Separation and parenting through the pandemic: key questions answered
Irena and I are delighted to have contributed to this new book, a supplement to last year’s 101 questions answered about separating with children. The book has been produced by Only Mums and Only Dads and has been published by
The New Face of Divorce – The No Fault Divorce
As a family solicitor I have been observing the passage through parliament of “The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill”, and was delighted to see that on Wednesday 17th June, despite the current Covid-19 crisis, the bill successfully concluded its journey
Divorce and Matrimonial Finances in the midst of Covid 19
The last 8 weeks has left us all feeling shocked, anxious and scared at times, with every one of our lives being severely impacted by the government restrictions, the fear of the infection, home education and for many, the financial
Help with domestic abuse during the current Covid-19 crisis.
Last week the Oxford Mail very helpfully ran an article on how to get help with domestic violence in Oxfordshire. No doubt during this difficult time we will all have seen articles and news about an increase in domestic violence
Covid-19 Update for Child Arrangements 30.03.20
We have now had our first weekend living with the stringent instructions laid upon us by the Government. The strict instructions are made with good reason, and it is imperative we all follow them carefully for the safety of ourselves
Urgent Covid-19 – Child arrangements update 24.03.20
As each and every one of us are aware, the Prime Minister had to go one step further last night to try to slow the spread of the Covid-19, and asked us all to stay at home. Overnight there have
How will the Corona virus affect our child arrangements? Update
In the last 7 days, the changes to our country have been unprecedented, and to us all quite overwhelming. In the most relaxed of households, the strain will be showing, as children are now at home for the foreseeable future,
How should I talk to my child about Covid-19?
Top tips to help parents. Much of this is based on an article published last week by UNICEF Australia, but I have also given it my ‘take’ and also sought some input from Lorinda Gamlin, one of our associated counsellors.
Coronavirus update
As a firm we are continually monitoring the coronavirus outbreak, and considering what contingency measures we may need to put in place should the situation escalate. We obviously hope that such measures will not prove necessary. However, we are determined
How will the Corona virus affect our child arrangements?
Updated information can be found in our update How will the Corona virus affect our child arrangements? Update Available here. We are now all in unchartered territory with the Corona virus, and it is a very worrying time for all
What is it like giving evidence in court?
Top tips for giving evidence in court. Giving evidence can be a daunting experience – how can we help you? Sometimes clients get frustrated with their lawyers as they expect the lawyer to tell them the questions they will be asked
Re W – a successful appeal against a placement and care order (and a costs order against the LA)
Article originally published on transparencyproject.org.uk The background The appellant is the great-aunt of J, a child who was the focus of care proceedings that began in 2017. J’s mother accepted early on that she could not care for him and
The first meeting with your solicitor – what to expect and how to prepare
Coming to meet your Solicitor for the first time might feel like a nerve wracking prospect – “what will they be like?”, “will they be easy to talk to?”, “what questions will they ask me?”. The first meeting is a
Family Mediation Week – Busting some myths!
Family Mediation Week has come around again. But what is family mediation? Put simply, it’s a way of resolving disputes which have arisen upon separation, or of deciding how to organise your lives separately. I believe that it can be
Merry Christmas to all our clients, colleagues, neighbours and agencies!
We’ve had a busy few months at BH&O but we’ve also not forgotten to support the charities and agencies we work with, or who we know support clients and those in need, both locally, regionally and nationally. We have again
Co-Parenting at Christmas
Christmas is a very busy period and can be very stressful for all of us, but is particularly stressful for those families who are separated and the children have to share their times between two homes. So how do you
Kinship care week
5th to 11th October is Kinship Care week. At BH&O, we know what a great job many grandparents, aunts and uncles and relatives are doing in looking after children who might otherwise be in the care system or placed for
BH&O supporting
Happy Even After: a play about domestic abuse
Last night BH&O sponsored the launch of a new play written by local play-write Gaye Poole, Happy Even After. Human Story Theatre Company have been working with a number of partner organisations including Thames Valley’s Reducing the Risk, A2 Dominion,
Appeal, revoke or discharge? How to get your child back after care proceedings conclude.
One of the most common enquiries we get is from birth parents who want to challenge a decision to remove their child permanently. They phrase it in many different ways but in essence they want to know how to stop
BH&O – a young firm, in touch with our heritage!
When Emily, Irena and I started planning this firm, we wanted to create a modern thinking innovative specialist family law firm. We think we have succeeded. But little did we know when we started our planning, that we would end
The Family Law Awards 2019
Yesterday was the first anniversary of opening this firm and I could not be prouder to announce that we have been named as a finalist in the Family Law Awards 2019 in the category of Family Law Firm of the
A public inquiry into the family justice system?
First published in Family Law “Call for inquiry into abusive parents’ access to children” was the story on the BBC website on Thursday (15 May). It plugged a feature on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme. For early birds the story
Why bother with a pre-nup?
Prenuptial agreements do not bind the courts in England & Wales. This is because the courts have a wide discretion in deciding what the financial outcome of a couple’s divorce might be. So what is the point of a pre-nup?
Why are we excited about in-house therapeutic services?
I remember many years ago hearing about a firm who were offering clients therapy alongside their divorce. It was a long time before Ruth, Irena and I decided to open Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne but it stayed with me. I
Legal Aid for Family Law Matters
Getting Help to Pay for Legal Costs Irena Osborne Legal aid is the use of public funds to help to pay for legal advice, family mediation and court representation. The Legal Aid Agency is in charge of providing legal aid
How to deal with a spouse who is not responding to a divorce petition
…on a gloomy April (or any other) day. I am writing this article on a rainy April day the mood of which is captured by Mathilde Blind In her poem April Rain: “The April rain, the April rain, Comes
How do you own your Home?
If you purchase your property with your partner there are two ways you can own the property. It is important that you know and understand the differences, as the type of ownership affects what you can do with the property
Great Legal Bake Off
Boardman Hawkins & Osborne are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Great Legal Bake Off, organised by the Access to Justice Foundation. We are able to nominate our fundraising to go to local advice charities, so anything we
Transparency in the family courts and a trip to the Court of Appeal
Lawyers like the Court of Appeal. The Judges are experienced, engaged, always ask insightful questions and keep the advocates on their toes. The building (The Royal Courts of Justice) is beautiful, imposing, full of history and visiting it feels like
Can I appeal my child arrangements order?
You’ve been to court about a child arrangements order and it hasn’t gone well. What next? The first thing to say is that if the court has made a child arrangements order, you are bound by the terms of it
101 Questions Answered About Separating with Children
Ruth Hawkins has contributed to this New Book 101 Questions Answered About Separating with Children With legal aid drastically cut back BH&O LLP are delighted to be supporting a national, not-for-profit social enterprise working to provide accessible support to families through the difficulties
Children’s Mental Health Week
This week marks “Children’s Mental Health Week”, providing us with an opportunity to highlight the importance of children’s mental health. Never before has the spotlight been so bright on children’s mental health, in an age where so many children and young
Family Mediation Week
This week (21st January) is Family Mediation Week. It is designed to highlight and raise awareness of the benefits of using family mediation to resolve family disputes and issues rather than the more traditional, often more conflicting, approaches involving court
January 2019 updates: Family Law and Brexit
As we enter a New Year it is a time for reflection and to look forward to the coming year, and Family Law is no exception. 2018 saw some high-profile family cases in the English Courts some of which have
What happens to the wider family when parents separate?
It’s that time of year when families come together, and grandparents and aunts and uncles get to see more of their grandchildren and nieces and nephews. But what happens when parents have separated? It obviously depends on the circumstances, but
Paying it forward…. or giving back to clients and our community.
We’ve now been open for three months. It’s been a very busy period, which Emily has already written about. But we have not forgotten that when we planned BH&O, we wanted to do things a little differently, and not lose
What to do if you are accused of causing injuries to your child
An article has recently appeared in the Daily Mail and on other websites about a case in which marks were seen on a small child’s face and that child ended up subject to social services’ involvement for roughly two months
Tips for managing Christmas for separated parents
Co-written by: Ruth Hawkins, Solicitor & Mediator, Partner and Helen Bishop, Consultant Solicitor Christmas is a time of year where all the family try to spend time together. With all the arrangements and preparations it can be stressful for any
Two months in…
On 3 September 2018 Ruth, Irena and I opened this new firm – Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne LLP. The opening date of a new law firm represents the end of a very long road of preparation in fact, and not
A crying shame…?
By Ruth Hawkins A report published this week by the Children’s Commissioner for England, suggests there are 15,800 babies under the age of one year considered by local authorities to be vulnerable or highly vulnerable and at risk of harm,
Civil Partnerships for all!
By Ruth Hawkins As has been reported in the media, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, has announced that the government plan to change the law to allow members of the oppositesex to enter into civil partnerships. Civil partnerships were created
New guidelines for difficult family disputes: tackling parental alienation.
When parents separate, arrangements for their children, can be hard to agree. It can be particularly hard where a child starts refusing to see their other parent. This autumn, new guidance is being introduced to help with these cases. This will consider the possibility a child has been deliberately turned against one parent, by the other.
A new family law firm for Oxfordshire
On 3 September 2018 Emily Boardman, Ruth Hawkins and Irena Osborne are opening a new family law firm in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne LLP (BH&O LLP) is a niche family practice offering legal advice, representation and mediators who
