Book Review: Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake

Josiah-Lake Gardiner are pleased to report that David Josiah-Lake’s latest book “Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition” has received a fantastic review by Graeme Fraser in the New Law Journal (19 October 2018). The review notes that David’s book provides “a clear and easily accessible summary of rights and remedies for cohabitants living together and… Continue reading Book Review: Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake

Owens v Owens [2018]: Fault-based divorces to continue

Somewhat reluctantly the Supreme Court last week ruled in the case of Owens v Owens [2018] UKSC 41 to uphold the decision made by the judge at first instance which was endorsed by the Court of Appeal to dismiss the wife’s divorce petition alleging that her marriage had broken down irretrievably because her husband had behaved… Continue reading Owens v Owens [2018]: Fault-based divorces to continue

Mills v Mills [2018]: No second bite of the cherry

The Supreme Court has this week delivered a unanimous judgment in the case of Mills v Mills [2018] UKSC 38  setting aside a 2017 Court of Appeal decision to increase a wife’s spousal maintenance to cover her rental payments, 16 years after a financial settlement was agreed in 2002. A timely reminder that despite the making… Continue reading Mills v Mills [2018]: No second bite of the cherry

Heterosexual Couple Win Right To Civil Partnership

In what was an expected defeat for the government, the Supreme Court has ruled that Civil Partnerships (CPs) should be open to heterosexual couples. It was never clear to pretty much anyone why the government would, after introducing same sex marriage in 2014, choose to keep CPs in place. After all, CPs were introduced in… Continue reading Heterosexual Couple Win Right To Civil Partnership

Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake (3/6)

The word ‘cohabitation’ has come to denote the situation where two people live together as husband and wife or as civil partners in a family framework analogous to marriage or civil partnership, without actually having gone through a ceremony of marriage or entering into a civil partnership. There is no formal definition of ‘cohabitants’ but,… Continue reading Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake (3/6)

Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake (2/6)

As David says in the introduction to the book, with Brexit sucking all the air out of the room (well, out of the legislative chamber in Parliament), it is unlikely that there will be any significant developments with regard to the law affecting cohabitants/unmarried families and no ‘divorce law equivalent’ affording rights to cohabitants for… Continue reading Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake (2/6)

Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake (1/6)

As one would expect, there have been enormous (and hugely progressive) advances in the area of family law since the last edition of Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law which was published in 2001.  Ever growing acceptance of and legal recognition for same sex relationships has seen the passing of both the Civil Partnership Act 2004… Continue reading Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition by David Josiah-Lake (1/6)

Civil partnerships could be scrapped

The Sunday Times on 13 May 2018 reported that the Conservative government could scrap gay people’s rights to civil partnerships rather than extending them to heterosexuals. It was a surprising move by the then Tory led coalition government to leave civil partnerships as an option for gay couples when extending marriage to same sex couples… Continue reading Civil partnerships could be scrapped

New publication: Cohabitants and the Law

Josiah-Lake Gardiner is pleased to announce the publication of David Josiah-Lake’s latest book ‘Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4th edition’. The book was published by Bloomsbury Professional today and provides a detailed analysis of the latest legislative, procedural and case law developments in this evolving area of law. The book is available for download/purchase here:… Continue reading New publication: Cohabitants and the Law

Is mediation right for you?

Mediation is not for everybody, but it is a good option for many.  It is important that both parties feel safe and supported during mediation. Therefore, before a mediation starts the mediator will assess whether there are any safety concerns and whether the couple and their issues are suitable for mediation. Both parties need to… Continue reading Is mediation right for you?