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25 July 2025
Issue: 8126 / Categories: Legal News , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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NLJ this week: Matrimonialisation, missed post & protocol inertia

Retired district judge Stephen Gold delivers a brisk tour of recent civil procedure developments in his latest Civil Way column for NLJ

A revised E2 form for financial remedy cases is now live, boasting a ‘grand totals’ box and clearer formatting—plus a nod to traditional gendered labels. Meanwhile, the Price Marking (Amendment) Order 2025 delays grocery pricing reforms until April 2026.

Domestic abuse victims and care leavers are now exempt from local connection tests for social housing. Postal service woes continue, with nearly a quarter of first-class mail arriving late—raising questions about CPR 6.14’s service assumptions.

In MH Site Maintenance v Watson, the Court of Appeal clarified that courts can intervene in stalled pre-action protocol claims if protective Part 8 proceedings exist. Finally, in Standish v Standish, the Supreme Court endorsed ‘matrimonialisation’—the transformation of non-matrimonial assets into shared property—while rejecting a narrow interpretation.

Gold’s commentary is sharp, witty and packed with procedural punch.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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