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• AF v SF [2019] EWHC 1224 (Fam) The wife applied for financial remedies, having had a freezing order granted on some of the husband's funds. The husband had instructed solicitors but failed to engage in proceedings, and after he was found to lack capacity to litigate the Official Solicitor was appointed. Moor J rejected the wife's case for a second home in London, but came to the conclusion that an appropriate budget was £175,000 per year for the rest of her life, making for an overall award of over £7 million. She was also awarded five additional maintenance payments to reflect that she would be kept out of her money for five years. Judgment, 20/05/2019, free
• Purvis v Purvis [2019] EWFC 31 The applicant, a convicted sex offender, applied for an order that a letter of request be issued to the American authorities for the respondent to be examined and required to produce documents relating to supposed assets. The claim being highly speculative, and given the applicant's conduct, Mostyn J concluded that it would be disproportionate and unlawful to grant the application. Judgment, 20/05/2019, free
• Hearings by video to be tested in domestic abuse cases Domestic abuse victims may seek injunctions more easily and with less stress as part of a test into the use of fully-video court hearings. News, 16/05/2019, free
• Speech by President of the Family Division: Nicholas Wall Memorial Lecture 2019 “THE CHILDREN ACT 1989: 30 YEARS ON” News, 16/05/2019, free
• Case summary: Vasilyeva v Shemyakin [2019] EWHC 932 (Fam) A case summary of Vasilyeva v Shemyakin [2019] EWHC 932 (Fam), by a Pupil at 1 Hare Court. Case note, 10/05/2019, registration required
• L (A Child) [2019] EWHC 867 (Fam) An order had been made transferring the boy's home to that of his father in Northern Ireland, because maintaining the placement with his mother and grandmother would cause him emotional harm. The situation did not rise to the level of parental alienation, but the child was unable to speak positively of his father in the maternal home. The mother appealed, arguing that there had been procedural irregularity, the decision to transfer residence was premature, and the conclusions on the balance of harm were wrong or insufficiently evidenced. Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, found that none of the challenges made on her behalf had been sustained. The appeal was dismissed. Judgment, 09/05/2019, free
• Vilinova v Vilinov & Anor [2019] EWHC 1107 (Fam) The wife made a claim for financial relief after a divorce in Russia. A claim for £2m was made against her by a company of which the husband had been the sole director. She claimed that this was a sham. The husband did not engage at all with the court during the proceedings, though the company did, and he gave no disclosure of his means. Holman J was satisfied that it was appropriate to make an order for financial relief, and that an award of £5m to the wife, leaving at least £17m to the husband, would not do him any injustice. It was less than the wife would have been awarded had all the proceedings taken place in England and Wales. The wife was also entitled to an order for costs against the company and the husband. The judge recognised, however, that enforcement of his orders would be difficult. Judgment, 09/05/2019, free
• Capital Gains Tax in Divorce: A Refresher Recording of webinar first broadcast on 30th April 2019. Webcast, 09/05/2019, members only
• Draft guidance on reporting in the Family Courts The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has released draft guidance for consultation on reporting in the Family Courts. News, 09/05/2019, free
• Latest View from the President’s Chambers sets out need for change in Public and Private Children’s Law Latest update gives details on the Public and Private Law Working Groups, a financial remedy court update, divorce service centres and the HMCTS Reform Programme. News, 09/05/2019, free

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