Modern & Blended Family Law
Modern Blended Family Law
A blended family is created when you and a partner form a new family unit and one or both of you have children from a previous relationship. This can create challenging dynamics and a range of legal and practical issues, including:
- Difficulties about a child’s name and identity.
- Issues about a new partner’s exercise of parental responsibility for a step-child.
- Difficulties managing relationships with ex-partners.
- Issues about an ex-partner’s time, care and upbringing of your child.
- Issues about legal status of a step-parent and the blended family unit.
- Issues in conceiving a child with a new partner through assisted conception.
Creating a blended family requires time, effort and understanding to successfully navigate legal, emotional and practical issues. It can encompass a wide range of matters including: parental anxiety by a step-parent (particularly if they are an inexperienced parent or are undertaking significant day-to-day parenting responsibilities), hostility from an ex-partner towards a new partner, reluctance from children to adjust or bond with a new partner and their children from a previous relationship.
If you wish to expand your blended family and conceive a further child together, this can introduce a range of further legal and medical issues relating to fertility treatment, donor conception, surrogacy and financial arrangements depending upon your age, health and personal circumstances. Assisted conception is complex and it requires expert legal navigation of fertility and family law from the outset.
If you require legal assistance or wish to discuss your situation contact us.
enquiries@louisaghevaertassociates.co.uk
+44 (0) 20 7965 8399
How we can help
Our legal services include:
- Legal packages
- Bespoke legal advice tailored to your situation, needs and wishes
- Preparation of legal documentation
- Legal support and representation in court proceedings
Package One
Blended family uncontested legal status acquisition – legal review
- Advises on acquisition of legal status, rights, responsibilities and identity of biological, legal, step and social parents for a child.
- Carries out a legal benefit and risk analysis.
- Advises on consensual legal/court process in the English Family Court to confer legal status and rights upon a new partner or spouse for a child.
- Answers legal and practical questions.
- Creates a tailored legal and practical action plan.
Note:
This consultation only provides initial specialist advice on acquisition of legal status for a new partner or spouse for an existing child under family law in the UK (and not law in other jurisdictions). This package does not include legal representation or advice in court proceedings or preparation or review of legal documents. Terms and conditions apply. For further legal advice and assistance consider our other legal packages and bespoke legal services.
Package Two
Blended family legal status dispute
This provides tailored expert legal advice under English fertility and family law following separation, divorce, remarriage about disputed legal status, rights and responsibilities of a new partner or spouse for a child. It
- Advises on legal status, rights, responsibilities and identity of biological, legal, step and social parents for a child.
- Advises on legal options for obtaining, defending or restricting legal status and rights of biological, legal, step and social parents.
- Legal and practical options to resolve the dispute (including day-to-day arrangements, negotiations, correspondence, legal documents, court proceedings).
- Answers legal and practical questions.
- Creates a tailored legal and practical action plan.
Note:
This consultation only provides initial specialist advice on a blended family dispute under family law in the UK (and not law in other jurisdictions). This package does not include legal representation or advice in court proceedings or preparation of legal documents. Terms and conditions apply. For further legal advice and assistance consider our other legal packages and bespoke legal services.
Bespoke legal services
We also provide further expert tailored legal advice and representation concerning English fertility and family law issues and a range of family orders including:
Read more about our expert bespoke fertility law services:
Family Building Options & Law Fertility Preservation Law Complex Personal Situations Fertility Treatment Law Donor Conception & Co-parenting Law Surrogacy Law & Surrogacy Lawyer (UK) Posthumous Conception Law Assisted Reproduction Dispute Expert Witness Fertility Law Genomics, Genetics & Fertility Law
Read more about our other expert bespoke family law services:
Legal Parentage & Parenthood Parental Responsibility Law Financial Provision Care & Upbringing of a Child Complex Children & Family Law Children & Family Dispute Modern & Blended Family Law International Children Law Genomics, Genetics & Family Law
Leading case law
Louisa has dealt with numerous modern and blended family law cases in the UK including,
AB v CD, EF, GH & IL [2018] EWHC 1590 (Fam), representing an intended mother in international contested assisted reproduction and modern family law proceedings in the High Court concerning 2 surrogate born children. This case marks a legal first in the treatment of blended families in the UK following assisted reproduction, divorce, re-marriage, serious allegations of domestic violence and abuse as well as the legal status and identity of two surrogate born children, their biological, intended and social parents and arrangements for the children’s care and upbringing.
In JP v LP & Ors [2014] EWHC 595 (Fam), acting for the intended father in a high profile complex UK surrogacy dispute case following marriage breakdown and divorce. This case established for the first time a legal framework for cases where the legal criteria for a parental order cannot be met, including wardship, and featured in The Telegraph, BBC News and Mail Online (6 March 2014).
Find out more here.
News and commentary
Click here to read more about our media and commentary work in relation to family and fertility law, policy and practice.
“Later-life parenthood: what do I need to consider?” Louisa Ghevaert Associates’ blog (5 August 2022).
