March 2025 News: Litigants in Person, Pensions & Eid

There was a lot of news we found interesting in February 2025, so we've put a few of the news posts on our LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter pages together and a reminder of our blogs.

From our blog:

False economy: why being an LIP can cost you time, money and possibly your case

Thinking representing yourself in court (LIP) will save you money? Think again. A recent divorce case highlights the potential chaos, delays, and costs that can arise.
A final hearing was adjourned due to "disordered and chaotic" case preparation, with 2,747 pages of court bundles! 😱 That's like reading six Harry Potter books! 📚

Our blog discusses why being an LIP might cost you more than you think.

Short-term v. lifetime: Why pensions are critical factors in financial settlements

Divorce financial settlements often overlook pensions. Yet, they're crucial for long-term security. Anne’s blog explains why factoring in pension value is essential for a balanced outcome.

Celebrating together: Eid and child arrangements

In her latest article, fellow Director Rita Gupta explores the need for the family courts and legal practitioners to be much more aware of the importance of the festival of Eid al-Fitr to UK families.

And from our social media streams:

Marriage is evolving. Are you keeping up?

Soon, the future of coupling and marriage may look nothing like it does now.

Rather than disappearing entirely, marriage may continue to exist in a more flexible form. Some couples may still choose it for legal benefits, emotional security, or religious reasons. However, it's clear that marriage is no longer the default path for building a family or a life together that it once was.

Brit couples follow Beyoncé with prenups soaring to unprecedented number before marriage

A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 adults showed a 13% rise in support for nuptial agreements compared to two years ago, when only 42% per cent said they’d consider one.

‘The Split’ may have finished but there’s another divorce drama on the horizon

“The Split fans rejoice! Bad Sisters’ Sharon Horgan is bringing us a brilliant new divorce drama”

Why more marriages end when wives get sick than when husbands do

“In sickness and in health”? Maybe not, if it's the wife who gets sick.

Some 56% of children in separated families see their non-resident parent regularly

A parenting group has called on the Government to do more to collect data on and address the fallout for children when parents separate.

Cohabitation law reform moves forward as government plans consultation

The long-anticipated reform of cohabitation law could arrive sooner than expected, as the government has confirmed plans to launch a consultation on the issue this year.

Why DIY divorce is costing women more than men: legal expert explains

The University of Bristol’s recent Fair Shares report highlights a significant lack of public understanding when it comes to financial settlements, property rights, and childcare arrangements in divorce.

What is conscious uncoupling and does it really work?

Use of the word “uncoupling” goes back to at least the 1940s, when it was sometimes embraced as a gentler way to describe divorce. It gained more traction in the 1970s

Coercive control has many guises

A “wicked and vindictive” mother went to extraordinary lengths to stop her children from seeing their dad - including making a false gun threat which forced a school into lockdown and daubing “RIP” in black paint on her own front door.

One in 10 divorcees have forgotten to remove ex as beneficiary

Research conducted among 2,945 UK divorcees found 10% had forgotten to remove their former spouse as the beneficiary of their life insurance policy, meaning if a claim was made, their ex would receive the pay out.

Alesha Dixon splits from partner and father of children but will remain living together

Co-parenting is obviously important for Alesha