Developing Family Law, Supporting Your Clients
£195 + VAT (member) / £245 + VAT (non-member)
Developments in family law continue apace. Our new online conference will consider change in a number of key areas which are of importance to all family law practitioners. The conference will also consider where you can best support your clients - and colleagues.
Chaired by Alison Edmondson of SKO, this new conference, taking place online, will include topics ranging from financial provision on divorce, separating couples and tax and child support, child aliment and school fees to child contact and collaboration between the judicial system and the third sector, and the skills needed to look after colleagues and clients. Professor Gillian Black of the Scottish Law Commission will provide an update on the Commission’s work in relation to cohabitation, surrogacy and domestic abuse.
Alison and Gillian will be joined on the speaking panel by Nilah Ulhaq of Burness Paull, Lynsey Morgan from Optimum Advocates, Laura Brown of Brodies, the counsellor and psychotherapist Ruth Bradley and Selina Smyth and Jane Denmark of Family Journeys.
Questions to be considered will include:
- what are the latest recommendations from the Scottish Law Commission?
- what should you be aware of when making claims for child aliment?
- how do we seek to ensure better outcomes for the children of Scotland?
- what impact would the proposed changes to time limits for no gain/no loss transfers have on separating/divorcing couples?
- what do the recent cases tell us about the valuation of matrimonial property?
- how do we manage communication with clients?
What's being covered?
Family law reform: an update on the work of Scottish Law Commission
In this session, the latest recommendations from the Scottish Law Commission in relation to family law matters will be covered, including the key proposals from the Cohabitation Report and draft Bill, published in November 2022 and the Surrogacy Report and draft Bill, published in March 2023. An update on the ongoing work on the Civil Remedies for Domestic Abuse project will also be provided.
Professor Gillian Black, Scottish Law Commission
Child support, child aliment and school fees
After a brief overview of the child maintenance system in the UK, child aliment will be discussed. Nilah will explore the obligation to aliment a child, the court’s jurisdiction to make awards of aliment, top-up child maintenance and the payment of school fees. Practical tips when making claims for child aliment and entering into private agreements for aliment will be shared with delegates.
Nilah Ulhaq, Burness Paull
Family Journeys – the changing world of child contact
An introduction to the changing world of child contact and the future collaboration between the judicial system and the third sector will be focused on as better outcomes for the children of Scotland are sought. The challenges and barriers that exist when supporting families will be explored, with particular attention given to child contact. Key issues being faced in practice will be identified, ensuring children’s rights and the voice of the child is represented (UNCRC). There will also be brief insight into trauma informed practice and The Promise.
Selina Smyth & Jane Denmark, Family Journeys
Tax and separating couples
In this session we will consider capital gains tax issues for separating/divorcing couples and the proposed changes to time limits for no gain/no loss transfers as well as other tax implications to consider.
Laura Brown, Brodies
Putting a value on a fair share of matrimonial property
This presentation will look at issues surrounding, and the importance of obtaining valuations of matrimonial assets when parties seek to achieve a fair division of matrimonial property. It will look at what practitioners should be mindful of when advising their clients, as well as examining recent case law.
Lynsey Morgan, Optimum Advocates
The cornerstones of communication and self-care
In this session, Ruth will focus on the spaghetti junction of communication with clients and how we manage our way out of it.
Ruth Bradley, Psychotherapist & Counsellor, The Life Academy
