Arising from that potentially devastating news, inevitably there will be people who think they are legally divorced but in fact are still married. Worse than that, they may be relying on fictitious orders for financial provision or even have remarried bigamously. That second marriage will be invalid.
How did this happen?
Section 3(1) of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 prohibits the issue of a divorce petition to the court within 12 months of the date of the marriage (believe it or not, some people are watching the calendar!). Some petitions were actually accepted, processed by the court administration and did proceed to Decree Absolute in breach of this provision. Those petitions and decrees are null, and void, i.e. treated as if they never existed and so anything dependent on them also falls away.
Sir James has issued guidance about what to do if you believe this may apply to you. Firstly, contact a solicitor who will advise further about referring the matter to a judge to resolve the matter. It may require a new divorce petition and the court will generously waive the fee!
Fortunately, the numbers affected are likely to be quite small. Certainly, our office has not issued any, but if you are concerned, do get in touch with Elizabeth Wyatt. Alternatively, join us on twitter @ACSPrivateCL for our live question and answer session on 18 May at 13:00-14:00.
The Government has released several factsheets on the Building Safety Bill. We will be reviewing these and outlining how they can assist providers to prepare for the new building safety regime.
With the new law, spouses will be able to achieve a good divorce, making the best of a bad situation.
Anthony Collins Solicitors is able to be at the forefront of family law issues and to be a driving force for change and promotion of conciliatory working.
Anthony Collins Solicitors is supporting Resolution’s Good Divorce Week commencing on 29 November. But what is Resolution, what’s its purpose and what is a Good Divorce Week?
Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS) has been named Family Law Firm of the Year: Midlands and Wales at the prestigious Family Law Firm Awards.
Puja Desai interviews employees around the firm and discusses their experience with different invisible illnesses. The first part was on diabetes, the second MS and this podcast focuses on epilepsy.
Social mobility and its impact on the modern workforce was top of the agenda at a virtual event hosted by law firm Anthony Collins Solicitors on Tuesday 23 November.
This month we will be considering the impact of the Autumn Budget and Spending Review on the charity sector, trustee good practice concerning benefits and net carbon zero plans.
Earlier this month, the Environment Act 2021 received Royal Assent introducing the Office for Environmental Protection. Many charities and environmental groups are buoyed by the new legislation.
Chris Lloyd-Smith, a partner at Birmingham-based law firm Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS), has been elected as chair of Resolution’s West Midlands group.
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