There is a cultural shift afoot: more and more lawyers are standing up and commenting on children’s rights, and the discussion is well under way as to how our new changing Family Court Structure, should be best tailored to cater for the Voice of the Child. This observation is by no means made cynically, (as one who has been attempting to rattle this particular cage for some years), but with …Read More
Volunteers needed to walk Camino for new Dublin children’s centre
An East Coast children’s charity is issuing an urgent appeal for volunteers to walk the Camino in Spain, to raise funds for a new Dublin centre. The Guardian Project, which already has a centre in Arklow, Co Wicklow, helps children cope with divorce and bereavement. “We need to raise a minimum of €30,000 to support existing services and to open a new centre in South Dublin,” says charity founder and …Read More
Top 5 Tips to surviving your divorce in 2013
January is a great time for New Year’s Resolutions and taking a positive outlook on the year ahead…. but if you are in the throes of separation or divorce or about to embark on the process, then you may find it a little harder than most people to be upbeat this month. To help you out, here’s a quick summary of the ways in which you can make the process …Read More
Dealing with Loss
The Loch Garman Childcare Network is hosting a seminar for families and childcare professionals on Dealing with Loss through Separation or Bereavement, and I am delighted to act as a keynote speaker. I will be there with two hats, firstly as a family lawyer and secondly as founder and director of the ‘The Guardian Project’ in Arklow (which provides support services to young people who are experiencing parental separation and/or …Read More
The children’s rights referendum – time to place children at the top of the agenda.
I have worked in the area of Family & Child law for almost 20 years. Over that time, it has always been clear to me that most decisions made about children in the private family law area, are made without any recourse to their views or opinions, and without the assistance of a child specialist who could represent their views to a judge. By private family law, I mean normal …Read More
Our new Family and Child Law office opens in Dublin
This is an exciting time for me and for the staff, as we extend our physical presence in the Dublin area, where we have already been acting for many years. The difference is that we will now have a base to meet our new and existing Dublin clients, with the opening of our new Ballsbridge office this week. With the establishment of our Dublin base, we are sharpening our focus to specialise …Read More
What happens when couples can’t agree on terms of separation?
When a marriage has broken down and agreement can’t be reached by mediation, negotiation or collaborative law, then the only option available to couples who need to regularise their affairs is to go to court. “Judicial Separation” is the name given to a separation when it is decided by a Judge in the Courts. Following this route, an application is made to Court under the following legislation: The Judicial Separation …Read More