Family Law and Litigation applies a practical approach to a range of family law and practice topics.  The course book discusses a range of issues relating to the practicalities of family litigation, including taking instructions, funding, drafting bundles, fact finding hearings, position statements and skeleton arguments, hearings, and enforcement.

Private law children disputes are explained, including parentage and child maintenance and other practical issues.

Public law children disputes are also considered, including child protection, care and supervision orders and adoption and other permanency options.

The course book also explains the law and practice relating to domestic abuse, including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The law and practice relating to divorce and judicial separation is explained, together with financial orders. Finally, the rights of cohabitants upon separation are reviewed.

The book is supported by a number of activities and links to practice which reflect the authors’ wide-ranging experience in family law and practice. 

Family Law and Litigation is the recommended textbook for the CILEX Professional Stage Family Law and Litigation module, but it will also provide invaluable guidance for law students and other practitioners who are seeking to develop and update their practical and commercial skills in this area.

Stuart Barlow is a Solicitor and has over 40-years’ experience in Family Law. He conducts most of his own advocacy and has dealt with many cases involving litigants in person. He is a member of the Law Society Children Panel and an Accredited Specialist in Private Children and Cohabitation with Resolution. He was previously Chief Assessor of the Law Society Family Law Panel and an Adjudicator for the Legal Aid Agency. Stuart is also a former external examiner of the Nottingham Law School.

He has written four books including Rights of Grandparents in Children Proceedings, A Practical Guide to Working with Litigants in Person and McKenzie Friends in Family Cases, A Practical Guide to Advocacy in Family Proceedings and Running a Family Law File. A Handbook for Trainees and Paralegals.

He presents training courses for family lawyers throughout England and Wales.

Hannah Murray is a family solicitor with experience in all areas of family law. She is also a Clinical Supervising Solicitor at Northumbria University where she supervises family law students delivering Pro Bono advice within the award-winning Student Law office.

Hannah is an active member of Resolution, the Law Society, the North East Pro Bono Committee and the North East Women Lawyers’ Division.