Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Fisher, partner at Stowe Family Law, examines how increasingly international families are reshaping divorce practice. The article explores the rise of 'forum shopping' or 'divorce tourism', with separating couples often competing in a 'jurisdictional race' to secure the most favourable outcome.
Fisher notes that England and Wales remains attractive because of its approach to financial disclosure and fairness, but other jurisdictions are rapidly modernising.
International wealth structures, overseas property holdings and digital assets such as cryptocurrency are adding layers of complexity to financial settlements, while cross-border child arrangements raise difficult questions about relocation and parental rights.
As family life becomes more global, Fisher argues that 'family law stretches across multiple disciplines', requiring closer collaboration between lawyers, financial advisers and international specialists.
