Child Residence and Custody

BTO Family Law Team / September 25, 2023

Sophie Turner v Joe Jonas – When Everything is Not So Perfectly Fine

Sophie Turner files wrongful retention court proceedings against Joe Jonas, requesting that their children be returned to the UK.

You know what they say, a week is a long time in show business. In that short space of time the highly publicised divorce of Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas has gone from “amicable” to not so Perfectly Fine as she has today (Friday, 22 September) filed papers in the UK asserting that their children are being wrongfully retained in New York City and seeking their return to live with her in the UK.

BTO Family Law Team / September 22, 2023

Arbitration: A Smarter Alternative to Court

On Monday 25 September 2023, the statutory instrument making amendments to the Ordinary Cause Rules 1993 comes into force. This changes the procedure for defended family actions in a wholesale manner, replacing the existing procedure with rules heavily focused on case management.

BTO Family Law Team / July 1, 2022

How do separated parents do holidays?

School’s out for summer

Holidays are here again…The start of the summer holidays marks great excitement for many children across Scotland this week. However, some of their parents may not feel the same way. Holiday time can be very stressful for parents and carers who can be juggling work and/or other commitments with providing care for their children. It can be particularly difficult for parents who are separated. When organising holidays these parents may be trying to accommodate not only their own schedules, those of their children and their former partners, but potentially also those of any new partners, their children and the new partners’ former partners! It can, therefore, all become very overwhelming.

Kirstine Macrae / May 10, 2022

Do I need a letter of consent to take my child abroad?

Summer 2022 is expected to be a boom season for families travelling abroad after the pandemic and restrictions put paid to many holiday plans for two years running.

Kirstine Macrae / December 22, 2021

Top Tips for Facilitating Handovers

This time of year, during the festive period, can often be particularly difficult for parents who are separated. The prospect of not spending the whole of your child’s Christmas celebrations with them can be daunting and highly emotional. This can understandably lead to tension between you and your ex-partner. In order to minimise the acrimony your child is exposed to when they are moving between their parents, we have noted some useful guidance, which may be of assistance where cases involve direct handover, below:

Beverley Addison / August 31, 2020

Everything you need to know about the new Children (Scotland) Bill

Last week the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the Children (Scotland) Bill. The Bill will now become law, bringing with it some of the most significant changes to the family court system in almost 15 years. [Read more…] about Everything you need to know about the new Children (Scotland) Bill

BTO Family Law Team / October 8, 2019

The difficulties of obtaining an order to relocate with your child

When relationships between parents break down, it is not uncommon for the parent with whom the child resides, to want to relocate elsewhere.

Debbie Reekie / March 22, 2018

Families Need Fathers…as well as Mothers

Attending Families Need Father’s Scotland meetings on a regular basis clearly highlights that there are still issues surrounding father’s involvement with their children post separation in Scotland. [Read more…] about Families Need Fathers…as well as Mothers