Life, love and the law

🎙️Does adultery affect divorce in the UK?🎙️ Adultery doesn’t always cause the breakdown of a relationship, there are ways to repair after infidelity. But when a couple decides that their marriage or partnership has come to an end after an affair, the main question people ask is ‘does adultery affect divorce’. The reality is that legally speaking, no it doesn’t. In this episode, host Liza Gatrell i...

🎙️Life after an affair: divorce and blended families🎙️ Life, love and the law, a podcast by Stowe Family Law This episode of Life, love and the law welcomes our first ever couple to the podcast. Tom Nash, a regular face with us, brings along his partner Donna to discuss their lived experiences of affairs, divorce and building a blended family. Tom takes off his ‘divorce coach’ hat, to get into the...

🎙️ Understanding a sexless marriage🎙️ Life, love and the law, a podcast by Stowe Family Law A sexless marriage is one in which the couple has sex less than 10 times a year, as expert sex therapist Natasha Silverman explains. But the important thing is not necessarily the frequency, but the emotional connection between two partners, and what happens when that disappears. In this episode of Life, lo...

🎙️ The importance of health and fitness during divorce and separation 🎙️ Life, love and the law, a podcast by Stowe Family Law When you’re going through a stressful life event, keeping up with your workout schedule, eating well, or even just getting outside for a walk can feel overwhelming. But it’s so important for your mental and physical wellbeing to include activity, movement and good nutritio...

🎙️Is it normal to feel unsure, even if the relationship looks good on paper? Navigating relationship uncertainty🎙️ We've all heard the phrase 'looks good on paper' - the relationship has everything you ever wanted, you've got the house, the kids, the date nights. But something doesn't feel right and you can't understand why. Is it normal to feel that uncertainty? Can...

Starting out on your divorce journey can be really overwhelming. It’s hard to know how or where to begin with the practical and legal aspects, let alone trying to navigate this through the huge range of emotions you’re feeling.  In this episode of Life, love and the law, a divorce day special, host and expert family lawyer Liza Gatrell is once again joined by firm favourites Tom Nash, aka Mr Divor...

Christmas is one of the most important times of the year for many families. When you're dealing with divorce and separation, though, the pressure can easily mount up and there can be a tidal wave of emotion. Dealing with child arrangements over Christmas, making a new financial situation work around a festive budget and navigating loneliness are just some of the things divorcing or separating...

You loved our first live episode, and there were so many questions that needed answering, we’ve done another one! In this live show, Liza is joined by Managing Partner Sebastian Burrows to answer all the family law questions you put to them. From finances, to the family home, to communicating with your ex, Liza and Seb provided guidance and information, using their extensive expertise. 01:10 How m...

Matt and Liza discuss the problems around the lack of protection for unmarried couples living together. Cohabitation is the fastest growing family type and with this social change, there have been calls from family lawyers to review the law and help protect the financially vulnerable. But is this just inventing new laws for the sake of it? Can current marriage and divorce laws be adapted to better...

Moving on after a break-up is rarely easy, but many individuals do go on to have new relationships after divorce or separation. But what happens if you want to move in with a new partner? Buying somewhere together, or either of you moving into an existing property can have knock-on effects. Matt and Liza discuss how having a new partner can impact your divorce, including your finances, child arran...

In this episode of Stowe talks, Matt and Liza welcome back Tom Nash aka Mr Divorce Coach for a fascinating chat about how to manage a heterosexual divorce when one partner has come out. Tom explores having the conversation, letting people in, what to do about children and potential responses from the other spouse. 02:15 Common reasons people come out later in life 06:06 The impact of suppressing w...

Getting a financial settlement in divorce is a hugely important step, ensuring that you break all financial claims to your ex. The first part of this process is ‘full and frank’ financial disclosure, i.e., sharing the details of all your money, property, assets and debts. In this episode, Matt and Liza discuss the importance of legal advice in this process and potential risks of a DIY divorce. 00:...

One of the main things parents going through divorce are concerned about is the impact on their children, what their family situation will be going forward, and how best to shield their children. In many cases, parents can agree on matters between themselves. However, sometimes it’s necessary for the court to get involved. In this episode, award-winning barrister from 4PB, Mani Singh Basi joins Ma...

Sorting out your finances on divorce can be a confusing business. There’s a lot of jargon and it can be overwhelming when you’re first setting out. In this episode, Matt and Liza answer the question ‘what is a clean break’ and ‘what is maintenance’ in divorce, how to decide what’s going to be right in your unique situation and risks to be aware of. 00:45 What is a clean break order? 02:28 What are...

There is a great deal of misunderstanding, and taboo around finances, but it is a topic that will impact everyone going through a divorce. Going from one  household to two, and splitting finances at the point of divorce can be tricky and stressful. In this episode, Liz Grimshaw, financial planner and co-founder of Revival Financial Planning, talks about how to manage your money during the divorce...

Walkaway wife syndrome has become an ever-more prominent phrase in the last few years, used to describe a woman who, after years of emotional neglect in her marriage, chooses to end the relationship. In this episode, Matt and Liza are joined by Liz Harrington, co-founder of Family Flow the Divorce Collective, alongside Susie Giles. Liz is an expert trauma therapist and coach. This podcast explores...

Most people are new to divorce. It’s not something many of us have done before, and the whole thing can feel utterly overwhelming. The emotional and practical difficulties can lead to jumping in before we’re ready, making mistakes because we’re not thinking straight, and trying to get it all over with as quickly as possible. Whilst nobody wants to drag divorce out, one of the biggest mistakes Chlo...

Divorcing when you have children comes with complications - where will they live, how much time does each parent get, how do you have the least amount of impact on their normal everyday lives. But if you have a special educational needs child, these complexities can seem almost insurmountable.  In this special episode, Stowe talks teamed up with Smart divorce for a collaborative podcast. Matt Tayl...

Stowe talks goes live! Our first ever live podcast opened up Matt and Liza to audience questions for the first time. Family law covers a huge range of issues surrounding the breakdown, and building up, of families. Everything from divorce and separation, to surrogacy and IVF laws. In this episode, Matt and Liza answered a variety of questions, everything from how long does divorce take, to what to...

Parenting is no picnic, and when you’re doing it solo the challenges can be even greater. Whether it’s because of a divorce or separation, co-parenting or parallel parenting, loss of a partner, or you’re doing it by yourself by choice, single parenting can be overwhelming as much as it is joyful. In this episode, Matt & Liza are joined again by Sue Atkins, certified Parenting Coach, to discuss...

More and more unmarried couples and friends are buying houses together, but the move comes with potentially serious financial risks.  In this episode, Matt & Liza explain the importance of how a property is legally owned, the risks unmarried couples face and the legal options available to protect yourself financially if the love bubble bursts.   From Joint Tenants to a Declaration of Trust, th...

Going to the family court can be overwhelming, and cause high levels of stress, fear and confusion. Learning how to prepare and understand what will happen can help reduce anxiety and build resilience to navigate the day and deal with unexpected issues along the way. Leading divorce consultant Rhiannon Ford joined hosts Matt & Liza for this episode to share her tips and advice on how to prepar...

Debts can add a layer of extra stress and complication to couples trying to navigate a divorce. What happens if one person builds up debt during the marriage? Who is responsible for the debt? What about loans from the bank of Mum & Dad?  In this episode, Matt & Liza explore the role of debt in divorce, the different types of debt and how they are viewed, who has responsibility for debits,...

Inheritance can be one of the most emotive and complex elements of a financial settlement in divorce.  So how is it usually dealt with? The bottom line is that inheritance isn't always safe in divorce, and there's no simple yes or no answer.  In this episode, hosts Matt & Liza explore the tricky issue of inheritance and divorce, how the family court considers it and different ways to...

Parental responsibility is a legal term that covers the rights of a parent to be involved in making decisions in the best interests of their children.  But it’s not just about Mum and Dad - it's possible for someone to have parental responsibility for a child without being their legal parent, and for a legal parent to not have parental responsibility. In this episode, hosts Matt & Liza br...