Streamlining Adoption in Scotland

The Scottish Government has recently reported on the latest developments aimed at streamlining adoption in Scotland to cut down on the time children have to wait before finding a permanent home. Childcare and Early Years Minister Mark McDonald has announced that Scotland’s Adoption Register is now available online and that the ‘activity days’ where prospective…

Removing Barriers to Co-Parenting

Researchers in the US have recently looked at how concerns about parenting behaviour can affect the ability of divorced parents to co-parent. The study, from the University of Missouri, found that fathers and mothers have differing concerns about co-parenting, and these concerns can impact on their ability to jointly raise their children. The researchers believe…

Rise in Use of Prenuptial Agreements

A recent survey from the US has revealed a rise in the number of couples signing prenuptial agreements before getting married. The survey, which was conducted amongst members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), found that 51% of attorneys cited an increase in the number of millennials requesting prenuptial agreements. In addition, 62%…

Continued Rise in ‘Grey Divorce’ Numbers

The upward trend in the number of ‘grey divorces’ appears to be continuing, according to a new survey from the United States. The survey of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer (AAML) members found that 64% of respondents reported an increase in divorce cases among couples more than 50-years of age. The top three items most…

Named Person Orders Laid before Parliament

The Scottish Government has recently reaffirmed its commitment to its named person service, but confirmed that it would not commence the related provisions of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 on 31 August, pending changes to the Act following the UK Supreme Court judgment in July. An order is required to stop commencement…

Report Reveals Scotland’s Demographic Profile

National Records of Scotland (NRS) has recently published ‘Scotland’s Population 2015 – the Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’, which gives an interesting insight into population and relationship trends across Scotland. With regards to relationships, the report on Scotland’s Population revealed that: There were 29,691 marriages in Scotland in 2015. Of these, 1,671 were…

Division of Labour Related to Risk of Divorce

According to a recent study from the US, financial factors such as a wife’s ability to support herself are not necessarily predictive of divorce. Instead, it is couples’ division of labour that is associated with the risk of divorce. The study, from Harvard University, compared couples married in 1974 or earlier with couples married in…

Woman Awarded Settlement of £53 Million from Billionaire Ex

A former model, who was seeking £196 million as a divorce settlement from her ex-husband, has been awarded £53 million by the High Court in London, reports the BBC. When her own assets are added they bring the total settlement amount to around £75 million. Christina Estrada had been married to Sheikh Walid Juffali, a…