Familylaw.co.uk: Brussels II (2201/2003) is reviewed periodically by the EU as to its operation and any possible reforms. It has already been significantly reformed once with beneficial changes in respect of children matters. This present review is well overdue and very important. The EU seeks the views, opinions and practical experiences of family lawyers about the Brussels II law and how it operates in practice.

FamilyLaw.co.uk: 'Very serious issues ought to arise as to just how much time of an English court these parties should be able to take up in these preliminary skirmishes, whilst squeezing out the many needy litigants who need precious court time to recover their children from abduction or seek their return from care, and other such issues.'

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has just published figures showing divorces were up approximately 0.5% on 2011 and that almost half of those were couples who had been married less than 10 years.

The number of women aged over 60 has risen by over 3% since 2011 and men 2.8%.

However the number of under 20s divorcing has fallen, but this is probably due to fewer couples marrying so young.

We reported last month that the question of how the ECJ decision in Owusu relates to family law especially divorce was due to be heard by the Court of Appeal.  It has previously only been considered at High Court level. This note is intended by way of update.

On 10 October 2013, the decision in AB v CB [2013] 2 FLR 29 on the relevance of Owusu was before Rimer, Jackson and Lewison LLJ in the Court of Appeal for oral hearing.

Familylaw.co.uk: We reported last month that the question of how the ECJ decision in Owusu relates to family law, especially divorce, was due to be heard by the Court of Appeal. It has previously only been considered at High Court level. This note is intended by way of update.

Familylaw.co.uk: David Hodson in his international family law opinion piece describes the possible effect of a haunting of the matrimonial home on the divorce financial outcome, as set out in a judgment from a federal magistrate's decision in Sydney, Australia

Familylaw.co.uk: David Hodson sets out information of an appeal to be heard by the Court of Appeal in early October on the Owusu issue, a matter of considerable importance to the English and international family law professions on divorce forum disputes with non-EU countries.

FamilyLaw.co.uk: David Hodson in his opinion piece on international family law, and perhaps prompted by too many rum punches in the Caribbean, looks at the many countries, territories, islands, and other geographical entities which are either part of the EU or linked with the EU in some way and needing family law consideration.

FamilyLaw.co.uk: If ever there was an example of significantly different outcomes across national borders, notwithstanding close historic ties, it must surely be England and Scotland. Members of a strong and strategic political Union for almost 700 years yet with legal traditions so very different. Crucial advice is essential in any case in which a family has connections with both countries.

FamilyLaw.co.uk: The English media have greatly relished this week reporting on a short leave to appeal hearing in a divorce financial case involving two practising lawyers. They were gleeful in their criticism of the couple who had been married for 10 years and separated in 2008 with, at that time, a property in south-west London worth about £3.2 million and the husband being a partner in a substantial London practice earning almost £500,000 per annum.