Matrimonial Causes Act 1973: Primary legislation governing divorce proceedings, financial settlements, and maintenance arrangements. Provides the framework courts use to determine financial settlements between separating spouses.
Children Act 1989: Core legislation dealing with arrangements for children, establishing the 'welfare of the child' as paramount consideration. Covers parental responsibility and child maintenance obligations.
Family Law Act 1996: Provides the legal framework for domestic proceedings, including occupation rights and non-molestation orders in separation cases.
Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984: Legislation covering financial relief after foreign divorce and contains important provisions about financial arrangements between separating parties.
Civil Partnership Act 2004: Relevant legislation for cases where the couple were in a civil partnership before marriage, ensuring proper consideration of pre-marriage partnership rights.
Human Rights Act 1998: Ensures that separation agreements comply with fundamental human rights obligations and protections.
Welfare Reform Act 2009: Important legislation that impacts child maintenance arrangements and welfare considerations in separation agreements.
Matrimonial Property Act 1970: Deals with property rights between spouses and their division during separation.
Family Procedure Rules 2010: Procedural rules governing how family law cases, including separation agreements, should be handled in the courts of England and Wales.
Resolution Guidelines: Professional guidelines from the family law practitioners' association providing best practices for drafting and implementing separation agreements.
