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We live in an increasingly globalised and fast-paced society. It is more common than ever for us to move overseas to work, and marriages between partners of different nationalities are on the increase. This creates obvious problems where children are concerned. While me may hope that our moves abroad, and our marriages, are permanent, often our work situation changes or our relationships break down. In these types of situation, children can become the subject of custody disputes of a transnational (or perhaps even just trans-regional) character. One partner may wish to return to their native land (or indeed remain in an adopted homeland) when a relationship breaks down.

The case, reported in the Telegraph, concerned a Canadian divorcee who had been living in the UK with her former husband and two children. The woman wished to return to her native Canada after her divorce, and take her young children, aged two and four, with her. The mother complained of feeling 'lonely' and 'isolated' in Britain. She applied to the court for permission to take the children with her and was initially successful. However, her former husband, and father to the children appealed and the Court of Appeal struck the first ruling down. It did this on the basis that the father had been playing a 'major role' in the lives of the children since the couple had separated, seven months before the divorce. The father looked after the children for two nights per week (35% of the time, as the Telegraph point out).

Adoption UK has issued a statement in response to recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which show that there has been a 6% increase in the overall level of adoptions in England and Wales.

The latest Lord Chief Justice’s Report has been laid before the House of Lords.

The Office for National Statistics has published annual statistics on civil partnerships that were formed in the United Kingdom in 2011, as well as those which were dissolved.

Mr Justice Ryder’s report into the modernisation of Family Justice has now been published.

A new report from think tank the Centre for Social Justice has called for a widening of the offence of domestic abuse to include cruel mind games.

A recent study from Australia has found that equivalised household income after divorce declined for women but not for men.

A recent study from Australia has found that equivalised household income after divorce declined for women but not for men.

The research, led by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, found that some women were able to recover their income after six years through repartnering, increased labour force participation, and an increased proportion of income coming from government benefits. However, this was not the case for divorced women with dependent children.

Australian Institute of Family Studies Senior Research Fellow, Dr Lixia Qu said more Australians will experience divorce in the future and this has long-term financial implications for them and the Australian income support system.

“Divorce has a big impact on both men and women whose assets continue to fall behind married households and this impacts significantly on retirement income for divorced men and women who remained single, making them more reliant on government support to get by,” she said.

Joint researcher, Professor Matthew Gray of the Australian National University said while assets took a hit, most divorced women were able to recover their income position over six or seven years.

“This happens by a combination of increased employment rates, re-partnering and an increased level of government benefits. But many divorced women and men were left with a large and widening gap in their assets, compared to non-divorced contemporaries,” he said.

The Chair of the Justice Select Committee, the Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith MP, has written to the Prime Minister in relation to the Government’s proposals to change the Children Act 1989 in an attempt to promote shared parenting.

The Prime Minister has announced plans to reduce radically the time it takes for a baby to move in with their permanent family.

A new law is now in force to tackle cases of causing or allowing serious physical harm to a child or vulnerable adult. The offence, part of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012, came into effect on Monday.

A wealthy couple from New York, who divorced in 2009, have had their divorce settlement reopened after Daniel Shak raised a fresh suit, claiming that his ex-wife's shoe collection should have been included in the assets that were divided as part of the divorce settlement, reports the Telegraph.

The Government has unveiled plans to set up an Innovation Fund to promote collaborative parenting in families going through separation or divorce.

The Family Rights Group has responded to the news that a new select committee investigation into the adoption process in England and Wales has been launched.

Children who go missing from care are being systematically failed and placed in great danger by the very professionals who are there to protect them, according to a parliamentary inquiry report.

Ministers have put forward proposals to strengthen the law to ensure that children can continue to see both parents if they separate or divorce where it is safe and in the child’s best interest.

A new study by charity Grandparents Plus has revealed that lack of support from Government and local authorities means that many grandparents face poverty after dropping out of the labour market to raise their grandchildren.

Forcing someone to marry will become a criminal offence in England and Wales, the Prime Minister has confirmed.

The number of people who are still living in their parents' home between the ages of 20 and 34 has increased by 20% since 1997, reports the Office for National Statistics (ONS).