Blog

"Family law is uniquely human. We advise people during the most vulnerable and emotionally complex periods of their lives. To do that effectively, the profession benefits from lawyers who bring varied life experiences, perspectives and different forms of emotional intelligence to the table." Social mobility transformed Yanoulla Kakoulli’s career. In this personal blog, she reflects on the role of scholarships, mentoring and opportunity in opening doors to the legal profession, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and why family law benefits from practitioners with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

A recent Court of Appeal decision has provided important clarification on the relationship between paternity and parental responsibility. Re J, Re M and Re P considers what happens when a man registered on a child’s birth certificate is later found not to be the biological father, and explores the legal and practical implications for parental responsibility, social parenting and international child abduction cases.

Why can two pensions with the same value lead to completely different retirements? Petra Spirkova financial adviser answers a common question from family lawyers and explains why CETVs rarely tell the whole story, particularly where defined benefit pensions, public sector schemes and offsetting are involved.

Family lawyers are increasingly meeting clients who arrive ‘pre-advised’ by TikTok, Instagram and AI platforms such as ChatGPT. While online legal content can improve public understanding and access to information, it also raises challenges around misinformation, unrealistic expectations and confidentiality. Amber Gregory explores how Resolution members can respond constructively and consider how these new forms of communication might also be used positively within family practice.

In our second blog post reflecting on the impact of the Mazur judgment, former Resolution chair Juliet Harvey considers the wider impact on Chartered Legal Executives, firms and the profession — and why support and understanding still matter.

After 35 years in practice, Rita Veitch suddenly found herself unable to carry out the work she had done for decades. In this honest and personal reflection on the Mazur judgment, she shares the stress, self-doubt and disruption that followed – and how regaining her Practice Rights ultimately restored her confidence.

At the Resolution DR conference in March 2026, Rebecca Christie and Professor Susan Golombok explored the exhibition "Real Families: Stories of Change", examining how family structures have evolved over the past 50 years. Drawing on decades of research and powerful artistic representation, the exhibition challenges assumptions about what defines a family and highlights the diverse realities family lawyers encounter in practice.

As litigants in person become an increasingly common feature of family proceedings, understanding their experiences is essential for all practitioners. In this blog, Sapna Shah – a barrister undertaking direct access work and a highly valued member of Resolution’s LiPs Committee – brings both professional and practical insight to her review of Jessica Mant’s Litigants in Person and the Family Justice System. For Resolution members, it underscores the importance of empathy and accessibility, and how this work underpins the Code of Practice in supporting fair and effective outcomes.

Clients can feel trapped between staying and leaving, not through indecision but because of fear, expectations and deeply held beliefs about relationships. Divorce coach, Jennie Sutton, explores how those pressures create paralysis, and how divorce coaching can help clients step back, gain clarity and make informed decisions. It shows that moving forward is less about certainty and more about understanding what truly matters.

Fertility treatment in northern Cyprus has attracted UK patients with lower costs and fewer restrictions, but recent cases involving donor mix-ups have raised serious concerns about regulation and oversight. Nichola Bright explores the legal, ethical and emotional risks of treatment abroad, highlighting the importance of transparency, traceability and informed decision-making for prospective parents.

The national rollout of Child Focused Courts promises faster, more child-centred outcomes in private law cases, reducing delay and conflict. Early pilot results are positive, but concerns remain around resources, consistency and long-term sustainability. Rebecca Hawkins explores how the the model must balance speed with quality, ensure access to legal advice, and integrate non-court dispute resolution as a central, not secondary, pathway.

The way public sector pensions are valued has shifted significantly – and in some cases, they may now be worth more than their private sector equivalents. Chartered Financial Planner Cheryl Bowden explains what this means in practice for family law professionals.

This blog highlights the gap between the legal treatment of pets as property and their real significance in family life. Drawing on recent research, the independent Working Group on Pets on Divorce and Separation sets out a practical case for modest reform. It suggests that clear statutory criteria would support earlier resolution, reduce conflict, and better reflect families’ lived realities on separation.

Hybrid mediation offers flexibility and greater client control but its success depends on commitment to the agreed timetable. Without preparation and active solicitor involvement, sessions can lose focus and become costly. In this post, Laura Clapton gives a clear message: treat mediation timetables with the same respect as court directions to ensure efficient, constructive outcomes.

Practical experience is a crucial part of building a career in law, but the route can feel complex and uncertain. In this engaging personal blog, Jessica Whiley reflects on her journey into practice and the value of working as a paralegal. She highlights how hands-on experience, exposure to real cases and learning from talented colleagues have built her confidence and helped shape the kind of lawyer she hopes to be.

In T v S [2025] EWHC 3581 (Fam) the High Court considered whether a parent can give valid consent to a child’s relocation before the child is born. Kesha Pabari acted for the respondent mother in this case and examines the court’s approach to consent under Article 13(a), the realities of parental discussions during pregnancy, and the wider context of Hague Convention defences.

Eid ul Fitr is one of the most significant celebrations for Muslim families, but its exact date is only confirmed once the new moon is sighted, which can make planning difficult. In this informative blog for Resolution members working with Muslim clients, Aysha Chouhdary reflects on the challenges this can create for separated families and the importance of communication, flexibility and cultural understanding.

Shaili Gohil-Desai of Burgess Mee reflects on the emotional and practical realities of returning to work as a family lawyer after maternity leave. Balancing excitement, guilt and adjustment, she shares how support from colleagues, family and other working mothers helped ease the transition and normalise the evolving experience of combining career and parenthood.

Jacinta Gallant explores how insight mediation can transform the way family justice professionals approach conflict. Jacinta reflects on moving away from trying to “fix” entrenched positions towards curiosity, acknowledgment and understanding perceived threats. By creating space for learning and dialogue, insight approaches can help clients move beyond defensiveness and towards constructive solutions.

Farhana Shahzady marks International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, reflecting on Wuthering Heights as a reminder of how power, property and patriarchy once shaped women’s lives and marriages. While family law has progressed since the MCA 1973, the Fair Shares Report shows financial inequality after divorce persists. True fairness requires reform grounded in evidence and lived reality.

Bethany Lodge announces the exciting relaunch of Essex Resolution. The committee aims to rebuild connections between family justice professionals, promote Resolution’s Code of Practice and create opportunities for learning and networking. They have a great relaunch event today.

Rebecca Hawkins and Sarah Smith of the Resolution Parenting After Parting committee passionately believe in the the value of a joined-up, supportive team of family professionals who share a common ethos. Separation is never just legal, and early collaboration between lawyers, mediators, therapists, financial advisers and child-inclusive mediators helps families feel informed, supported and heard. Working together, rather than in opposition, leads to healthier decisions and better long-term outcomes for parents and children.

Lesley Edelstein take a light-hearted look at what it would have been like representing Henry VIII as the ultimate high-stakes divorce client. Beneath the Tudor theatrics, it highlights the value of working as a team and adherence to Resolution’s Code when managing difficult clients while staying ethical, constructive and focused on long-term outcomes.

Nazia Rashid reflects on a rare moment in London when Ramadan, Lent and the Lunar New Year overlapped, exploring shared themes of reflection, fasting and celebration across faiths.

Marking LGBTQIA+ History Month, Bridget Garrood reflects on twenty years of legal change for same sex couples, from criminalised discrimination to marriage equality. While legislation has transformed family law, the author highlights the lived realities still facing LGBTQ+ families, particularly around separation, parenthood and cross-border recognition. Rights in legislation only matter if they work in real life. Family lawyers work with people at their most vulnerable, from those anxiously trying to grow their families through issues like surrogacy or adoption to the challenges faced when relationships come to an end. It is never ‘one size fits all’. Real families are diverse, complex - and often incredibly brave.

Is there a “right” way to resolve family disputes and when does court become the default? Claire Colbert reflects on a recent MIAM experience and asks whether clients are always fully informed or encouraged to engage meaningfully with the different NCDR alternatives before court becomes the focus.

Joe Ferguson and Katy Halliday examine the evolving approach to conduct in financial remedy proceedings, exploring tensions between established case law and procedural limits. Drawing on two of Cusworth J's recent judgments, they consider whether the courts are beginning to take a broader, fairness-based view of conduct – and whether a genuine shift may be underway.

Resonate is a new blog from Resolution, bringing together voices from across family law to share insight, experience and both personal and professional perspectives

Resolution's publications committee co-chairs, Farhana Shahzady and Rosa Schofield, introduce our new blog 'Resonate'. Designed to sit alongside The Review, it offers an inclusive, accessible platform for all members and we hope will encourage a sense of community, connection and shared experience across the family justice profession.