Social Media Contributing To Divorce Rates

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Manchester based Family Law solicitors Carter Law have noted a correlation between the use of social media and the incline of divorce rates.

In 2014, a study revealed that marriage happiness and quality shared a negative trend with the use of social media and spouses in 1 out of 7 marriages admitted to contemplating separation as a result of social media creating issues in the relationship.

How Is Social Media Causing Issues In Marriages?

Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter make affairs easily attainable. Ex partners, new colleagues, someone you met in a bar last year are all available to contact at the click of a button. The affairs can be solely digital too rather than physical, meaning communicating with a person who you find attractive online or via text and not informing your spouse. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram also allow people to maintain contact with potential back-up plans if their relationship was to end, making it a lot easier to move on from their spouse.

Social media is also making catching partners out a lot easier. Partners can log in to their spouses Facebook account and uncover affairs in different ways from exchanging of messages, tagged photographs or location check-ins. A separate study revealed a shocking 58% of people admitted secretly knowing their spouses password, and accessing their accounts without their knowledge.

Facebragging is also adding to the increased rate of divorces. This is when people use platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter to brag about how ‘perfect their life is’, resulting in other couples comparing their marital life to an ‘ideal’ illusion enforcing envy and thoughts questioning their marriage. Some couples even force each other to outdo their facebragging friends and can run up debts to fund luxurious holidays in competition of other married couples.

Partners’ spending too much time on social media is also a leading cause for social media destroying marriages. Spouses who use social media more than 1 hour a day are more likely to argue with their partner about their social media habits, according to a recent study. When a partner spends too much time on social media it can make their spouse feel undermined and can make them become jealous of the amount of time being spent on the accounts, time which should be spent with them, making them question “Why am I not interesting anymore?”. Some people may see social media as an escape from reality if they are facing relationship problems, which inevitably causes more problems.

In conclusion, the higher the use of social media, the further issues in a marriage. When was the last time you were with your spouse and you didn’t check your phone?

Alana Mustill – Carter Law Solicitors

An Easy Guide to Marriage and Relationship Breakdown

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So you have decided to separate. What are the essential legal things you need to know? The following has been provided by Selachii LLP and is intended to be a brief guide.

Divorce: The Basics

If you are married then you may wish to take divorce proceedings, although there are other options, such as entering into a separation agreement with your spouse. 

There is only one ground for divorce: that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. However, you must prove irretrievable breakdown by showing one of five things:

1. That your spouse has committed adultery (usually proved by them admitting it).

2. That your spouse has behaved unreasonably.

3. That your spouse has deserted you for a period of two years.

4. That you and your spouse have been separated for two years and your spouse consents to the divorce.

5. That you and your spouse have been separated for five years.

Briefly, the procedure for a divorce is that one party will file a divorce petition with the court. The court will then send a copy to the other party, along with an acknowledgement form for them to complete and return to the court stating whether or not they intend to defend the divorce (defended divorces are extremely rare). If they do not defend, then the petitioner can apply for the divorce to proceed. If there are no problems, the court will fix a date for the pronouncement of the decree nisi. Six weeks after the decree nisi the petitioner can apply for the decree absolute. Again, if there are no problems, the court will send a copy of the decree absolute to each party. It is normally possible for the divorce to go through without anyone having to attend the court.

Sorting out arrangements for children

When a couple separate they will need to sort out arrangements as to with whom any dependent children will live, and what contact the children will have with the other parent. There are no hard and fast rules as to arrangements for children – the important thing is what is best for those particular children. They may, for example, spend most of their time with one parent, or they may share their time with both parents.

If arrangements cannot be agreed, then an application can be made to the court for the court to sort out the arrangements by making a child arrangements order. 

Child maintenance

When parents separate they should if possible try to sort out child maintenance arrangements between themselves by agreement. However, if they cannot reach an agreement then an application can be made to the Child Maintenance Service.

The Child Maintenance Service will calculate how much the non-resident parent should pay, by reference to a formula. It can then collect the maintenance from that parent and pay it to the parent with care of the child. The Service reviews the payment amount every year.

Generally, child maintenance payable through the Child Maintenance Service will last until the child reaches the age of 16, or while the child is aged under 20 and is in full-time secondary education. However, child maintenance can be arranged through the courts for older children in tertiary education.

Sorting out finances on divorce

When a married couple separate they will need to sort out a financial/property settlement, including what is to happen to the former matrimonial home, the division of any other money or property, whether one party should pay maintenance to the other and what should happen to any pensions.

If these things cannot be sorted out by agreement, either party may apply to the court for the court to sort them out. The court will then require both parties to disclose full details of their means, so that it can decide what type of orders would be appropriate.

Alternatives to court

It is not always necessary to go to court to resolve a family law dispute. The matter can be resolved by agreement, by a variety of means, including:

Negotiation between the parties – Usually with the assistance of solicitors.

Mediation – Whereby a trained mediator will help the parties to reach an agreed settlement.

Collaborative law – Whereby each party appoints a collaboratively trained lawyer and then the parties and their lawyers meet face to face to try to agree a settlement.

Note that if an agreement is reached sorting out finances and property following a divorce, it will be necessary to request the court to incorporate the agreement into a court order.

Domestic violence

No one should have to put up with domestic violence, which includes not just physical violence but also other forms of abuse, such as controlling behaviour.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, then you can apply to a court for an injunction order. The order can take one or both of two forms:

A non-molestation order – preventing the abuser from using or threatening violence against you. A breach of a non-molestation order is a criminal offence.

An occupation order – requiring the abuser to leave the house, or preventing them from returning there. Occupation orders usually have a ‘power of arrest’ attached to them, which means that the police may arrest anyone breaching the order.

Issues for unmarried couples

When they separate, the law treats unmarried couples differently from married couples. There are two things in particular to note:

Firstly, if he was not married to the mother a father of a child does not automatically acquire parental responsibility for the child. He can, however, acquire it in various ways, for example if his name is on the child’s birth certificate, if the mother agrees to him having it or if a court grants it to him.

Secondly, the rules relating to sorting out finances on divorce do not apply to unmarried couples. One party cannot claim maintenance for themselves from the other, and any property will generally remain with the person who owns it. It is possible in certain circumstances for one party to make a claim against the other’s property, but the rules relating to such claims are complex, and legal advice should definitely be sought before making a claim.

Glossary of common legal terms

Affidavit – A written statement, sworn by the writer to be true.

Child arrangements order - An order regulating arrangements relating to with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact, and/or when a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person.

Clean break – A financial/property order on divorce that ends all financial ties between the parties.

Consent order – An order made with the agreement of both parties. Usually refers to an order setting out an agreed financial/property settlement on divorce.

Contact – Refers to contact between a child and the parent with whom the child does not usually live. Includes visits, overnight stays and other types of contact such as via telephone, letters, texts and internet.

Decree absolute – The order finalising a divorce.

Decree Nisi – The order stating that the parties are entitled to a divorce.

MIAM – Abbreviation for ‘Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting’, used to see whether mediation could be used to resolve a dispute, rather than going to court. Anyone wishing to make an application to the court is required to attend a MIAM.

Parental responsibility – Defined as ‘all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities and authority which by law a parent of a child has in relation to the child and his property’.

Pension attachment – An order following divorce, stating that one party will receive part of the other party’s pension, when the other party receives it.

Pension sharing – An order following divorce, transferring a percentage of one party’s pension to a pension in the name of the other party.

Periodical payments - Another term for maintenance.

Petitioner – The party who issues the divorce proceedings.

Property adjustment order – An order following divorce, adjusting the ownership of matrimonial property.

Respondent – Refers to the party who did not issue the court proceedings.

Separation agreement – A document setting out an agreement between spouses, relating to finances and/or arrangements for their children. Used where they have decided to separate but do not yet intend to commence divorce proceedings.

Without prejudice – Words typically included in an offer of settlement to help ensure that the court cannot be informed of the details of the offer.

Useful organisations and websites

Citizens Advice – Provide advice online, by phone and in person.

Cafcass – The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. Cafcass looks after the interests of children involved in family proceedings, including providing reports to help the courts decide what orders to make.

Child Maintenance Options – Provides information and support to help separated parents make decisions about their child maintenance arrangements.

Child Maintenance Service – Sorts out child maintenance when the parents can’t agree. Part of the GOV.UK website (see below).

Family Mediation Council – Provides information on mediation and details of local mediators.

Gingerbread – Charity providing expert advice and support for single parents.

GOV.UK – Government services and information website. Includes many useful resources related to family breakdown including, in particular, a sectionon marriage, civil partnership and divorce.

Relate – Provides counselling, support and information for all relationships.

Women’s Aid – Helps women and children who suffer domestic abuse.

Facebook now cited in a third of divorces

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The power and influence of social media in relationships has been highlighted by recent research, which has claimed that Facebook is now cited in one-third of all divorce cases.

According to a report produced by Lake Legal, which involved the collation of figures from legal firms’ statistics, the popular social network is often relied upon by disgruntled partners looking to highlight their spouse’s unreasonable behaviour.

All too often, Facebook provides evidence of new relationships and infidelity, while also helping husbands and wives to track their estranged partner’s movements. What’s more, the social networking powerhouse also records expenditure on luxurious items such as holidays and cars.

A number of divorce cases revolve around social media users who have reconnected with old partners who they may not have spoken to in years, spelling bad news for existing relationships should temptation take hold.

Now, solicitors are warning that social media actually provides an ongoing storyline of users’ lives. Sharing statuses and written posts, along with pictures and tagging provides a record of activities that could be used against them in a court case. Not only that, if an individual discusses their employment opportunities, plans for a holiday or reveals a recent windfall on Facebook, it may provide proof that they are lying about their financial position.

Similarly, photographs uploaded to social media profiles, and the comments made on these, can be used as evidence of a new romance, which can then be used against a party in court by a partner who refuses to accept responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage.

Nicki Welch Family Law advisor of Percy Hughes and Roberts said: “While the internet does provide a large quantity of extremely useful information, users should have more of an awareness of how much they are telling people online. This data is easily accessible and may be used against them should anything untoward take place.”

This is without going into evidence culled from mobile telephones, particularly texts which are very frequently produced in court in family law cases. Many a person is now confronted in court by copies of abusive and sweary texts they have sent to an estranged partner. It somehow looks so much worse when presented in black and white.

Text in haste repent at leisure.

Percy Hughes and Roberts family and divorce solicitors have a wide range of experience dealing with family disputes.  If you feel you require legal assistance, speak to an expert today.

High Court Judge Blasted After Comments on Marriage

From the London Evening Standard 09/12/13:

A high Court judge who said people wanting children should get married had his comments dismissed today as “patronising irrelevance”.

Labour MP Graham Stringer said the comments by Sir Paul Coleridge were not helpful for young people thinking about how to plan their lives.

His attack came after Sir Paul said people had “no right to have children” but only “responsibilities”.

The truth hurts, but it doesn’t do to shy away from it.

Mr Stringer said people should not automatically equate marriage with stability and added: “Telling young people whether they should marry or not doesn’t help — it’s patronising irrelevance.”

Granted, marriage isn’t a panacea, but the statistics speak for themselves. And whilst children can be successfully brought up in family units of all shapes and sizes, I think there’s still a lot to be said for the conventional structure.

But regardless of your views on marriage or how best to bring up children, anything which gets potential parents to stop and think for an extra second about all that’s entailed in parenthood can be no bad thing.

Sir Paul made his comments after the Marriage Foundation think-tank published research suggesting children born out of wedlock were twice as likely to suffer a family break-up.

And official figures show the proportion of children born to unmarried mothers in England and Wales reached a record 47.5 per cent last year.

Sir Paul was reported as saying: “There is this idea out there that it doesn’t make any difference whether you cohabit or marry. No it doesn’t — except that one tends to last and the other tends not to last.”

He went on: “If your relationship is not stable enough to cope with children you should not have them. You have a responsibility — you have no right to have children, you only have responsibilities if you have them.”

Well said that man.

Grounds for Divorce - A Simple guide

Guest PostFew people marry without the hope or expectation that the union will last forever, but for many couples, there comes a time when continuing in an unhappy marriage is no longer and option and thoughts turn to divorce.

To obtain a divorce under English law, certain requirements must be met. The first is that the marriage must have broken down to the extent that there is no possible chance of a reconciliation. The other requirements depend on which one of the five specific grounds allowed for divorce is being sought.

Many people approach their divorce lawyer with the mistaken belief that it is possible to get a divorce by citing irreconcilable differences, but this cannot be used under UK law. The closest UK equivalent is unreasonable behaviour. To use this as grounds of divorce you need to show that the other party has behaved in a way that is so unreasonable that you can no longer live with him or her.

While you may be concerned about whether you will be able to provide sufficient evidence of this for a divorce lawyer to be able to proceed, the reality is that the courts are not usually overly zealous. Cases may involve a refusal to share financial responsibility, physical threats, verbal insults, regular drunkenness or drug taking.

Unreasonable Behaviour
Unreasonable behaviour is by far the most commonly used of the five main grounds for divorce in the UK, because along with adultery, it allows a divorce to take place almost instantly. If parties decide to use other routes to divorce it can take at least two and up to a maximum of five years for the petition to be granted.

For example, if your husband or wife refuses to allow a divorce, you can still have one granted if you have lived apart for more than five years. If the other party agrees to the divorce in writing, you can apply for a decree absolute after just two years of living apart.

Desertion
Desertion can also be used as grounds for divorce if your husband or wife has left against your wishes and you have been apart for more than two years during the past two and a half years.

Adultery
Adultery can be used as grounds for an instant divorce if your husband or wife has sex with someone else and, as a result of the betrayal, you no longer feel able to live with them. It is important to note that if you continued to live together for more than six months after the affair, you can no longer use adultery as grounds.

It is also worth noting that, despite being in the pre-dawn of the era of same-sex marriage, the law of adultery remains firmly rooted in the past. At present a person can only commit adultery with someone of the opposite sex.

If you partner is unfaithful to you with someone of the same sex, you will not be able to use adultery as grounds for divorce. You would, however, be able to cite unreasonable behaviour as grounds and therefore still be able to get a divorce without the extended waiting times required by other grounds.

Are Courts Finally Beginning to See Fathers as Equal Parents?

Guest PostWhen a couple separates or files for divorce, their first thoughts should be about how to create the best possible situation for their children. Studies have shown that children can be greatly affected by their parents’ divorce- the results include a drop in grades, changes in attitudes or behaviour, or even depression.

In an ideal situation, both parents would come to an amicable decision which would result in both parents having equal responsibilities and time with the kids. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many divorces or separations; and often both parties cannot reach an agreement on temporary custody of the kids. This is when the court steps in.

The Family Law Act states that “each parent has parental responsibility for each of their children until aged 18”. The law acknowledges the importance of the parental responsibilities of both the mother and the father to their children. The court encourages both parents to come to an agreement with the best interest of their children in mind. Separation of the parents will greatly affect the overall well-being of the child so it is vital that the parents establish a relatively conflict-free parenting relationship. However as mentioned, if they cannot agree on certain arrangements, the court makes orders about parental responsibilities.

There are four types of parenting orders that are issued by the Family Court: Orders about parental responsibility and decision making, orders about with whom the child will live, child maintenance or child support orders and orders about the communication and time spent with the parent the child does not live with. When issuing these orders, the Family Court does so in the best interest of the child.

However, in a report on Channel Ten’s The Project, they concluded that the social perception of divorced couples is that fathers have been cast as the ‘secondary parent’ while the mothers assume the primary parenting role. Fathers say that there is a discrimination against men when it comes to granting parenting orders and that the mothers always end up in a better situation as far as the children are concerned. They also say that “there is no equality and no equal balance between men and women in court”.

This inequality between parents in court, where mothers were seen as the primary parent, appears to be changing, particularly in the last few years. Family consultants are now being brought in to determine what is best for the child/children. Other important factors are also considered, such as the physical and mental health of the parent, the willingness of the parent to support and facilitate the child’s on-going relationship with the other parent, the ability of the parent to provide the basic necessities of the child, the ability of the parent to send the child to school/provide good education as well which parent is able to provide the best guidance for the child. The judge also takes into account the plan of the parent for their child and the permanence and stability of the family unit in which the child is proposed to live. They also consider reports of domestic violence, abuse and neglect if there has been any. In consideration, courts have begun to weigh up all these factors to determine which parent should be the primary caregiver of the child, as opposed to simply favouring the mother.

This post was contributed by the team at Aitken Partners Law Firm.

Can I Still Get Family Legal Aid?

Guest Post

Following the introduction of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 there has been a lot of publicity and comment some of which could be misunderstood to indicate that legal aid will no longer be available in family cases from 1 April 2013.

Whilst there have been significant changes to legal aid it still covers certain proceedings.

These are:-

• Public family law cases regarding the protection of children including care proceedings, pre-proceedings advice.
• Private family law proceedings such as contact and residence disputes where there is evidence of domestic violence.
• Private law children cases where there is evidence of child abuse
• Foreign Child Abduction matters
• Representation of child parties in private family law cases
• Legal advice in support of mediation
• Domestic Violence Injunction
• Cases for Non Molestation and Occupation Orders
• Forced Marriage Protection Order cases

It is very important to be aware that divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, financial and children matters are eligible for legal aid only if the client can produce evidence of domestic violence or child abuse.

If that evidence does not exist or cannot be provided, legal aid will not be available.

The evidence of domestic abuse is complicated and needs to be provided before the legal help can be made available.

Legal aid is only available to the victim of domestic abuse, not the perpetrator and so it will often be the case that only one party can be represented by a Solicitor.

The firm cannot grant legal help, nor apply for a Legal Aid Certificate for private family law services without one of the following:-

1. the Opponent having a relevant unspent conviction for a domestic violence offence
2. the Opponent having a relevant police caution for a domestic violence offence given within a twenty four month period immediately preceding the date of the application for civil legal services.
3. evidence of relevant criminal proceedings against the Opponent for a domestic violence offence which has not ended.
4. a relevant protective injunction against the Opponent which is in force or which was granted within a twenty four month period immediately preceding the date of the application for civil legal services.
5. an undertaking given in England and Wales under the Family Law Act subject to certain conditions.
6. a letter from a person appointed to chair a MARAC confirming that the Applicant was referred to the conference as a high risk victim of domestic violence which again, needs to be within a twenty four month period.
7. a copy of a finding of fact made in proceedings in the United Kingdom again, subject to the twenty four month rule.
8. a letter or report from a health professional subject to certain conditions.
9. a letter from a Social Services department in England or Wales or its equivalent in Scotland or Northern Ireland, again within a twenty four month period with conditions.
10. a report from domestic violence support organisation, again subject to a twenty four month rule providing certain information.

Alternatively, evidence that children are at risk which needs to be provided in similar circumstances to the above.

As can be seen, there is very strict criteria but it does not mean that legal aid cannot be obtained.

In most circumstances the Applicant will need to obtain the evidence prior to making the appointment with the Solicitor. However, once that evidence has been obtained advice can be provided very quickly.

In addition the rules regarding financial eligibility for legal aid have been tightened up and financial information will need to be available in time for the first appointment.

The message is if you are the victim or potential victim of domestic violence/abuse or your children are at risk of abuse seek legal advice and do not delay.

Stephens Scown, Solicitors in Exeter, www.stephens-scown.co.uk, offer personal, business and specialist legal advice.

5 best break-up movies

Sponsored PostFilms about break-ups not only help you review your own relationship when experiencing disappointments and frustrations, but distract you from reality for a while to appreciate the beauty of an ideal love.

If you’re looking for movie therapy to renew your hope in love and life, here are five movies that will not disappoint.

(500) Days of Summer

Time heals all wounds, but during a period of time after a devastating breakup, many people believe they would never love again. This is a film for those who have given more than they have gotten, but manage to pick themselves up when they realize it is time to move on.

The story is based upon the male protagonist Tom and his memory-driven look at a failed relationship. When Tom meets Summer, he is a romantic greeting card writer and she is a relationship cynic who claims she does not believe in true love. The two date for several months before they end their relationship on day 290. When Tom sees Summer again on day 488, she is married, but both of them have walked out of their past and gained better understanding of each other.

Bridget Jones’s Diary

Sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince – which is not too traumatizing when the frog is Hugh Grant and your prince is Colin Firth. A reinterpretation of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, the film centers on the love story of Bridget Jones, a single woman in her early thirties who occasionally overindulges in cigarettes, alcohol and food. After she begins a relationship with her charming boss, the beaux Daniel Cleaver, she thinks she has found her Mr. Right…until she catches him with a woman that is younger, thinner and more attractive than her.

As Bridget picks up the pieces, she begins to see a family friend in a different light. Bridget Jones’ Diary is a story about finding love in the most unexpected of places, and that sometimes appearances are just that – an appearance and nothing more.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

One of the most frustrating moments after a break-up is when you receive an invitation to your ex’s wedding. This is what happens to the New York restaurant critic Julianne. After knowing her lifelong friend Michael is about to get married, she heads to Chicago, planning to sabotage their wedding and not afraid to fight dirty in order to win him back.

Soon after her arrival, she meets Michael’s fiancée Kimmy, who asks her to be her maid of honor. This sets off a series of comic scenarios where Julianne needs to pretend to be a dutiful bride maid while continuing her plan to prevent the wedding.

However, as events unfold, Jules learns that love is not about possessing someone, but letting your loved ones be happy. A great movie if you’re feeling bitter about your ex’s new flame, My Best Friend’s Wedding is funny at the right times and ultimately delivers an important message: that winning isn’t the most important thing after a break up (even if it seems like it might be).

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The aftermath of a break-up normally includes destroying the photos you took together, deleting their mobile numbers or tossing out the CDs they gave you. But if you don’t think you can erase your memories about your former love simply by wiping the trace of them in your life, think again.

This 2004 American sci-fi romance tells the story of an estranged couple, Joel and Clementine, who went through a surgery in order to erase the memories about each other. When his memories disappear one by one, Joel struggles to hold on to the good times and realizes that he does not, in fact, want to forget these memories with her. A beautiful film, Eternal Sunshine proves that it is impossible to forget someone that once stirred your soul.

Eat, Pray, Love

Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir, this film covers topics much broader than romantic love – but romance is one of the most important elements in the story. Gilbert seems to have everything a modern woman wants – a good job, friends and husband – yet she is searching for something she really wants in her life. After getting a divorce, Gilbert decides to make a change by embarking on an adventure of self-discovery which starts in Italy, passes by India and ends in Bali, Indonesia.

During her journey, she finds the pleasure of “doing nothing” in Italy and then discovers the power of prayer in India. In her last stop, Bali, she encounters an unexpected situation, and realizes that when it comes to dealing with love, you’d better follow your heart, not your mind.

Author bio: Yuan Liu is a freelancer who loves romance both in theatre and in real life.

Movies and TV shows for the newly single mum

Sponsored PostBeing a single mum can be challenging, but it most certainly can be rewarding. While newspapers and television shows always seem to take a negative spin on single mothers, in reality you will have a closer bond with your child – and plus, who needs a man all the time anyway?

Single motherhood can be an occasion to rise to, and there is no better way to step up to the challenge than to watch some movies that just make you feel good. Whether you’re laughing with Lorelai and Rory or nodding in agreement with Miranda from Sex and the City, these movies and TV shows will make you feel strong, empowered, and ready to conquer the world with a little one in your life.

Erin Brockovich (2000)

Dubbed as the ‘Godfather of single mother movies’, Erin Brockovich is one that you must, must, must add to your movies list. Based on a true story, this film tells the tale of Erin, an unemployed single mother who is desperately seeking a job. When she finally gets a job as a legal assistant, she begins exploring a case that eventually brings down a Californian power company. Packed with the perfect mix of laughter and heartwarming moments, this is a movie that will inspire and motivate you to follow your instincts, no matter what situation you are in.

Sex and the City (TV series)

If you haven’t watched at least one episode of Sex and the City, you have probably been living under a rock for the past two decades. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda are four single girls living in New York City, looking for sex, love, and self-empowerment.

With four distinct personalities, the girls find themselves in a variety of funny, sexy, moving, and just-plain-weird situations. Renowned for its ability to connect with women and for being frank about matters that were still swept under the rug in the ‘90s, Sex and the City will be a TV show that you can watch with popcorn as you dream of creative ways to talk to the hottie next door. Plus, you can gather all your girlfriends and talk about which character you’re most similar to. Are you a Miranda who works on legal separation cases at a law firm like Watts McCray Family Lawyers, or are you a budding journalist like Carrie Bradshaw?

Chocolat (2000)

The name of this film is a pretty good summary of what happens in the movie: a woman and her daughter move to a French village and open a chocolate shop, only to shake up the morality of the community. With beautiful cinematography and a dazzling soundtrack, this movie is perfect to watch with your girlfriends and some hot chocolate.

And if you’re still not convinced, then there is only one name left to say that will win you over: Johnny Depp.

Gilmore Girls (TV series)

One of the most beloved television shows of the new millennium, Gilmore Girls is part drama, part comedy, and all fun. Lorelai is a single mother living with her daughter, Rory, in Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Over 7 seasons, the show looks at the ups and downs of being in a single-parent family and the pursuit of romance when you’re a teen and a single mother. Watch this one with your little one, and you’ll be sure to feel excited about the future that the two of you will embark together.

Mamma Mia! (2008)

“Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning, waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile…”

So goes the lyrics of Abba’s Slipping Through My Fingers, a classic song about the pains of letting go as a parent. This quintessential musical is all about a single mother whose daughter, Sophie, who is looking for her father while planning her own wedding. Filled with upbeat tunes and a message about the importance of family, Mamma Mia! will have you and your bub dancing around in the living room before you know it.

Author bio: Abby Jenkins is a writer who is a big fan of Sex and the City. She also loves Mamma Mia! – so much so that she owns the sing-a-long edition.

Debunking the Same-Sex Marriage Myth

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December 2005 – the Civil Partnership Act was born, giving same-sex couples the opportunity to enter into civil partnerships together.

February 2013 – the majority of MPs vote in favour of a change to the law which would allow same-sex couples to get married.

The backlash to the decision was perhaps predictable, but still surprising in some way – why are so many people opposed to the idea of gay people getting married?

Some of the more vocal critics like to point out that marriage is a sacred religious rite, rather than a civil right, often pointing to the Bible to back up their claims. The typically quoted passage comes from the book of Leviticus, stating “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death” (20:13).

Okay, so this does certainly seem as though the fundamentalists have a point. However, let’s not be too hasty and just have a look at another handful of quotations from the same book: “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you” (Leviticus 19:28) – getting a tattoo is a sin.

“And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you” (Leviticus 11:10) – eating shellfish is also a sin, apparently!

“For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death” (Leviticus 20:9) – you’ll be killed just for insulting your parents? That’s a bit harsh!

The church has changed over time; everything has to adapt. Luke 16:18 says that anyone to have either divorced or remarried has committed adultery, and are therefore sinners. Henry VIII cut off ties with the Catholic Church and founded the Church of England because he didn’t like this law.

As the world changes, so must family law. We no longer cut off hands for stealing (Mark 9:43), and women are able to be the boss of male employees, even though Timothy 2:11 seems to expressly forbid this. We don’t stone women to death for not being a virgin at marriage (Deuteronomy 22:20-21) and I can’t imagine many of us believe that clothes made of linen and wool to be inherently sinful any more (Leviticus 19:19).

If you ask us, the world is a better place now that we don’t have to kill anyone who works on a Sunday – how annoying would it be if you ran out of milk in the morning?

And we quite like the fact that rape victims don’t have to marry their rapists. Also, let’s face it: how could eating bacon possibly be a sin?

The world moves on; even Christianity moves on sometimes. Same-sex marriage is simply another step towards global equality, and this is something we all have to strive for. The fact that the majority of MPs voted in favour of a change in the law is a bold stride forwards; now all we can do is wait for everyone else to get on board.

Tom Rokins who writes on behalf of www.switalskisfamilylaw.co.uk.

Valentine after Christmas?

Guest Post

Now that the New Year is well and truly underway and the festive season is a fading memory, it may well be a good idea to remind readers that Valentine's Day will soon be upon us.

February 14th is, of course, the big day - and don't you dare forget it (remember that

Saint Valentine was martyred)!

This may seem somewhat flippant, but the occasion comes so soon after the Christmas period; a time which can be extremely stressful for relationships of all kinds. Whilst forgetting to indulge your better half with a card, gift or gesture may not be the cleverest thing to do, it probably can't compete with the many factors which can contribute to making Christmas a relationship minefield. Financial worries, domestic confinement, the amount of time spent together during the festivities and an abundance of available alcohol are among the most common elements in exacerbating Yuletide woe.

Indeed, January traditionally sees a big rise in couples starting divorce proceedings. Enter the family lawyers, who, in some quarters, are viewed quite unjustly as part of the problem, rather than a means to a resolution. The breaking down of a relationship is hardly the fault of the legal profession and those unfortunate enough to be involved in such a scenario would be best advised to try to keep a cool head and at least try to maintain some degree of civility with the other party. Prior to getting a solicitor involved, consideration should be given to avenues such as referring the matter to an organisation such as Relate, which can and does provide a valuable service in conflict resolution and has a wealth of experience to draw on. Alternatively recourse could be made to one of the growing number of third party mediation companies, whose remit includes both commercial and family dispute resolution, and whose services are becoming increasingly popular.

Anyway, that is enough of the gloom and doom. Let's lighten up and think ahead to Valentine's Day. Don't forget that gift and bear in mind the words of an unknown author: “I really do not understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, golden-haired cherub pointing a primitive weapon at me.”

Divorce lawyers, marriage contracts & proactive advice

From Futurelawer.com 29/05/11:

Cracking!  Let that be a lesson to everyone that prevention is better than cure!

We should also all be thankful that the lawyer didn’t start by asking, “what can I do you for?” Actually, surely that’d be a breach of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct?

Oh, and seeing the word fiancé reminded me of something I overheard the other day.  I haven’t ever struggled with this one but it’s such a helpful (and easily memorable) tip for those who have trouble differentiating their fiancé from their fiancée, just remember “two e’s = boobies"!

(And it works a treat… providing you don’t stray into grey areas such as a middle aged chap with ‘moobs’!)