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Whether it is a baby boom or an increase in divorce, the current pandemic will certainly see a shift in behaviour patterns and family structures when things come to pass. For some, the prospect of being quarantined with their partner will be a welcome opportunity to spend time together, and many people are even predicting a baby boom at Christmas! Whereas for others, it may force couples to spend more time together causing tensions in their relationship to rise to the surface. China’s divorce spike is a warning to the rest of the locked-down world as the coronavirus outbreak is very likely to lead to an increase in marriage break-ups because couples are being kept in self-isolation together.

Macnabs has announced the appointment of solicitor Megan Joiner, who joins the specialist Family Team. Megan, who joins from Perth firm Jameson & Mackay, has experience advising clients on family law issues, particularly separation and divorce, cohabitee claims, and residence / contact disputes.

Taking a child abroad without permission can be treated as child abduction. So whether it is a half term skiing trip abroad, or an Easter break in the sunshine, make sure you know what you can and can’t do before you start planning. As a child’s mother, you automatically have parental responsibility, but you still need the permission of anyone else with parental responsibility before you take the child abroad. If grandparents and other family members want to take a child abroad, permission will be needed from both parents with parental responsibility and not just from one parent.

When a relationship breaks down and parties separate, for whatever reason, it is inevitably a difficult experience. So it pays to be educated and to do your research on how the divorce process works as well as getting organised financially before you set the wheels in motion. From organising papers and ascertaining financial fitness (determine the marital estate’s net worth), to safeguarding valuables and consulting with a lawyer, there is a lot to think about.