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05 June 2026 / Rachel Fisher
Issue: 8164 / Categories: Features , Family , International , Divorce , Child law , Jurisdiction
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When the domestic goes global

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© Getty images
Rachel Fisher explores how globalisation is reshaping family law
  • Increasingly international families, cross-border assets and global mobility are reshaping family law, creating complex disputes over jurisdiction, finances and child arrangements.
  • As divorce and separation become more international, family lawyers must work across legal systems and alongside financial and global advisers to secure fair outcomes for clients.

Family law is the most personal area of law. Lawyers in this sector work with people going through some of the most emotionally charged and legally and practically complex times in their lives. Divorce and separation are rarely smooth sailing, and the legal processes involve several hurdles for clients to overcome.

Complications often focus on the financial aspects. Marriage is, at the core, a contract which legally binds not only the couple but their assets and wealth. Coming to a point, possibly after many years of sharing a life together, where money must be divided according to needs and fairness, often causes tensions. The other aspect is children. Where child arrangements need to be made, separating parents will sometimes

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Gateley Legal—Jack Kelly

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NEWS
A series of recent decisions has clarified important principles across property law, from perpetuities to lease renewals and public rights over land
Employers cannot rely on wellbeing services alone to defend workplace stress claims after a High Court decision awarding almost £1m to an overworked employee
Andy Burnham's brand of 'Manchesterism' could offer fresh thinking on legal aid and access to justice if it reaches Westminster, according to Roger Smith, NLJ columnist and former director of JUSTICE
The constitutional fallout from a change of prime minister, rather than the politics, is under scrutiny as questions arise over the limits of executive authority in a leadership transition
The legal profession is undergoing a fundamental shift from selling services to creating technology-enabled products, according to Professor Luke Mason, Head of School of Law at Regent's University London
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