The law applying at the end of adult relationships

Author: Sarah Harvie-Clark

PDF Published: Tuesday 17 Dec 2024 (SB 24-58)

Expand
Overview
Report

Hide

Hide

Overview
Report
- Executive Summary
- Introduction and overview
  - The choice between marriage, civil partnership or living together - and its legal consequences
- Divorce and dissolution
  - Key sources of law
  - The role of private negotiations
  - Key features of the court process
  - Types of court procedure used in divorce or dissolution
    
    The simplified procedure
  - Grounds for divorce or dissolution
    
    Interim gender recognition certificate
    
    Irretrievable breakdown
  - The couple's property and finances
    
    Legally binding agreements
    
    Separation agreements
    
    Prenuptial agreements
    
    The court's power to set aside legally binding agreements
    
    The Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985
    
    Matrimonial or partnership property
    
    The two-stage test
    
    The principles applied by the court
    
    Principle 1: fair sharing of matrimonial or partnership property
    
    Net value
    
    Fair sharing
    
    Principle 2: economic advantages and disadvantages
    
    Principle 3: caring for children under 16
    
    Principle 4: period of adjustment
    
    Principle 5: avoiding serious financial hardship
    
    The conduct of the spouses or civil partners
    
    Possible court orders under the 1985 Act
    
    Orders for transfer of property and orders for payment of a capital sum
    
    Order for the payment of a periodical allowance
    
    Orders relating to pensions
    
    Pension sharing orders
    
    Pension capital sums: earmarking orders
    
    Pension compensation
    
    Incidental orders
- The end of a cohabiting relationship
  - Key sources of law
  - Legally binding agreements
  - Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006
    
    A financial claim for cohabitants
    
    Who may make a financial claim?
    
    Time limit for making a financial claim
    
    Types of court order
    
    Economic advantages and disadvantages
    
    Household goods
    
    Certain savings and property
  - The couple's home and other land and buildings - the role of property law
  - Unjustified enrichment
- Resolving disputes without going to court
  - Family mediation
  - Collaborative law
  - Arbitration
- Advice and support for constituents
  - Legal advice
  - Alternative dispute resolution
Sources

Harvie-Clark, S. (2024, September 3). Parental responsibilities and rights. SPICe Briefing 24-40. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2024/9/3/26ba44a2-3634-42eb-869d-6edfca54cfc2

Mair, J., Mordaunt, E., & Wasoff, F. (2016). Built to last: The Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 - 30 Years of Financial Provision On Divorce. Retrieved from http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/117617/

Scottish Government. (2024, April 30). Civil justice statistics in Scotland 2022-23, para 3.2.3. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2024/04/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23/documents/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23/govscot%3Adocument/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23.pdf

Scottish Government. (2024). Civil justice statistics in Scotland 2022-23, Tables 9 and 10. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2024/04/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23/documents/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23-main-tables/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23-main-tables/govscot%3Adocument/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23-main-tables.xlsx

Scottish Civil Justice Council. (2024, November 19). Public consultation on the simplified procedures for divorce and dissolution. Retrieved from https://www.scottishciviljusticecouncil.gov.uk/consultations/scjc-consultations/simplified-procedures-for-divorce-and-dissolution

Scottish Government. (2024, April 30). Civil Justice Statistics 2022-23: supplementary tables, table 2. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2024/04/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23/documents/divorce-dissolutions-supplementary-tables-2022-23/divorce-dissolutions-supplementary-tables-2022-23/govscot%3Adocument/divorce-dissolutions-supplementary-tables-2022-23.xlsx

Scottish Government. (2024, April 30). Civil justice statistics in Scotland 2022-23: supplementary tables, table 3. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2024/04/civil-justice-statistics-scotland-2022-23/documents/divorce-dissolutions-supplementary-tables-2022-23/divorce-dissolutions-supplementary-tables-2022-23/govscot%3Adocument/divorce-dissolutions-supplementary-tables-2022-23.xlsx

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law, Volume II: Intimate Adult Relationships, Third Edition, chapter 3, para 3-224. Edinburgh: W Green.

Scottish Government. (2018, September 28). Future of civil partnership: consultation, chapter 4, para 4.29. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/future-civil-partnership-scotland/pages/6/

MacBride, C., & Kendall, F. (2010). Wedded to the Pact. Retrieved from https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-55-issue-12/wedded-to-the-pact/

Quail, T. (2021, April 21). Pre-nups: questions of protection. Retrieved from https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-66-issue-04/pre-nups-questions-of-protection/

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law, Volume II: Intimate Adult Relationships, Third Edition, chapter 3, para 3-224. Edinburgh: W Green.

Kibble v Kibble 2010 SLT (Sh Ct) 5. (2010).

Gillon v Gillon (No 3) 1995 SLT 678. (1995).

Scottish Law Commission. (2020). Aspects of Family Law Discussion Paper on Cohabitation, Discussion Paper No 170, para 7.7. Retrieved from https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/1115/8270/8061/Aspects_of_Family_Law_-_Discussion_Paper_on_Cohabitation_DP_No_170.pdf

Mckay v Mckay 2006 SLT (Sh Ct) 149. (2006).

Watt v Watt 1994 SLT (Sh Ct) 54. (1994).

McDonald v McDonald 2009 Fam LR 131. (2009).

Whittome v Whittome (No 1) 1994 SLT 114. (1994).

McNulty v McNulty 2016 Fam LR 145. (2016).

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law - Volume II: Intimate Adult Relationships, Third Edition, chapter 6, para 6-213. Edinburgh: W Green.

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law: Intimate Adult Relationships: Volume II, Third Edition, chapter 6, paras 6-277-6-278. Edinburgh: W Green.

Practical Law Family. (2023). Financial provision on divorce or dissolution: section 9 principles (Scotland).

EP or G v GG [2016] CSOH 32; 2016 Fam LR 30 . (2016).

Jacques v Jacques 1997 SC (HL) 20. (1997).

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law, Volume II: Intimate Adult Relationships, Third Edition, chapter 6, para 6-311. Edinburgh: W Green.

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law: Intimate Adult Relationships: Volume II, Third Edition, chapter 3, paras 6-199-6-200. Edinburgh: W Green.

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law, Volume II: Intimate Adult Relationships, Third Edition, chapter 6, para 6-355. Edinburgh: W Green.

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law, Volume II: Intimate Adult Relationships, Third Edition, chapter 6, para 6-359. Edinburgh: W Green.

Practical Law Family. (2023). Financial provision on divorce or dissolution: overview (Scotland).

Knight v Henderson [2023] SAC (Civ) 2; 2023 SC (SAC) 15; 2023 SLT (SAC) 11 ?. (2023).

Skilling, M. (2023, January 18). Sheriff Appeal Court rules applications for cohabitant’s award must be served on defender within one-year statutory period to be timeous, Scottish Legal News. Retrieved from https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/sheriff-appeal-court-rules-applications-for-cohabitants-award-must-be-served-on-defender-within-one-year-statutory-period-to-be-timeous

Sutherland, E. (2022). Child and Family Law, Volume II, Intimate Adult Relationships, Third Edition, chapter 6, paras 6-475, 6-511-6-512. Edinburgh: W Green.

Macfarlane, K. (2022). Thomson's Family Law in Scotland, Eighth Edition, para 8.6. London: Bloomsbury Professional.

Gow v Grant [2012] UKSC 29; 2013 SC (UKSC) 1; 2012 SLT 829. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2011-0184

Macfarlane, K. (2022). Thomson's Family Law in Scotland, Eighth Edition, para 8.6. London: Bloomsbury Professional.

Brodies. (2020, February 20). Unjustified Enrichment: alternative remedies and prescription. Retrieved from https://brodies.com/insights/alternative-dispute-resolution/unjustified-enrichment-alternative-remedies-and-prescription/

Pert v McCaffrey [2020] CSIH 5; 2020 SC 259; 2020 SLT 225. (2020).

Clark, L. (2020, February 10). Time bars and cohabitants: an equitable solution?. Retrieved from https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-65-issue-02/time-bars-and-cohabitants-an-equitable-solution/

Bremner, A. (2021). Legal Aid - how it works, SPICe Briefing SB21-55. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2021/8/19/d60c5da7-11e1-49d1-b8df-aa0bb65cf9e5?wp-linkindex=31&utm_campaign=eBulletin_27_August_2021_issue&utm_content=news.parliament.scot&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Scottish_Parliament_Corporate_Body

Haley, L. (2024). Legal advice - where to go and how to pay. SPICe Briefing SB 24-24. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2024/5/16/3d4eb61f-2f9e-4078-98b6-b161db1a65c2

Last Updated: 20/2 10:38pm

An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.