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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

Dawson Cornwell—Russell Bywater

Dawson Cornwell—Russell Bywater

Family law firm appoints new managing partner and head of matrimonial department

Forbes Solicitors—Katy Parkinson & Paul Hatton

Forbes Solicitors—Katy Parkinson & Paul Hatton

Employment and commercial offering strengthened by double hire

Birketts—Duncan Reed

Birketts—Duncan Reed

Regulatory and corporate defence team expands with Bristol partner hire

NEWS
Sophie Charlton of Vardags in London has been announced as the latest winner of AlphaBiolabs’ Giving Back initiative, with her nomination directing a donation to Reunite International
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
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