David Starkey

The week of the 26 th January 2026 to the 30 th January 2026 is Family Mediation Week. https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/fmw/ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has, in recent years, proven to be very successful in allowing parties to reach...

I am often asked, “What finances do I have to disclose in my divorce?” or “Do I really have to disclose such and such?” when dealing with the finances of separating parties. The starting requirement is the duty of full and frank...

The question of whether it is worth seeking a court order for child arrangements, and if their child is too old for this, is one we often encounter from parents. If we were to examine the strict wording of the law under the Children Act 1989, the court...

The legal dispute in the case of Helliwell -v- Entwistle continues to take turns with the latest turn appearing to be in the Supreme Court. Brief Background The divorce case involved a pre-nuptial agreement which was signed on the day of the wedding....

Divorce can feel overwhelming, both emotionally and practically. Many people going through the process have similar concerns about how divorce works, what it involves, and what to expect. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about...

For many couples, pets are more than just animals — they are beloved companions and part of the family. But when a marriage ends, deciding who keeps the dog, cat, or other pet can become one of the most emotionally charged aspects of a divorce. Unlike...

We have previously discussed nuptial agreements, including what they can specifically protect and what they need to include to be effective – Nuptial agreements . However, one thing that we have not examined yet which we often get asked is when...

The purchase of a house with your partner can be an exciting time for a couple and considering what would happen should you unfortunately break up is unlikely to be at the forefront of your mind. If an unmarried couple do break up, and a house is owned,...

At this time of year, most of us are planning our Summer holidays and how much sun tan lotion we will need to take away with us, nobody is thinking about Christmas, however, if you are a separated parent now is exactly the right time to start turning your...

We are pleased to introduce Kerry Graham, a new consultant solicitor in our family department. Kerry is a highly qualified solicitor of some 27 years and member of resolution. She is a former partner and has headed up family law teams in the southwest for...

Cases involving children are not always easy. They can often be an emotional process as a dispute evolves of a young child whom both parents are likely to care for very much. During these disputes, there can often be misconceptions of some of the...

We receive a significant number of enquiries every year from people looking to change either their own or their child’s name. We are pleased to announce that we can now offer a fixed fee to assist people with changing their name or wanting to change...

Health is something that can be difficult to define as each person may have their own position on what they believe to be healthy. The World Health Organisation (WHO) takes the view that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being...

The start of April brings with it a new financial year. As part of this, HM Courts & Tribunal Service have made the changes to many Family Law Court Fees. Many of the fees for the main applications to the family Court have increased as highlight...

When a decision is made for a married or civil partnership couple to separate, one of the issues that can become relevant is that of pensions, which for many people, can be quite frightening. The following summaries try to explain the different types of...

This week (27 th – 31 st January 2025) is Family Mediation Week and is hosted by the Family Mediation Council. https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/fmw/ Mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) have in recent years...

A very rare occurrence has happened in the family Courts! A Judge has made the decision to enable the public to be aware of various details of a case even though it involved a child. Normally family court proceedings involving a child would have to be kept...

The terms ‘parental alienation’ and ‘alienating behaviours’ are regularly used by family law professionals and the concepts of the meaning of such terms are widely debated within the profession. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of...

What Are Separation Agreements These agreements are a type of matrimonial (nuptial) agreement that can be entered into by a married or civil partnership couple when they are considering divorce or dissolution. These agreements can be binding on a couple...

With the introduction of no-fault divorce back in April 2022, one of the new measures put in place by the court was the ability for individuals to be able to make a joint divorce application together. This was largely done in an attempt by the courts...

Winter is coming, and with that, Christmas will soon be upon us. Making contact arrangements for children over the holiday period can be a difficult task for separated parents. However, as difficult as it may be, you are better to address it early as doing...

Domestic abuse over recent years has become a much more widely discussed topic within society, with increasing recognition for male sufferers of domestic abuse, such as in the recent Channel 5 documentary ‘My Wife, My Abuser’. Family solicitors...

Nuptial agreements – Is it right for me and what should I look out for? Pre-nuptial agreements are becoming more and more common now for couples within the UK. In the 1980’s, on average only 1.5% of newly married couples would look to have a...

Parents must try to work together to agree any changes needed to contact arrangements for their children during these difficult times. 1. Make use of social media and video conferencing apps (Facetime, Skype etc.). This may need to be used more often than...

The Divorce Reform Act 1969 enabled people to end marriages that had “irretrievably broken down” without having to prove fault. Couples could end marriages after two years of separation, if both parties desired divorce, or five years if only one...

Are the costs consequences of not accepting an offer to settle about to change? In financial remedy proceedings ancillary to divorce, the general rule is that each party is responsible for their own legal costs and the court will only make a costs order...

Everything is agreed in my separation, I don’t need legal advice right? Wrong! A recent case highlights the dangers of proceeding based on a verbal agreement on separation. A couple who had married in 1986 and had two children agreed to...

It is normal that where a marriage has broken down, there is usually at least one party feeling angry, sad, disappointed, or a mixture of all of those things. It is therefore very easy for a divorce, and any associated financial or children related...

A recent pilot divorce administration system run in the South West Regional Divorce Centre in Southampton, under which contested financial remedy proceedings are ‘de-linked’ from the main divorce proceedings has proved a success. Under the...

The case of Wyatt and Vince has recently highlighted the importance of obtaining an Order dealing with financial matters during divorce proceedings. Mr Vince and Ms Wyatt met as students in their early twenties and married in 1981. The pair had a son...

Many people have never set foot inside a court building and wouldn’t dream of doing so without a lawyer to guide them through the process. However, more so than ever before, people are having to represent themselves in family court cases. If you find...

At John Hodge Solicitors we understand that clients facing divorce or financial disputes following the breakdown of a relationship are likely to be experiencing a period of emotional and financial turmoil. We are therefore delighted to announce that,...