*/
Family
Cross-border family legal disputes referred to the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales have quadrupled over the last four years.
Lord Justice Thorpe reported the increase in family cases needing assistance from an overseas judge, or vice versa, in his 2012 Annual Report of the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England & Wales published in May.
“The need for all involved in family law to integrate a trans-national mindset into their approach to resolving cases is self evident, especially given globalisation, increasing movement of persons across borders, and the ever rising number of family units which are truly international,” he stressed.
Since 2008, the number of cases referred to the Office has increased from 65 to 253. 2011 saw 180 cases, a 96% increase on 2010 referrals. 2012 was also a busy year, with 253 cases, a 40.5% increase in referrals from the previous year. The upward trend looks set to continue in 2013: at 24 April, the Office had already received 75 requests for assistance.
The number of jurisdictions involved in referrals also rose, to 71 in 2012, which represented a 40% rise from 2011. More cases concerned Europe than any other part of the world, with 127 requests, about 50% of the total number of cases referred. The majority of European requests involved Poland (14), Spain (12), France and Germany (10 each), Slovakia (9) and the Republic of Ireland (7).
“The rise that we have seen is, I think, primarily the result of the increasing mobility of people, economic migration, long-distance holidays, internet relationships which are quickly formed and quickly break down, and then there is a conflict between jurisdictions,” Thorpe LJ later told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Another factor in the increase is the growing awareness of the service provided by the Office, which received just three cases in its first year. The Office was set up in 2005 as a centre of expertise in international family law, and has become an “integral tool” in facilitating cross-border judicial collaboration and assisting with the practical aspects of resolving a case “in the best interests of justice”.
The report revealed that outgoing requests vastly outweighed those coming from overseas judges, practitioners, and civil servants, and “encompassed the panoply of family law disputes”. Most were abduction or relocation cases, but adoption, matrimonial finance, forced marriage, validity of marriage also featured. Incoming requests centred on public and private law children cases, with a small rise at the end of 2012 in requests from overseas courts concerning the enforcement of maintenance.
Lord Justice Thorpe reported the increase in family cases needing assistance from an overseas judge, or vice versa, in his 2012 Annual Report of the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England & Wales published in May.
“The need for all involved in family law to integrate a trans-national mindset into their approach to resolving cases is self evident, especially given globalisation, increasing movement of persons across borders, and the ever rising number of family units which are truly international,” he stressed.
Since 2008, the number of cases referred to the Office has increased from 65 to 253. 2011 saw 180 cases, a 96% increase on 2010 referrals. 2012 was also a busy year, with 253 cases, a 40.5% increase in referrals from the previous year. The upward trend looks set to continue in 2013: at 24 April, the Office had already received 75 requests for assistance.
The number of jurisdictions involved in referrals also rose, to 71 in 2012, which represented a 40% rise from 2011. More cases concerned Europe than any other part of the world, with 127 requests, about 50% of the total number of cases referred. The majority of European requests involved Poland (14), Spain (12), France and Germany (10 each), Slovakia (9) and the Republic of Ireland (7).
“The rise that we have seen is, I think, primarily the result of the increasing mobility of people, economic migration, long-distance holidays, internet relationships which are quickly formed and quickly break down, and then there is a conflict between jurisdictions,” Thorpe LJ later told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Another factor in the increase is the growing awareness of the service provided by the Office, which received just three cases in its first year. The Office was set up in 2005 as a centre of expertise in international family law, and has become an “integral tool” in facilitating cross-border judicial collaboration and assisting with the practical aspects of resolving a case “in the best interests of justice”.
The report revealed that outgoing requests vastly outweighed those coming from overseas judges, practitioners, and civil servants, and “encompassed the panoply of family law disputes”. Most were abduction or relocation cases, but adoption, matrimonial finance, forced marriage, validity of marriage also featured. Incoming requests centred on public and private law children cases, with a small rise at the end of 2012 in requests from overseas courts concerning the enforcement of maintenance.
Family
Cross-border family legal disputes referred to the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales have quadrupled over the last four years.
As we look ahead to Justice Week 2022, the sustainability of the Criminal Bar remains a critical issue for the government to address
Opportunity for female sopranos/contraltos in secondary education, or who have recently finished secondary education but have not yet begun tertiary education. Eligibility includes children of members of the Bar
Fear of the collection and test process is a common factor among clients, especially among vulnerable adults in complex family law cases. Cansford Laboratories shares some tips to help the testing process run as smoothly as possible
Casey Randall explains how complex relationship DNA tests can best be used – and interpreted – by counsel
Casey Randall, Head of DNA at AlphaBiolabs, explores what barristers need to know about DNA testing for immigration, including when a client might wish to submit DNA evidence, and which relationship tests are best for immigration applications
Julian Morgan reminds barristers of the top five areas to consider before 5 April
The case ofR v Brecanihas complicated matters for defence lawyers. Emma Fielding talks to gang culture expert, Dr Simon Harding about County Lines, exploitation and modern slavery
Barristers are particularly at risk of burnout because of the nature of our work and our approach to it but it doesnt have to be this way. Jade Bucklow explores how culture, work and lifestyle changes can rejuvinate our mental health...
Professionally embarrassed? The circumstances in which criminal barristers may return instructions to appear at trial have become clearer following the Court of Appeal judgment inR v Daniels By Abigail Bright
The Schools Consent Project (SCP) is educating tens of thousands of teenagers about the law around consent to challenge and change what is now endemic behaviour. Here, its founder, barrister Kate Parker talks to Chris Henley QC about SCPs work and its association with Jodie Comers West End playPrima Facie, in which she plays a criminal barrister who is sexually assaulted
Following the launch of the Life at the Young Bar report and a nationwide listening exercise, Michael Polak and Michael Harwood outline the Young Barristers Committees raft of initiatives designed to address your issues of concern