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 implemented changes to the Form D8 divorce application system. The release, which goes live on 4 December...
This week's edition of the Family weekly highlights includes details of the Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2025, SI 2025/1242. Recent judgments on...
Family analysis: Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), Practice Direction (PD) Update No 6 of 2025 has been issued setting out a new PD 27A,...
This week's edition of the Family weekly highlights includes details of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No 6, 8 and 9 and Saving Provisions)...
Private Client analysis: A summary of the key personal tax announcements made in the Chancellor’s Budget on 26 November 2025....
Latest Family Practice Notes
Tax implications of relationship breakdownThis Practice Note sets out the tax implications to be considered on relationship breakdown, ie separation,...
Instructing a forensic accountant in family proceedingsThis Practice Note considers issues relating to the instruction of a forensic accountant to...
Trial witness statements in the Business and Property Courts under CPR PD 57ACThis Practice Note sets out the requirements for witness statements for...
Online private law children proceedingsThis Practice Note provides guidance on making an application for an order under section 8 of the Children Act...
Financial proceedings—jurisdiction, scope and powersThis Practice Note sets out the jurisdiction of the court in relation to an application for a...
Latest Family Precedents
Financial provision after overseas divorce or dissolution—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding an application for financial...
Draft Part 8 Claim Form—family provision claimThis Precedent is based on a precedent found in Inheritance Act Claims: Law, Practice and Procedure...
Notice to show cause applications—client guideThis document provides general guidance regarding notice to show cause applications in family...
Specimen narrative statement in financial remedy applications under Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s 25In the FAMILY COURT SITTING AT [court...
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
Fair (actuarial) value
The value of future pension benefits discounted to a present value using actuarial assumptions.
Resident parent
A term used in relation to both private children proceedings and regarding statutory child support in relation to the parent with whom a child primarily lives.
Section 32 buy-out plans
An annuity contract introduced by section 32 of the Finance Act 1981 to transfer liability from an occupational pension to the insurer of a pension arrangement.
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