Stowe Family Law

Stowe Family Law Where family law meets family life. UK-based specialist family lawyers and divorce solicitors.

02/09/2026

๐ŸŽ™๏ธ As we near the end of our current series, this week's episode of Life, Love & The Law is now available. We're talking about the very personal subject of an ex attempting to stop you from seeing your child. ๐Ÿ‘ช

When youโ€™re going through divorce or separation as a parent, your childrenโ€™s wellbeing is going to be the first thing on your mind. Itโ€™s natural to have worries and even fears about what the future holds. Some parents are able to work out post-separation arrangements between themselves, while others struggle. This can raise concerns about whether your ex can stop you from seeing your child.

In this episode, Liza and Emily break down how child arrangements work, focusing on whatโ€™s in the best interests of the child, and look at whether your ex can prevent contact.

Hint: almost always, itโ€™s a no!

Click the link in our bio to listen to the episode โ˜๏ธ

27/08/2026

What happens if a parent breaks a Child Arrangements Order? ๐Ÿ‘€

A Child Arrangements Order sets out who a child should live with, spend time with or otherwise have contact with after a separation.

Once itโ€™s in place, both parents are expected to follow it. But the court will always consider the circumstances - for example cancelling contact because a child is unwell is very different from simply choosing not to comply.

In this video, Senior Associate La-Toyah Phillips explains what could be considered a breach and the potential consequences. โš–๏ธ

25/08/2026

Pensions can be a really contentious point in divorce, and often clients donโ€™t realise that pensions are something they may have a claim to, and can also be dismissed because of their perceived complexity.

There can be debate about whether a pension is considered a matrimonial asset. Generally speaking, if a pension has been built up during the marriage, it is likely to be considered matrimonial and can be taken into account as part of the financial settlement.

The part of the pension built up before the marriage can be a little trickier. In some cases, it may be possible to ringfence this, but it will ultimately depend on the circumstances and the retirement needs of both parties.

Click the link in our bio to listen to the episode โ˜๏ธ

19/08/2026

A brand new episode of our podcast Life, Love & The Law is now available! And this week we're tackling matrimonial assets... โš–๏ธ

Is everything split 50/50 in divorce? Well, sometimes! But most of the time, itโ€™s not quite as black and white as that. In financial settlement discussions, separating couples and their lawyers need to understand what is โ€˜matrimonialโ€™ and โ€˜non-matrimonialโ€™, who gets what and then decide if it's a fair division based on the needs of each person.

In this episode, Liza and her colleague Emily discuss what actually counts as matrimonial property, i.e. assets that are available for division, and what happens to ringfenced assets. They talk about the Supreme Court judgement in Standish v Standish and changing case law on โ€˜matrimonialisationโ€™, reminding listeners that whatever happens, you will not be left destitute.

Click the link in our bio to listen to the episode โ˜๏ธ

14/08/2026

People often panic at the thought of going to court - and understandably so. But the reality is usually far less dramatic than we imagine. Family courts in the UK are certainly nothing like the courtroom scenes weโ€™re used to seeing on American TV shows.

๐Ÿ“น In this video, Shivi explains what family court proceedings in the UK typically look like and what you can expect. Thereโ€™s usually no jury, no reporters and no press. Family proceedings are generally very private matters, designed to deal with sensitive issues away from the public eye.

10/08/2026

A brand new episode of our podcast Life, Love & The Law is now available! And this week we're delving into the family court... โš–๏ธ

Going to the family court can feel incredibly daunting. We all have visions of large rooms filled with judgemental onlookers, and judges with gavels. But the reality of the family court in the UK is very different.

In this episode, Liza speaks to Shivi Rajput about what to expect at the family court - what does it look like, what should you wear, can you take other people, should you take food? Shivi and Liza discuss how many family law cases really go to court, and how you can avoid it.

Click the link in our bio to listen to the episode โ˜๏ธ

07/08/2026

If you're thinking about pursuing surrogacy abroad and plan to return to the UK to raise your child, it's important to know that obtaining legal parenthood overseas doesn't always mean it's recognised in the UK. ๐ŸŒ

Even if you're named on a foreign birth certificate or have a pre-birth order in another country, you'll still need to apply for a parental order in the UK to transfer legal parenthood.

There's an understandable misconception that if you're legally recognised as a child's parent overseas, the UK will automatically recognise that too. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Without a UK parental order, there's a risk that the surrogate will still be legally recognised as the child's parent here.

If you're considering international surrogacy, our specialist family lawyers are here to help. ๐Ÿ™

02/08/2026

Across the world, surrogacy laws vary significantly. Some countries ban surrogacy altogether, while others permit commercial surrogacy. ๐ŸŒŽ

๐Ÿ“ ๐—•๐˜‚๐˜ ๐˜„๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—จ๐—ž?

As part of National Surrogacy Week, today we're exploring the legal side of surrogacy, starting with how it works under UK law.

As Sophie explains, under UK law, the person who gives birth is automatically recognised as the child's legal mother, regardless of whether they are genetically related to the child. The intended parents must then apply for a parental order after the birth to become the child's legal parents.

Understanding the legal process is an important part of any surrogacy journey, helping everyone involved move forward with clarity and confidence. ๐Ÿฅฐ

31/07/2026

๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฑ ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ? ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Most child maintenance calculations are made by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), but if one parent has a very high income, the rules can be a little different.

There is a cap on the amount the CMS can assess. If you believe more child maintenance should be paid above that level, you may need to make a separate application to the court.

Every family's circumstances are different, so it's important to understand what options are available to you.

๐ŸŽฅ Watch Ashley Le-Core explain when the child maintenance cap applies and what it could mean for you.

28/07/2026

How does child maintenance work? ๐Ÿ‘€

It's one of the most common questions family lawyers are asked, and the answer isn't always as straightforward as people think.

In most cases, child maintenance arranged through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will continue until your child turns 18. However, the amount you pay depends on your individual circumstances, including how many nights your child stays with each parent.

๐Ÿ“น: Ashley Le-Core explains what you need to know in this short video.

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Stowe Family Law LLP, Clockwise, Yorkshire House, Greek Street
Leeds
LS15SH

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