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
On 12 September 2025, the House of Commons Public Accounts committee published a report on improving family court services for children. The report...
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has confirmed that following the release on 28 August 2025 of a dropdown feature for Payment by Account (PBA)...
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published an evaluation report, examining the HMCTS Reform Digital Services aimed at modernising seven civil,...
This week's edition of the Family weekly highlights includes consideration of recent judgments on the threshold for leave under Part III of the...
Private Client analysis: A was born in Wales but had been resident in Spain for approximately 33 years. He lived with his wife, B. His son, C, lived...
Latest Family Practice Notes
General principles—spousal and civil partner periodical paymentsThis Practice Note sets out the statutory checklist that will be considered by the...
Child arrangements orders—contactThis Practice Note explains what a child arrangements order (CAO) is under section 8 of the Children Act 1989 (ChA...
Retained EU law and assimilated lawThis Practice Note provides an overview of retained EU law as it applied from 2021–23, including the key...
The Pensions Ombudsman—when should he be used and what are his powers?FORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: The Pension Schemes Bill, which was published on 5 June...
Financial relief after overseas divorce—court’s approach and case lawThis Practice Note details the approach taken by the courts when dealing with an...
Latest Family Precedents
Pre-nuptial agreements—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding pre-nuptial agreements. Your family lawyer will be able to...
Financial applications to the court—client guide (standard procedure)This document provides general guidance regarding an application to court to...
Standard order 1.3—consent order under the accelerated first appointment procedureIn the Family Courtsitting at [Court name]Case No: [Case number][The...
Specimen narrative statement in financial remedy applications under Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s 25In the FAMILY COURT SITTING AT [court...
Financial provision after overseas divorce or dissolution—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding an application for financial...
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
Child maintenance (Family)
Child maintenance is a payment made (usually by a parent) to the other parent for outgoings relating to a child or children.
Conclusions (Court of Session)
The orders being sought by the pursuer, which may be set out in their summons (Court of Session), or by the defender in their defences (sheriff court and Court of Session).
Market consistent capital value (MCCV)
Valuation of future pension benefits using actuarial assumptions consistent with present market conditions.
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