Children (Scotland) Act 2020; what will the new legislation mean for children in Scotland.
Recently, MSPs unanimously passed the Children (Scotland) Bill. The bill, which aims to encourage the expression and inclusion of children…
Family Law
Scotland’s smacking ban comes into force
Last year, the Scottish Government confirmed that the smacking of children was to be banned in Scotland, following evidence which showed…
Knowing Who You Are: Why establishing paternity is important
It has recently been reported that a Ms Delphine Boel has taken a case to the Belgian Appeal Court to determine whether she should…
Not the Time for Cutting Corners
These are worrying economic times and many individuals and families will be finding this year tougher than the last. Legal costs may be…
When staying home is unsafe: Domestic Abuse in Lockdown
Lockdown has exacerbated the sense of isolation for many families whose lives are affected by domestic abuse. Victims of abuse are often…
The Nest – Fact or Fiction?
Over 5 million people tuned in to watch the series finale of the recent BBC drama, “The Nest”. The series follows the life of a married…
Business as usual?
Lots of law firms who provide Family Law advice are blogging and tweeting about it being “business as usual”. Practically, our team…
Thorntons contribute to Cohabitation Law in Scotland review
A review of family law is presently being undertaken by the Scottish Law Commission’s Family Law Team, following the appointment of Kate…
How will the Children (Scotland) Bill affect families in Scotland?
Important changes in the world of child law are afoot in Scotland. The Children (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish…
Call to Raise Age of Criminal Responsibility to 12 in England and Wales
At what age should a child be assumed to have criminal responsibility? In other words, at what age should a child be expected to know…
The Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill and the protection of assets
On 30 September 2019, the Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Scottish Parliament for debate. The Bill, if it…
An End to Reasonable Chastisement
With physical punishment of children now being unlawful in 52 countries around the world, including the vast majority of those in the…
Whose gift is it anyway?
David Beckham gave his wife a winery in California for her birthday. Tom Cruise bought his wife a gulf-stream jet.
Whilst we are not…
The Bank of Mum and Dad: Protecting your Investment.
Parents spend so much money to help their children get onto the housing ladder, that they are now among the biggest lenders in the UK, a…
Love Island: Cohabiting in The Villa.
Every night, millions of viewers tune in to Love Island to catch up on the drama that has unfolded in The Villa over the last 24 hours. Our…
Keeping it Civil
Following a Consultation, the Scottish Government recently announced that Civil Partnerships would become available for all couples in…
Know What You Are Paying For
Separation may not necessarily mean a complete financial break from your other half. There may be ongoing financial commitments such as,…
Views of the Child in the Scottish court process
Changes are imminent in Scotland for how children’s views are heard within court cases which affect them. New rules and forms about…
From Start–Up to Finished
As Amazon’s founding couple announce their separation, family law associate, Lynne Sturrock, takes a look at financial settlement on…
Scotland’s New Domestic Abuse Legislation
Domestic abuse can describe a multitude of behaviour, from physical violence to exercising total control over a partner’s everyday life.…
The Future of Civil Partnerships in Scotland
Civil partnerships have featured heavily in the news recently as their future has been called into question by a recent Supreme Court…