Article written and provided by Lucy Greenwood, Partner at International Family Law Group for Beacon Gainer, private wealth advisory services group.
On 31 December 2020 at 11:00pm (UK time) EU family laws end.
This short article illustrates in a table format some of the key issues in family law which will be impacted when the UK leaves the EU and identifies situations where urgent advice may be needed from a specialist family lawyer before 31 December 2020.
For the past 3 years iFLG’s co-founding partner, Professor David Hodson OBE has been part of a select group of specialist family law practitioners which has been meeting with the Ministry of Justice to discuss how family law issues might be impacted after the UK leaves the EU.
The information contained in this article is up to date as of 2 November 2020 but owing to ongoing EU/UK trade talks it is still not known whether some of the changes summarised below will represent the final position. One significant area of law which is being debated in those trade talks is whether the UK will join an international convention called The Lugano Convention. If the UK joins this convention, amongst possible other changes, the test for determining which EU country secures jurisdiction might remain the ‘first to issue’.
It is important therefore to seek urgent specialist family law advice before 31 December about any family law issues with an international dimension.
To view the table click here
This article only presents a very brief overview of some of the key changes to family laws when the UK leaves the EU.
New Publication:
‘Family law leaves the EU: A summary guide for practitioners’
A new textbook published on 20 October 2020 by LexisNexis and written by one of the world’s leading family lawyers, iFLG Co-founder and Partner Prof David Hodson OBE MCI Arb
It sets out the law from 1 January 2021 when EU laws no longer apply. Crucially it also explains the transitional arrangements and what lawyers should be doing on behalf of their clients to institute proceedings before the end of 2020. It sets out all of the relevant EU family laws, the UK laws dealing with transitional arrangements and the introduction of new laws for January onwards.
For more details and to order your copy, please click here
About Us
The International Family Law Group LLP is a specialist law firm based in Covent Garden, London. Our legal team includes specialist accredited English lawyers, mediators, collaborative lawyers, arbitrators, and Australian lawyers. We look after the interests of families and children, with a specific focus on international families. A key area of our work is recognition of foreign marriages and divorces and the financial consequences of relationship breakdown. We are committed to the use of digital innovations for the benefit of clients and resolution on international family law cases. We have outstanding links with law firms and specialist family lawyers within Europe and worldwide. Our website is full of helpful information including a 24-hour abduction and emergency line at www.iflg.uk.com. The Legal 500 2021 comments that ‘iFLG now has a presence across all areas of family law. There are few London practices with the strength in depth which iFLG can offer’
Lucy Greenwood is a Partner and Solicitor at iFLG. Lucy has specialised exclusively in the field of family law for over 20 years. Her areas of expertise are matters involving financial matters related to relationship breakdown both nationally and internationally, including cohabitation and separation agreements, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. The Legal 500 2021 states that ‘Lucy Greenwood is outstanding, a first-class operator for divorce and finance cases.’
