Separation Agreements Archives - Edinburgh Family Law

You’ve had a terrible Christmas and want to separate – what now?

cmathison2024-02-21T11:18:12+00:00January 4th, 2024|Christmas, Divorce, Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships, Separation Agreements|

In our experience, Christmas can be the final straw for relationships that have been delicate for some time. The cost-of-living crisis has exacerbated this further with heightened financial concerns magnifying issues.

Many couples were already at breaking point before Christmas but the last thing they wanted to do is to make Christmas even more strained by voicing their relationship doubts.

Online visits to our divorce and separation webpages are 30 percent higher during January and February every year. “Divorce Month” isn’t a happy occasion and contacting a solicitor can be a daunting process. We know there will be many couples who have […]

Co-Parents urged to make Christmas arrangements amid 8-week warning

cmathison2024-02-21T11:06:39+00:00October 30th, 2023|Children & parenting issues, Christmas, Co-Parenting, Separation Agreements|

Head of Family Law Beverley Johnson was recently interviewed about co-parenting arrangements over Christmas and her advice was featured in a number of newspapers including The The Herald, Glasgow Times Times and Dunfermline Press.

Separated parents have been urged to make their Christmas arrangements “as soon as possible” to avoid ending up in court.

Christmas is fast approaching – and with just eight weeks to go – one family law firm has urged separated parents to negotiate where their children are spending the festive season.

If co-parents cannot agree on where their children will […]

Tips for celebrating Halloween as separated parents

cmathison2024-02-21T11:51:02+00:00October 20th, 2023|Children & parenting issues, Co-Parenting, Halloween, Separation Agreements|

If you have young children, they are likely to be excited at the prospect of dressing up, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins this Halloween. However, for divorced or separated parents, this might cause impending anxiety around how to celebrate the holiday.

Many separated parents focus on family-oriented holidays like Summer and Christmas. However, other holidays like Halloween can be just as important for children.

Johnson Legal Family Law has compiled some guidance around how to ensure your children enjoy October 31st with as little stress as possible.

1. Think about what your children want: Ultimately, your decisions should satisfy the best interests […]

Everything you need to know about father’s rights and responsibilities in Scotland

cmathison2024-02-21T11:27:42+00:00October 18th, 2023|Children & parenting issues, Co-Parenting, Fathers Rights, Separation Agreements|

What are parental rights and responsibilities?

Parental rights and responsibilities allow parents to make decisions about their child’s life. This includes the child’s name, the child’s religion, where the child lives and which school the child will go to. Parental rights remain in force until the child is 16. However, the responsibility on a parent to provide guidance to a child exists until the child reaches 18.

What parental rights does a father have?

A child’s mother automatically has full parental rights and responsibilities when the child is born.

A child’s father has parental rights and responsibilities if:

He is married to the child’s […]

Top 5 tips to look after your mental health during a separation or divorce

cmathison2024-02-21T11:53:28+00:00September 28th, 2023|Divorce, Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships, Separation Agreements|

World Mental Health Day (10 October) is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.

When you’re going through a separation or divorce, it is natural to have feelings of worry, stress and anxiety which can have an impact on your mental health. The legal process itself can feel complex and alien, even with expert guidance. After the legal part is finished, there are the unknowns for the future.

It’s really important to take good care of your mental health during this process. This will support you to make strong, informed decisions to move forward with your life.

Here are […]

Why do divorce and separation rates peak after the summer holidays?

cmathison2024-02-21T11:58:24+00:00July 26th, 2023|Divorce, Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships, Separation Agreements, Summer Holidays|

The summer holidays can be a magical time for families to make memories, go on trips and spend uninterrupted quality time together.

However, in our experience, the school summer holidays can often be the final straw for relationships that have been fragile for some time.

It’s been well researched and documented that parents often experience an increase in domestic arguments during the summer months, which in turn may lead them to becoming disillusioned with their relationship and to question its long-term viability.

End of the school holidays is one of the busiest times for Family Lawyers

Outside of post-Christmas enquiries in January, the end […]

Edinburgh Family Law firm launches Scotland’s first Divorce and Separation digital Wellbeing hub on Mental Health Awareness Week

cmathison2024-02-21T11:24:05+00:00May 15th, 2023|Children & parenting issues, Divorce, Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships, Family Law News, Separation Agreements|

Edinburgh Family Law firm Johnson Legal Family Law is giving those going through a relationship breakdown access to important wellbeing support with the launch of a new digital Divorce and Separation Wellbeing Hub.

The Divorce and Separation Wellbeing Hub is the first of its kind in Scotland and has been developed in collaboration with a number of Scottish charities including Shared Parenting Scotland, Relationships Scotland, Family Journeys and Bright Light Relationship Counselling.

The charities were all instrumental in providing resources and offering guidance in the development of the hub and the website was also reviewed by a Relationship Counsellor to ensure […]

How to survive wedding season when you’re recently divorced or separated

cmathison2024-02-21T12:04:31+00:00May 10th, 2023|Divorce, Divorce & Dissolution of Civil Partnerships, Domestic Abuse, Separation Agreements|

Summer is fast approaching and although the (Scottish!) weather hasn’t quite caught up just yet, wedding season is just around the corner. Weddings can be stressful for anyone, but if you’ve recently been through a divorce or separation, this season of love can be a particularly distressing prospect.

On the other hand, weddings are also a great opportunity to re-ignite old friendships that got squeezed out during your marriage or relationship or meet new people and broaden your circle.

To make the wedding season a bit less overwhelming, try to evaluate each invitation as you receive it, and consider a few key […]

Focus should always be on what’s best for the children at Christmas

cmathison2024-02-21T10:57:55+00:00November 14th, 2022|Children & parenting issues, Christmas, Co-Parenting, Separation Agreements|

Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year for families however, it can also be a difficult time for separated parents. As Head of Family Law at Johnson Legal Family Law, I’ve been helping families with their Christmas co-parenting arrangements for over 25 years.

Communicating effectively with your ex-partner is one of the most important aspects to a smooth Christmas. One of my colleagues, Fiona Mundy, recently trained as a coach with the New Ways for Families training programme. The pilot is run by Shared […]