Jo Edwards writes for The Times on spousal maintenance reform

Head of Family, Jo Edwards wrote for The Times on spousal maintenance reform.

Jo highlights that although it is right that divorcing spouses should work towards financial independence, it risks causing grave financial hardship in certain cases to have an arbitrary cut-off date for the payment of spousal maintenance.

As the Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill reaches Committee stage in the House of Lords, Jo reflects on the debate surrounding spousal maintenance reform. Jo suggests that any change should not simply limit the term for which spousal maintenance would be paid, but rather emphasise independence and greater certainty without straitjacketing judges. “The law must be sufficiently broad to apply to the enormously wide spectrum of couples before the court.”

The article was published in The Times Brief and The Times online.