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22 October 2021 / Nazia Rashid
Issue: 7953 / Categories: Features , Family
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I now pronounce you…

61708
Nazia Rashid considers whether reinstating breach of promise to marry could fill a gap in the law

Could reinstating the right to sue for breach of promise to marry assist couples in non-qualifying ceremony marriages?


Do we need to re-look at the abolished right to sue for breach of promise to marry?

I recently came across a tweet which referred to reforming family law by re-introducing ‘breach of promise’ as a remedy in ‘non qualifying ceremony’ cases, on protection for parties in religious marriages promised a legally binding ceremony gone unfulfilled. (Family Law Reform Now: Twitter 09/09/21 15:45.)

My legal mind, and I am sure for many family lawyers, headed straight to the case of Akhter v Khan [2018] EWFC 54. However, at the same time, I thought of friends who have previously been in committed relationships which have broken down, and at least one party felt he/she still had a choice as to whether to proceed with the civil marriage or not regardless of what might have taken place following

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EIP—Stuart Malcolm

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EIP strengthens Commercial practice with a new partner

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

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Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

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Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

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A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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