Europe: Family and Matrimonial

Stepparents in England and Wales often play a central role in raising children, yet many families are unaware that marriage or civil partnership alone does not grant parental responsibility. This article examines the legal distinction between day-to-day care and formal parental responsibility, exploring when stepparents may need legal status and the routes available to obtain it. Drawing on recent case law and statutory provisions, it clarifies the practical implications for blended families navigating educ

The BBC drama I, Jack Wright explores what happens when a wealthy patriarch's final will doesn't match his family's expectations, leaving some relatives excluded and others surprisingly benefiting. While the series heightens the drama for entertainment, it raises genuine questions about inheritance disputes: Can disappointed family members challenge a will simply because it feels unfair? What legal grounds exist for contesting testamentary decisions, and could careful lifetime planning have prevented the fa

When divorce involves significant wealth, one of the hardest questions is whether you can trust the financial picture being presented to you. You may be worried that assets are being hidden, undervalued or moved out of reach. Or you may be a business owner, entrepreneur or someone with inherited wealth who is concerned about how to protect assets properly without being accused of concealment. These are very different concerns, but they often meet at the same point: the need for clear, accurate financial disclosure and a strategy that protects your position from the outset.