and four female), four more than during the first quarter of 2017. Looking at population changes, the data shows that over the quarter there were 2,060 more deaths and 539 fewer births registered in Scotland than in the same period of 2017. National Records of Scotland has also recently published a summary of vital event statistics for the whole of 2017, which show that there were 5,022 more deaths than births registered in Scotland throughout the year. This is a widening of the gap since 2016 when there were 2,240 more deaths than births. 2017 saw a total of 28,440 marriages, which is 789 (2.7%) less than in 2016. Of these, 982 were same-sex marriages (a fall of 1.6%). There were 70 civil partnerships, which is no change from the number registered in the previous year. Contact Us For expert legal advice on marriage, civil partnership and divorce then contact our specialist family lawyers today.
