Family Law Disputes after Brexit

A Guide to UK Family Law Disputes after Brexit

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If the UK leaves the EU with no deal this 29th of March 2019, there will have to be some changes to certain family law disputes as some EU family laws will no longer apply. The Ministry of Justice and Foreign & Commonwealth have published guidance to the public about this possible impact, but of course it is still best to refer to your family law solicitors.

Most of these changes will apply to England and Wales, and cross-border disputes with Scotland and Ireland will have to seek advice with family solicitors there.

Impact to Your Pending Legal Disputes:

Divorce

  • If your case is ongoing or made final before 29 March 2019, you will not be affected.
  • But applying after this date, the new rules will apply.

Parental Responsibility

  • If you start a case about arrangements with your children after 29 March, the new rules will apply but the procedures for application will remain the same.
  • If the case is ongoing on the same date, it will continue under the current rules.
  • If the case is ongoing in an EU court or will need to be put into action in an EU country, it may need to be done under a different court or a different procedure. Consult with your family law solicitor about how this may change.
  • If the arrangements have been made final, then you and your children should not be affected. However, any further applications may need to be made to a different court.

Maintenance Cases

  • If the child maintenance case was resolved and recognized by an EU court before 29 March 2019, you should not be affected.
  • If your case is ongoing, it will continue unchanged and will be heard under the current rules.
  • New or further applications after Brexit may need to be made to a different court or a different process.
  • A child maintenance decision that you want to be recognized and enforced in an EU country after 29 March 2019 will need to be referred to the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (REMO) unit.
  • Cases that involve the paying parent, recipient, and children who all remain in the UK are not affected.

International Parental Child Abduction

  • After 29 March 2019, the rules about abduction or wrongfully retained children in the the EU countries will largely remain unchanged.
  • If you are an applicant who wishes the return of a child abducted to an EU country by the other parent or relative, you should still consult with a family law solicitors that specialize on this particular situation.
  • Local legal advice in the country the child was taken to should preferably be obtained.

Further Impact on Family Law

If the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 and there is no deal (no Withdrawal Agreement), then EU will immediately will immediately cease to apply at 11 p.m. on 29 March for England and Wales. Northern Ireland and Scotland are considering separate arrangements.

However, despite the potential of immense political turmoil and uncertainty, family lawyers must be able to plan for their clients and their cases.

The UK leaves the EU at 11 PM on 29 March 2019, as currently scheduled at the date of this note. There is presently, late-January 2019, immense political turmoil and uncertainty as to the circumstances of leaving, and even the possibility that it may be later. But family lawyers must be able to plan for their clients and their cases. The Law Society and Resolution have already published practical guidance and recommendations and will provide further assistance to allow local family solicitors to plan their cases properly.

Don’t hesitate to consult with your family solicitors as soon as possible to prepare for how how Brexit may affect your ongoing cases.

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