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29 April 2020 / David Burrows
Issue: 7884 / Categories: Features , Family , Divorce
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Henry VIII & a Divorce Bill

Henry VIII divorce bill
The time has come to consider the plight of the increasing numbers of people who are outside the pale of UK marriage laws, says David Burrows

My brother Gold in ‘Blame still alive’ tells of delays still over the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill due to decisions needed on rules and an online system for divorce (see ‘Civil Way’, Stephen Gold, NLJ columnist, 31 January 2020, p15). As I mention below the only thing left for judges is to decide if a period for the divorce process can be shortened. The question of why registering a divorce application—like a marriage or death—needs to involve the courts at all is unclear. Parallel money issues will stay. After JK v MK & anor [2020] EWFC 2, Mostyn J (declaration that a consent order application prepared one company acting for both spouses was not a conflict of interest) the whole case —ancillary aspects and all—can just be a matter of simple registration too.

Meanwhile the Bill ploughs

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gardner Leader—Charlotte Botham & Belinda Sinnott

Gardner Leader—Charlotte Botham & Belinda Sinnott

Law firm strengthens real estate team with two new partners

DR Solicitors—Sarah Cook

DR Solicitors—Sarah Cook

DR Solicitors strengthens primary care expertise with appointment of legal director

Womble Bond Dickinson—David Varney

Womble Bond Dickinson—David Varney

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints David Varney to strengthen digital practice

NEWS
A deputy costs judge correctly exercised his discretion to allow late service rather than strike out the point of dispute, the Court of Appeal has held
Prince Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and five others have lost their case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, in Various Claimants v Associated Newspapers [2026] EWHC 1637 (KB)
Public confidence in the justice system is being undermined by a lack of accessible, useable data, magistrates have warned
The Sentencing Council has launched draft guidelines for facilitation and endangering another person during a sea crossing to the UK
Government proposals to make independent written legal advice a prerequisite for workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may prove unworkable, according to a senior employment lawyer
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