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16 June 2011 / Charlotte Posnansky
Issue: 7470 / Categories: Features , Divorce , Family
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Together forever?

Are Kate & William out of step with the majority of today’s couples? Charlotte Posnansky reports

Though the infectious romantic atmosphere created by the recent Royal Wedding may have given a brief boost to the institution of marriage, an increasing number of people are now choosing not to marry. Indeed, marriage is at its lowest rates since records began in 1862 as more and more people choose to cohabit instead.

Cynics often cite the headline grabbing figures in divorce cases and London’s reputation as being “the divorce capital of the world” as part of the reason for this decline as wealthy would-be-spouses seek to jealously guard their financial resources. However, that cannot be the full picture as a recent survey carried out by the matrimonial department at Charles Russell LLP showed that 56% of adults in England and Wales believed that the concept of a “common law” husband or wife has legal recognition and so gives right to a formal claim for financial support from the other in the event of subsequent separation.

There

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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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