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07 April 2017
Issue: 7741 / Categories: Features , Civil way , Procedure & practice
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Civil way: 7 April 2017

Online divorce going well; child seeks inheritance advice; new debt pre-action protocol; family, insolvency & CoP rule changes; & Isleworth landlords to watch it

THE END IS NIGH

The first and cautious stage of the online divorce project which has the judicial lead of Judge Philip Waller is now being assessed. It started on 25 January 2017 at the East Midlands divorce centre in Nottingham by courtesy of FPR PD36D with petitioners who satisfy specific criteria being recruited to “have a go” by completing their applications online. The application form has been using plain English (wherever possible!) with explanations of technical terms as they appear. Early indications are that the pilot has been a success, particularly in reducing the usual rate of bounce backs of around 40%. Additional features will now be added to the pilot with a view to having full online applications available to the general public by Autumn 2017.

The project’s aim is to provide an ‘end-to-end’ system for processing undefended proceedings for divorce, partnership dissolution, nullity and judicial separation and by Spring

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen—Liz Giles

Bell Yard Kysen appoints senior legal PR and ex-government communications adviser, Liz Giles

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott—Lee Edwards

Clarke Willmott boosts Southampton commercial property team with addition of partner Lee Edwards

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors—four promotions

Lime Solicitors announces four promotions

NEWS
The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP, and Solicitor General, Andy Slaughter KC MP, marked the 25th anniversary of Pro Bono Week by joining lawyers, charities, students and parliamentarians at events celebrating voluntary legal work
Possession claims are entering a new digital era, with procedural traps awaiting practitioners who assume familiar rules still govern every step
Witness evidence can be compromised by AI before a solicitor sees the draft, leaving safeguards focused on authorship incomplete
Should a conviction stand when a later ruling reveals that the law underpinning it was wrong? The answer exposes a clash between finality and justice
The Environment Agency can prosecute offences beyond environmental legislation where proceedings support its statutory functions, the Divisional Court has confirmed
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