Blog
Getting the courts moving again
The decision of the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service (SCTS) to postpone all non-urgent hearings due to the Coronavirus pandemic came as a major blow to parties who had been… Read more
Getting disputes resolved in the middle of a pandemic…
In the right disputes, arbitration is the best way of getting to a resolution, at a time when our court system is under enormous pressure and progressing cases is a… Read more
Separated with a Spanish Property?
If you had enough money to buy a second home abroad, where would it be? The results of our survey* are in. Scots choose Spain. Read more
Law Society of Scotland Coronavirus Support Package Announced
As one of the 39 elected members of the Council of the Law Society of Scotland, I participated last week in the first ever virtual meeting of the Council. Read more
Contact with your child during lockdown- with Dr Lucie MacKinlay
I spoke with Dr Lucie MacKinlay, a chartered Clinical Psychologist who has worked for the NHS since 2003, and who also provides assessments to the courts in contact and residence… Read more
Parentage and the Right Not To Know
Who is my father? That seemingly simple and fundamental question has vexed many individuals, families and courts throughout history. Read more
Stop The Press- Good News for Fertility Treatment
Today has brought the first glimmer of hope that the storm clouds may be passing for those patiently awaiting to restart fertility treatment. Read more
Surrogacy and Fertility Treatment Update and New Caselaw
Time is the most valuable commodity. For those eager to start a family via assisted reproduction, time is priceless. Read more
Busy doing nothing?
As the courts slowly begin to grind back into gear using new technology, and in a spirit of contrarianism, I’d like to put in a word for the virtues of… Read more
Time for a Change for Marriage Law?
Divorce lawyers really shouldn’t blog about weddings: it’s like looking at the view through the wrong end of a telescope. Read more
Getting Married in Lockdown
I get asked about how to get divorced a lot, but am not often asked about how to get married. Read more
Divorce, Anxiety and Brent Crude
With family in the oil industry, having lived in Aberdeen in the 1970’s, and with my family all back there now, I notice the price per barrel of Brent Crude… Read more
Fruitful Language- The Right Tools For The Job
There’s been a surprising level of interest in metaphors in recent days. Read more
Access to Justice- English style
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Service in England and Wales have just published the 4th Edition of The Remote Access Family Court, by Mr Justice MacDonald. Read more
COVID-19: Domestic & Elder Abuse Contact details
This is a practical update on how to get help if you are experiencing domestic abuse (or are someone who is concerned about, or has witnessed abuse, neglect or financial… Read more
Mediation in the time of Corona- resolving things remotely
At a time when you feel that normal life is on hold, yet your personal circumstances are in freefall, mediation can allow you and your ex-partner or spouse to take… Read more
COVID-19 and assisted reproduction: yet another obstacle to parenthood
Among the many groups of people to be hit particularly hard by the current COVID-19 pandemic, spare a thought for those who are seeking to start a family using assisted… Read more
Who gets the pet?
One of the regrets of my pre-COVID-19 life is that I did not adopt a cat before we entered lockdown – especially, when I see my colleague’s feline friends appear… Read more
Who cares if the courts are shut?
Why should anyone be bothered if the civil courts are shut? It’s only a few unreasonable people who benefit from them anyway, right? Wrong. Read more
Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control
How do we protect against Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control in Scotland, and how do we compare to other countries? The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 (which came into force just… Read more
