Enforcing a contact order in Scotland has come into sharp focus. A Sheriff recently jailed a parent for seven days for deliberately blocking their child’s relationship with the other parent. The case is a clear reminder that a contact order is a binding court order,...
When a relationship ends, most couples in Scotland would far rather settle their finances, their home and the arrangements for their children between themselves than fight it out in court. A Minute of Agreement is the legal document that makes that possible. It...
When a marriage ends in Scotland, dividing the couple’s finances is often as significant as the divorce itself. Financial provision on divorce in Scotland is governed by the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985, which is built around the principle of fair sharing of...
Scotland’s cohabitation laws are among the most progressive in the UK, but they still fall well short of the rights enjoyed by married couples. If you live with your partner without being married or in a civil partnership, the law gives you only limited...
When parents separate, decisions about where children will live and how they will spend time with each parent are among the most important, and most emotive, that any family can face. Scots law places the welfare of the child at the heart of every such decision and...
More couples than ever are choosing to live together without getting married. While it is an exciting step, many people are surprised to learn that simply living together does not give you the same legal protections as marriage. In Scotland, there is no such thing as...
