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Joanne Brown and Kim Boreham featured in Expat Living magazine
Partners Joanne Brown and Kim Boreham have been featured in Expat Living Magazine‘s Autumn issue in an article about families and the pandemic. As Head of the Family and Private Client practice, Joanne answered some readers’ questions on how to navigate tricky family situations created/exacerbated…Read More
Leave granted to foster parents to intervene in wardship proceedings to make arrangements to apply for adoption of ward
In ongoing public wardship proceedings in Hong Kong the High Court granted leave to the foster parents (“Mr and Mrs K”) of the ward (“G”) to intervene in the proceedings and to make arrangements for the adoption of G by them. The Court’s Reasons for…Read More
Advancing Private Adjudication of financial disputes in matrimonial and family proceedings
The first Private Family Adjudication (‘PFA’) was held recently in Hong Kong. It reportedly ran smoothly and led to a swift decision. It prevented a significant delay in ancillary relief trial proceedings, which had been adjourned due to the impact of Covid-19 on the Courts….Read More
Tanner De Witt’s family lawyers attend HKFLA talk on surrogacy and legal parenthood
On 20 July 2020, members of Tanner De Witt’s Family Law Department attended a talk on ‘Surrogacy and Legal Parenthood: Latest Developments in Hong Kong’ organised by the Hong Kong Family Law Association (“HKFLA”). The members’ talk was presented by Mr. Hectar Pun SC and…Read More
Can the novel coronavirus form a defence to international child abduction?
An interesting decision is now available in respect of a child removed by her mother from Spain, her place of habitual residence and the subsequent application by her father for her return brought under legislation incorporating the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child…Read More
Separate representation of children in court proceedings in Hong Kong
At common law, children (in Hong Kong being persons below the age of 18 years old) do not have the capacity to initiate or participate in civil proceedings (Order 80 rule 2 of the Rules of the High Court (Cap. 4A)). However, family law proceedings…Read More
Joanne Brown is a Recommended Family and Divorce Lawyer in Hong Kong 2020 Doyle’s Guide
Partner Joanne Brown, Head of the Tanner De Witt Family Practice, is recommended as one of only twenty other leading Hong Kong Family and Divorce lawyers by Doyle’s Guide 2020. To reach Joanne, please find her contact information here: Joanne BrownPartner | E-mail About Joanne Joanne…Read More
Family Violence and COVID-19 – what to do about family violence while isolated at home
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in observance of recommendations made by the World Health Organisation (“WHO”) and governments around the world billions of people are under mandatory quarantine or isolation, or are self-quarantining or self-isolating at home to stem the tide of…Read More
Relocation applications: I want to relocate permanently from Hong Kong with my children but my former spouse will not consent
There comes a time for many when it is time to bid a fond farewell to Hong Kong. For divorced families, this can be problematic as orders on children’s arrangements will usually include a direction that a child may not be removed from Hong Kong…Read More
Inland Revenue Department confirms same sex marriages recognised as valid for stamp duty purposes
Following enquiries from its members the Law Society on 10 March 2020 received confirmation from the Inland Revenue Department (“IRD”) that same sex marriages will be recognised by the IRD as valid marriages for the purposes of the Stamp Duty Ordinance (Cap. 117). Same sex…Read More
Should I get a divorce? The legal and financial implications behind remaining married but separated
Making the decision to divorce is often not an easy one. There are many reasons why married couples may opt to separate rather than progress legal proceedings to divorce. Whether it is for religious reasons, a desire to maintain the status quo and a family…Read More
Recognition of Paternity in Hong Kong
Under Hong Kong family law, a man is presumed to be the biological father of a child if he is married to the woman who gave birth to the child. As this circumstance accounts only for some of the circumstances of the birth of a…Read More