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NLJ this week: Divorce disputes surge amid economic strain & court chaos

18 July 2025
Issue: 8125 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Divorce , ADR , Legal aid focus
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James Maguire of Maguire Family Law explores the sharp rise in contested financial remedy orders—the highest in 15 years—in this week's issue of NLJ

He attributes this to economic volatility, court delays, and the soaring cost of divorce, now £603. Many clients are investing more to secure fair settlements, while others cut corners, risking long-term financial insecurity. Delays in pension reporting and court backlogs, worsened by legal aid cuts, are fuelling uncertainty.

A two-tier system is emerging, with wealthier parties opting for private arbitration. The recent Supreme Court ruling in Standish v Standish offers guidance on pre-marital assets but also highlights the growing relevance of compensation arguments and nuptial agreements.

Maguire warns that systemic issues—high fees, limited legal aid, and court closures—are trapping people in unhappy marriages. While AI may offer future efficiencies, it cannot replace sound legal advice.

Issue: 8125 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Divorce , ADR , Legal aid focus
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Boies Schiller Flexner—Tim Smyth

Boies Schiller Flexner—Tim Smyth

Firm promotes London international arbitration specialist to partnership

Katten Muchin Rosenman—James Davison & Victoria Procter

Katten Muchin Rosenman—James Davison & Victoria Procter

Firm bolsters restructuring practice with senior London hires

HFW—Guy Marrison

HFW—Guy Marrison

Global aviation disputes practice boosted by London partner hire

NEWS
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After the Southport murders and the misinformation that followed, contempt of court law has come under intense scrutiny. In this week's NLJ, Lawrence McNamara and Lauren Schaefer of the Law Commission unpack proposals aimed at restoring clarity without sacrificing fair trial rights
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Boris Johnson’s 2019 attempt to shut down Parliament remains a constitutional cautionary tale. The move, framed as a routine exercise of the royal prerogative, was in truth an extraordinary effort to sideline Parliament at the height of the Brexit crisis. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC dissects how prorogation was wrongly assumed to be beyond judicial scrutiny, only for the Supreme Court to intervene unanimously
A construction defect claim in the Court of Appeal offers a sharp lesson in pleading discipline. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains how a catastrophically drafted schedule of loss derailed otherwise viable claims. Across the areas explored in this week's column, the message is consistent: clarity, economy and proper pleading matter more than ever
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