About Family Law
In family law, half the battle is keeping on top of the latest case law, legislation, precedents and forms. Lexis+ Family brings everything together for you online, in one place. So you can get up to speed faster, with more time to spend on your clients.
Financial provision
Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of financial provision, from underlying principles considered by the court to applications under specific legislation. Not forgetting in-depth practical guidance on specialist areas.
Private children
Get stuck into all areas of private children law, from fundamental principles to evidence and procedure. Plus subtopics to make sure practitioners have the relevant practical guidance at their fingertips.
International law
Families are increasingly international, so practitioners need quick access to relevant practical guidance. We'll provide the information you need to advise your clients on the best jurisdiction.
Lexis+® Family
In family law, half the battle is keeping on top of the latest case law, legislation, precedents and forms. Lexis+® Family brings everything together for you online, in one place.
Latest Family News
Dispute Resolution analysis: The minutes of the Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) meeting of 23 March 2026 (conducted in a hybrid format at the...
This week's edition of the Family weekly highlights includes analyses of the court’s approach to parental orders under section 54 of the Human...
Restructuring & Insolvency analysis: The court, on appeal, clarified the approach to be taken in determining whether or not exceptional circumstances...
Family analysis: The High Court considered an application by an unregulated sperm donor for a declaration of parentage under section 55A of the Family...
Family analysis: In A and another v C and another [2026] EWHC 972 (Fam), Mr Justice Williams re-stated the approach to parental orders under section...
Latest Family Practice Notes
This Practice Note sets out the President of the Family Division’s guidance on allocation and gatekeeping in respect of proceedings relating to...
This Practice Note sets out the procedure for the first appointment on a financial application under the standard procedure. It covers issues commonly...
This Practice Note sets out the directions to be complied with after the issue of an application in Form A (Notice of [intention to proceed with] a...
DutiesThe duties of court-appointed deputies are set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005) and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice...
This Practice Note sets out the basis of the courts’ jurisdiction in family proceedings, including the limited circumstances in which proceedings may...
Latest Family Precedents
Dear [insert organisation name]Our client: [client’s full name]Property: [address]We act for [client’s full name] in connection with divorce...
In the Family Court sitting at [location][Case No]Between1[insert name] ApplicantAnd2[ insert name] RespondentStatement of issues for the [type of...
[insert date]Dear [insert client’s name]I enclose your completed Form E. Please read it carefully to ensure that the details are correct. You have...
In the FAMILY COURT SITTING AT [insert court location]No. [insert number]Between[insert applicant name]Applicantand[insert respondent...
This document provides general guidance regarding an application to court to resolve your financial arrangements on divorce or dissolution. Your...
Latest Family Q&As
Featured Family content
Procedure—Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989
Procedure—Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989This Practice Note sets out the procedural requirements in relation to an application under Schedule 1 to...
Applications under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Applications under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997This Practice Note explains the six criminal offences that may be committed under the...
Striking out a statement of case
Striking out a statement of caseThis Practice Note explains the court's power to strike out a statement of case. It summarises the grounds on which a...
The grounds on which a marriage is void
The grounds on which a marriage is voidA void marriage is one that will be treated by the court as never having taken place. The grounds on which a...
Sequestration (confiscation of assets) within contempt proceedings
Sequestration (confiscation of assets) within contempt proceedingsSequestration is a process for dealing with a contempt of court that would be...
Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation order
Application to vary, extend or discharge a non-molestation or occupation orderUnder the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) a non-molestation order is an...
Notice to show cause applications in family proceedings
Notice to show cause applications in family proceedingsIf one party considers that an agreement has been reached (usually in relation to financial...
What is the procedure to withdraw an application made on Form C100?
Pre-nuptial agreements—client guide
Pre-nuptial agreements—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding pre-nuptial agreements. Your family lawyer will be able to...
Steps to take after a client meeting
Steps to take after a client meetingFile noteA file note (also known as an attendance note) should be prepared immediately after the first interview,...
Is a divorce petition a public document and can anyone request a copy? If not, is there anything to prevent a party to a divorce from giving copies of the petition to a third party such as an employer?
Declarations of parentage—procedure
Declarations of parentage—procedureThe procedure for an application for a declaration of parentage is governed by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR...
Working with counsel
Working with counselInstructing counsel to advocate on a client’s behalf should be a matter of careful thought and preparation. The role of counsel is...
Non-molestation orders
Non-molestation ordersUnder the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) a non-molestation order is an order prohibiting a person (the respondent) from...
Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989
Reports under section 37 of the Children Act 1989Under section 37 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA 1989), the court has the power to order an...
‘Associated persons’ as defined in section 62(3) of Family Law Act 1996 includes people who have, or have had, an intimate personal relationship with each other which is or was of significant duration. How is ‘significant duration’ defined and how long is considered significant?
Financial clean break orders in family proceedings
Financial clean break orders in family proceedingsDuty of the court to consider a clean breakAlthough there is no presumption in favour of there being...
What is the procedure to withdraw a divorce petition that has already been served on the respondent? Will the respondent be notified of any application to withdraw the petition and what does the court take into account in deciding whether the petition should be dismissed?
Associated legal terms
Clean break
The dismissal of all financial claims that each spouse or civil partner has against the other.
Designated family judge
The judge who has responsibility to provide leadership to the family judiciary within the court centre or group of courts.
Dissolution order
The bringing to an end of a valid civil partnership.
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