{"id":5097,"date":"2021-11-22T16:59:25","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T16:59:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/?p=5097"},"modified":"2023-10-09T13:20:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T13:20:25","slug":"brexit-affected-divorce-family-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2021\/11\/22\/brexit-affected-divorce-family-law\/","title":{"rendered":"How has Brexit affected divorce &#038; family law?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law.jpg\"><img data-attachment-id=\"5111\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2021\/11\/22\/brexit-affected-divorce-family-law\/how-has-brexit-affected-family-law\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"910,683\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"How has Brexit affected divorce &#038; family law?\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5111\" src=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law.jpg\" alt=\"How has Brexit affected divorce &amp; family law?\" width=\"910\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law.jpg 910w, https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-has-Brexit-affected-family-law.jpg\"><br \/>\n<\/a><\/strong>How has Brexit affected divorce and family law? Whether you&#8217;re going through divorce, civil partnership dissolution, children, finances\u00a0or domestic violence proceedings we&#8217;re here for you. Make sure you contact our international family law specialist, Joanne Houston at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Just Family Law<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re part of an international family,\u00a0<strong><em>31 December 2020<\/em><\/strong> is a very important date for you.<\/p>\n<h3><strong><em>On or before<\/em>\u00a031 December 2020<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Did you start your Court case\u00a0<strong><em>on or before<\/em><\/strong> 31 December 2020? If you did, EU family law regulations still apply. These\u00a0cover &#8211;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>which country\u00a0deals with your\u00a0divorce\u00a0or civil partnership dissolution<\/li>\n<li>parallel proceedings in the UK and in EU countries<\/li>\n<li>recognition of financial, children, domestic violence and maintenance orders made in the UK across the EU and vice versa<\/li>\n<li>enforcement of UK orders across the EU and vice versa<\/li>\n<li>giving a voice to the child and setting a timetable\u00a0in child abduction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><em>After<\/em>\u00a031 December 2020<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Did you start your Court case <strong><em>after<\/em><\/strong> 31 December 2020? If so, make sure you take care &#8211;\u00a0and please let us help you.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/what-we-do\/ex-pat-divorce-and-international-family-law\" target=\"_blank\"><em>International divorce<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/what-we-do\/family-law-for-the-lgbt-community\" target=\"_blank\"><em>civil partnership dissolutions<\/em><\/a>\u00a0can be tricky at the best of times.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>What could possibly go wrong<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Although many EU regulations are now part of our law, complications\u00a0can arise, for example &#8211;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>divorces and civil partnership dissolutions can start in the UK and the EU <em>at the same time<\/em><\/li>\n<li>some EU countries\u00a0don&#8217;t recognise <a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/what-we-do\/finance\" target=\"_blank\"><em>maintenance orders<\/em><\/a> made in the UK<\/li>\n<li>UK domestic violence orders\u00a0aren&#8217;t\u00a0enforceable in the EU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Divorce and civil partnership dissolution in two different countries?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Yes &#8211; one party can start divorce or dissolution proceedings in the UK and the other party can start them in an EU country.\u00a0 No\u00a0rule exists to prevent this. The UK court can <em>stay<\/em> the proceedings and you and your partner can agree to pursue the case in only one country.\u00a0But if there&#8217;s no agreement, two sets of proceedings continue. What does this add up to?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>extra\u00a0cost<\/li>\n<li>frustration<\/li>\n<li>the risk of conflicting financial orders<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So make sure you take advice from an <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">expert lawyer<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Jurisdiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cJurisdiction\u201d means the country in which your divorce or dissolution proceedings can start. The <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/952037\/d8-eng.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><em>application<\/em><\/a> asks for your\u00a0<em>habitual residence<\/em> and <em>domicile.<\/em>\u00a0But what does that mean? Don&#8217;t worry, we can help you with these\u00a0complex terms. A significant change has arrived since Brexit &#8211;\u00a0<em>sole domicile.<\/em>\u00a0Prior to 1 January 2021, <em>sole domicile <\/em>was only available if no other option applied. But now you can choose it even if other grounds are available to you.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Sole domicile<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Why should you care about\u00a0<em>sole domicile? <\/em>You should care about it if you &#8211;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>live abroad permanently<\/li>\n<li>and you were\u00a0born in England and Wales<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>AND\u00a0your partner<em> &#8211;<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>lives abroad permanently<\/li>\n<li>and <em>wasn&#8217;t<\/em> born in England and Wales<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In that case you can rely on\u00a0<em>sole domicile\u00a0<\/em>and start your proceedings here. You might want to do this as you\u00a0believe you&#8217;ll\u00a0receive a better financial settlement.\u00a0But take care and make sure to take legal advice. Why?\u00a0<em>Sole domicile<\/em>\u00a0is not recognised as a valid test of jurisdiction in some countries. This means other countries may not recognise your divorce or be able to enforce your financial order.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Recognition of UK divorces in the EU<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Before Brexit, the EU recognised UK divorces and vice versa. Now\u00a0only the EU countries signed up to 1970 Hague Convention on Divorce recognise UK divorces &#8211;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Recognition of foreign\u00a0divorces in the\u00a0UK<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The UK generally recognises foreign divorces under the UK\u2019s Family Law Act.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Maintenance<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The\u00a0same complications may arise as mentioned under <strong>Divorce and civil partnership dissolution<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>in two different countries\u00a0<\/strong>above.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Recognition of UK maintenance orders in the EU<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The UK and EU recognise and enforce each others maintenance orders under the 2007 and 1973 Hague Conventions.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Children Act jurisdiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/what-we-do\/children\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Children Act cases<\/em><\/a> commence in the country where the child has their main home\u00a0ie their \u201chabitual residence\u201d. Most countries recognise this rule\u00a0but it&#8217;s worth checking with an expert lawyer.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>International child abduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The UK and all EU signed the 1980 Hague Convention.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/what-we-do\/moving-abroad-with-children-and-child-abduction\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Child abduction<\/em><\/a> is a criminal offence. If your partner doesn\u2019t agree to you taking the children abroad, speak to us for emergency advice on your options.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Domestic violence<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Although the UK recognises domestic violence orders made in the EU, the EU\u00a0doesn&#8217;t recognise UK domestic violence orders. You will need proceedings in the UK and the relevant EU country to ensure your protection.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>How has Brexit affected divorce &amp; family law<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Contact Family Lawyer Joanne Houston on\u00a0<a href=\"tel:01962%20217640\">01962 217640<\/a>\u00a0for an initial\u00a0consultation on\u00a0<em>How has Brexit affected divorce &amp; family law.\u00a0<\/em>In this 20 minute session she will review your situation and how you can achieve your objectives.<\/p>\n<p><em>JUST FAMILY LAW are specialist divorce and family lawyers. We offer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/06\/02\/pay-as-you-go-divorce-costs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pay as you go costs<\/a>. We offer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/2019\/01\/17\/what-is-collaborative-family-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Collaborative law<\/a>\u00a0solutions tailored to your family\u2019s needs.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The topics covered in this blog post<em>\u00a0How has Brexit affected divorce &amp; family law <\/em>are complex<\/strong><strong>. They are provided for general guidance only. If any of the circumstances mentioned in this blog apply to you, seek expert legal advice. This is an evolving area of the law and is current at the date of publication.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>image for\u00a0<em>How has Brexit affected divorce &amp; family law<\/em>\u00a0Concerned Phone Call by Ehimetalor Unuabona on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Concerned_Phone_Call_(Unsplash).jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Wikimedia<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How has Brexit affected divorce and family law? Whether you&#8217;re going through divorce, civil partnership dissolution, children, finances\u00a0or domestic violence proceedings we&#8217;re here for you. Make sure you contact our international family law specialist, Joanne Houston at Just Family Law. If you&#8217;re part of an international family,\u00a031 December 2020 is a very important date for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5111,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[41,162,16,14,76,660,43,13,661,663,175,133,659,662],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5097"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5097"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5128,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5097\/revisions\/5128"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.just-family-law.com\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}