Periodical Payments: Perfectly imperfect

Che Meakins reports on the courts’ discretion when considering the parties’ circumstances as a whole, and the importance of understanding the intention behind an order ‘In Mutch, the summary recital to the consent order was a crucial fact in understanding how and why the court had made its decision in November 2012.’In Mutch v Mutch …
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Variation: Challenging odds

Daniel Sanders considers the courts’ approach to variation applications and the limited circumstances in which such an application is likely to succeed ‘A clear and highly compelling change in circumstances must have arisen in order to justify variation of the terms of the original maintenance order, whether as to quantum or term.’ For many clients …
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Standard Of Living: Lifestyle factors

Hazel Wright and Phoebe Sutton suggest that despite the provisions of section 25 the standard of living of the parties is becoming less relevant ‘It is hard to see future courts awarding periodical payments based on the standard of living in the great majority of marriages.’ When family lawyers of a certain generation die, they …
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Scotland: A different way

Philippa Cunniff contrasts the approach of the courts in Scotland to spousal maintenance to that of England and Wales ‘The Scottish courts have generally adopted a cautious approach to awards of periodical allowance, with the result that Scotland has gained a reputation for its lack of generosity towards the economically weaker spouse.’There is a general …
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