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Family Law
The Child Abduction Legislation
The Child Abduction Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2014 (the “Amendment Ordinance”) recently came into operation on 5 April 2016 to expand the scope of application of the current Child Abduction and Custody Ordinance (Cap 512) (“CACO”) to strengthen the powers of the courts and law…Read More
Legal update: Children’s Dispute Resolution in Hong Kong
Children’s Dispute Resolution, Practice Direction 15.13 becomes a permanent feature of Hong Kong Family Court practice. The Pilot Scheme on Children’s Dispute Resolution which began on 3 October 2012 came to an end on 31 March 2016 with Practice Direction 15.13 being formally adopted from…Read More
Legal update: The Collaborative Divorce: A new approach
Is the collaborative approach right for you? Do you trust yourself and your partner to prioritise the needs of your family? Do you trust yourself and your partner to be open about your financial situation? Are you able to communicate with your partner openly and…Read More
Legal wedding checklist when preparing for marriage
Marriage is a legal matter. An important part of marital planning is to ensure that the implications of marriage on your legal status are well considered with ample time before the wedding. Planning takes time. Time will be short as the big day approaches. Consider…Read More
Marrying rich? Better safe than sorry.
Ranking 3rd in Forbes’s “Cities With The Most Billionaires In 2015”, it is common for married couples in Hong Kong to live lavishly through the generosity of family members but with no absolute entitlement to wealth. This begs the million dollar question, for spouses who…Read More
Validity and need for registration of foreign marriage in Hong Kong
When people speak of a white wedding, they used to mean the colour of the bride’s dress. Now they are just as likely to be talking about the colour of the sand on the exotic beach where the ceremony was held. A survey has claimed…Read More
Supporting Pathfinders in 1940s style
Tanner De Witt was pleased to support the Pathfinders Annual Ball held at Ed1tus in Wong Chuk Hang on Saturday 21st November. Partners and heads of our family practice Mark Side and Joanne Brown attended to show support for this charity fundraiser which raised a…Read More
Legal update: Long-awaited Children’s Bill coming soon to Hong Kong
The law in Hong Kong that protects children experiencing divorce and other family issues has been discussed and debated for years. Improvements have been made but no concrete Children’s Bill has been passed. Following the well-attended Third Children’s Forum held recently by CIF HK at…Read More
Global Conference on the Recovery of Child Support and Family Maintenance in Asia Pacific
Tanner De Witt is pleased to announce our family practice lawyer, Joanne Brown, will be participating in the Global Conference on the Recovery of Child Support and Family Maintenance in Asia Pacific this week. They will also be attending the Third Children’s Issues Forum at…Read More
Financial non-disclosure in divorce proceedings: consent order risk.
On 14 October 2015, the UK Supreme Court handed down two landmark decisions, Gohil and Sharland, overturning two wives’ financial settlement consent orders made in divorce proceedings due to their husbands’ deliberate non-disclosure of assets. The decisions serve as warnings to any divorcing spouse who…Read More
Jurisdiction of divorce; what is the situation in Hong Kong?
Can I divorce in Hong Kong? If not, why not? It is not true that just because a couple was married in Hong Kong, they could or should divorce here; where the marriage took place is irrelevant. The circumstances immediately before the divorce are key….Read More
Legal update: Is your will your will?
Summary In a significant ruling, the UK Court of Appeal’s decision in Ilott v Mitson 2015 has ruled against the presumption that you can do with your estate what you wish. This decision has seemingly broadened the Court’s power to intervene where an adult child…Read More
