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04 February 2022 / Stephen Gold
Issue: 7965 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , Civil way
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Civil way: 4 February 2022

Divorce rules out; Service charge enforcement; E-bundle breakdowns; 167 out of 1793 may do

DIVORCE COUNTDOWN

I cannot see any sign of slippage (though I should warn that I am way behind with my annual eye test) and so let us take it that it is still on for 6 April 2022. Not the filing of my tax return but full implementation of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. I promise to take you gently and incrementally towards the monumental reforms.

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2020 have been published in draft and will update the lingo of primary and subordinate legislation. Remember, applicant for petitioner; conditional divorce for decree nisi; final order for decree absolute; separation order in divorce for decree of judicial separation and decree of nullity will become nullity of marriage order. In short, alignment where appropriate with corresponding handles already in use in civil partnership dissolutions.

The eagerly awaited Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2020 (SI 2022/44) have been made and laid and in so

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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