‘Exit Day’ is looming but what does Brexit mean for Family Law Matters?

The UK leaves the EU tomorrow, 31 January 2020, but what happens now and what does it mean for those embroiled in Family Law disputes?

We look at what Brexit means for Family Law. Resolution have released their ‘Brexit Briefing’; highlighting that fortunately, there are no immediate changes coming in to play following the UK’s departure from the EU on Friday 31 January 2020. This is due to an ‘implementation period’ being in place which will run from 1 February 2020 until 31 December 2020. During this period the current EU instruments will continue to apply.

Additionally, the UK will remain subject to the 2005 Hague Convention on Choice of Courts Agreements, the 2007 Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, and the Lugano Convention 2007.

Practitioners should, of course, continue to be alive to the potential effects of Brexit but it is hoped that by the end of Summer 2020, it will be clear whether there will be a transition to a negotiation settlement, and exactly what that covers, from January 2021.

Blake Morgan will continue to advise clients on international family matters both during the implementation period and after it. Should you have any queries regarding international family matters or what Brexit will mean for family law, please do not hesitate to contact our Family Law Team.