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
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has issued a release note in relation to Case File View following feedback that indicated a need for...
In a letter dated 30 September 2025, the Family Presiding Judge for London, Mr Justice MacDonald, has issued a revised Public Law Practice Note for...
This week's edition of the Family weekly highlights includes details of barristers’ access to the MyHMCTS family private law digital service platform...
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced plans to reform weddings law in England and Wales, to create a more flexible legal framework that offers...
The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has announced that the London Financial Remedies Court (FRC) will reduce its sitting days...
Latest Family Practice Notes
Judicial review—time limits and the pre-action protocolWhen considering whether and how to bring a claim for judicial review, the first step is to...
Financial relief after overseas divorce—jurisdiction, grant of leave and legislative provisionsUnder Part III of the Matrimonial and Family...
Appeals—general principles, practice and procedureReforms to the family justice system that took effect on 22 April 2014 made changes to appeals, in...
Domestic abuse protection orders in the Family CourtThis Practice Note explains what a domestic abuse protection order (DAPO) is under the Domestic...
Domestic abuse protection orders in the Family Court—application to order (pilot scheme)This Practice Note sets out the steps to be taken when...
Latest Family Precedents
Letter of instruction to a single joint expert to value a business1IntroductionThis is a letter of instruction to you to act as a single joint expert...
Civil partnership dissolution—client guide (pre-DDSA 2020)This document provides general guidance regarding the procedure for dissolving a civil...
Draft orders—family provision claimThis Precedent is based on a precedent found in Inheritance Act Claims: Law, Practice and Procedure Precedents...
Parental responsibility—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding parental responsibility for a child. Your family lawyer will be...
Spousal and civil partner maintenance—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding an application to the court for maintenance on...
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
Disqualification clause
A clause in the collaborative agreement by which the parties agree that if they are unable to agree matters during the course of the collaborative process and proceedings are issued, they will dispense with the services of their current lawyers and instruct new lawyers.
Form D81
When an agreement to enter into a financial consent order has been reached, both parties must file with the court a Form D81 (also known as a 'statement of information'). Form D81 should set out each party's current financial position as part of the ongoing duty to provide full and frank disclosure of their financial resources and any other relevant information.
Options hearing (sheriff court)
An options hearing is a procedural hearing at which the sheriff asks the parties to confirm what the next step in the case will be. In England and Wales such a hearing is referred to as a directions appointment or hearing.
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