Links

Professional bodies

Family Mediators Association
membership organisation for family mediators
Resolution 
this website gives information about the national organization, founded by Dawson Cornwell’s former senior partner John Cornwell, which now has a membership of over 5,000 family law solicitors.
The Law Society
the website for the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales

Organisations

Family Mediation Council
a website which works for greater public awareness of and access to family mediation
Legal Aid Agency
the website for the public body responsible for public funding (legal aid)
Ministry of Justice
the Government department responsible for the justice system in England and Wales
Her Majesty’s Courts Service
the executive agency of the Ministry of Justice responsible for running most of the courts in England and Wales

International organisations

American Bar Association
the leading national bar association for United States attorneys
Family Law Section Law Council of Australia
the organisation for family lawyers in Australia
International Academy of Family Lawyers
a worldwide association of practising lawyers who specialise in international family law, membership by invitation only
International Bar Association
the world’s leading global organisation of legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies
Commonwealth Legal Information Institute
for free access to legal information from all commonwealth countries
LAWASIA
advocates for the interests and concerns of the Asia Pacific legal profession

Financial

Bank of England
for base rates
Bloomberg
for share prices
Child Support Agency
contains useful information about how the agency works
Financial Times
for share prices and other financial information
Halifax House Price Index
select House Price Calculator
HM Revenue and Customs
the website for HM Revenue and Customs (see also Taxation)
The Times
for latest news and law reports
www.xe.com
for currency conversions
HM Land Registry
click on “search property prices”
Office for National Statistics
for official statistics
Financial Conduct Authority
the conduct regulator for financial services

Publications

Jordan Publishing
the leading independent provider of legal information, and publishers of Family Law and the free Family Law Newswatch service
Legislation.gov.uk
the official home of UK legislation
Justis.com
online library of UK, Irish, EU and international case law and legislation.
Sweet & Maxwell
the publishers of various legal books, including “Practical Matrimonial Precedents” and “The Lawyer’s Factbook
The Lawyer
publishers of The Lawyer magazine and sponsors of the Child Rights Lawyer of the Year Award

Legal directories

Chambers & Partners
publisher of guides to “the world’s best lawyers”
Just Ask
community legal service – for firms who undertake publically funded cases
Legal 500
an leading directory of family law solicitors in the UK
Spear’s
a guide to the top HNW advisors
Citywealth
an online directory of recommended wealth advisors
Martindale – Hubbell Lawyer Locator
a US directory of worldwide lawyers
Find a Solicitor
The Law Society’s Directory of Solicitors

Mediation services

National Family Mediation
a nationwide organisation of not for profit mediation centres
College of Family Mediators
the website for the national register of approved family mediators

Counselling and support services

Tavistock Relationships
relationship counselling
Divorce Support Group
London based support groups for people going through a divorce
Relate
the UK’s largest relationship counselling organisation
Samaritans
the national organisation which provides 24 hour support to those who feel they have no-one else to turn to
UK Council for Psychotherapy
provides information about the national register and training of psychotherapists
European Association for Psychotherapy
the website for the European Register of Psychotherapists with the European certificate for psychotherapy
Asian Family Counselling Service
a culturally sensitive marriage counselling service for Asian families
Galop
aiming to make life safe, just and fair for LGBT people
Albert Kennedy Trust
supports young LGBT 16-25 year olds who are made homeless or living in a hostile environment
Stonewall
information and support for LGBT communities

Miscellaneous

Jordans
for company searches
The Law Commission for England and Wales
the statutory independent body to keep the law of England and Wales under review
The Academy of Experts
for experts witnesses of all disciplines
UK Register of Expert Witnesses
source of vetted expert witnesses 
thetrainline.com
for train times

Children’s interests

Association of Lawyers for Children
promoting justice for children and young people
Coram BAAF Adoption and Fostering Academy
an independent charity for the promotion of child centred policies. provides useful about adoption and fostering
Child Support Agency
contains useful information about how the agency works
Child Abduction Lawyers Association
child abduction specialist solicitors, barristers, academics and others
International Child Abduction and Contact Unit
the website for the Central Authority of England and Wales for the Hague Child Abduction Convention and the European Convention on enforcement of custody and contact orders. It provides details of the countries in which the conventions are in force
Dad Check
an organisation which carries out DNA paternity testing
Kinship (formerly Grandparents Plus)
a charity for the support of grandparents
The Magistrates Association
provides information about magistrates
National Association of Child Contact Centres
provides information about the role of contact centres in providing neutral venues for children to see their parents.
NAGALRO
the professional association for childrens guardians, family court advisors and independent social workers
The Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
the Official Solicitor can ensure a minor’s interests are properly protected in divorce, wardship and other disputes
Parenting Plan
a document produced by the Lord Chancellor’s Department to help separating parents make arrangements for their children
UNICEF
for the UN Convention on the rights of the child (sponsors of the Child Rights Lawyer award)
ChallengeAid
a charity which encourages children to take exercise whilst raising money for sporting equipment in their own schools as well as schools in developing countries

Websites for parents

101 Questions Answered
101 Questions Answered About Separating With Children
Reunite : International Child Abduction Centre
the website for the UK based charity which offers advice and support for parents whose children have been abducted
The Family Law Panel
family law and mediation specialists
Gingerbread
a support organisation for lone parent families
Home Dad
a support group for fathers who stay at home to look after their children
Families Need Fathers
a charity helping fathers to keep in touch with their children
Mothers’ Union
a voluntary Christian women’s organisation
Only Dads
online support for single parents
Only Mums
online support for single parents

Websites for children

ChildLine UK
the 24-hour helpline for children. The website also provides online help and advice for children
Action for Children
a website to support and inform children and young people
NYAS The Young Persons Safety Net
a socio-legal agency that provides advice, representation and advocacy for children
The Mix
a website which provides information and support for young adults

Human Rights

The Aire Centre
an organisation which provides information and advice throughout Europe on international human rights law
The Council of Europe
for information about its work in the field of family law including Conventions and recommendations
The European Court of Human Rights
for information about the latest cases
Women at Risk International
provides financial support to improve the lives of women around the world under threat due to their gender
Foreign & Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit
a joint FCO and Home Office unit to support victims of forced marriage
The Sharan Project
an advice resource to provide South Asian women help and support
IKWRO
Iranian and Kurdish women’s rights organisation
Southall Black Sisters
an advice resource and campaigning centre assisting black women and children fleeing violence and abuse
Henna Foundation
a charity committed to strengthening families within the Muslim Community
Womankind Worldwide
a charity dedicated to women’s development and human rights.
Women’s Aid
the national charity which co-ordinates and supports a network of over 300 local organisations to advocate for abused women and children and ensure their safety
Rights and Humanity
The international movement for the promotion and realisation of human rights and responsibilities

Surrogacy

Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority
the UK Government’s independent regulator overseeing fertility treatment and research
Creating a Family
support for adoptive and infertility parents
Donor Conception Network
supporting families through donor conception
Foreign & Commonwealth Office – Surrogacy overseas
information for British nationals entering into surrogacy arrangements overseas
Surrogacy Network
a leading directory and platform to find surrogacy professionals

Property

UK Finance
useful publications and information from the mortgage lenders trade association
HM Land Registry
contains details about the workings of HM Land Registry
Estates Gazette
the Journal of the commercial property world, which is a subscriber site with some free access
Companies House
the site of the companies registry with help and guidance on company formations and statutory obligations
Searchflow, formerly the National Land Information Service
this grew from the government initiative to integrate the provision of information on land and property. It is a subscriber site with some free information
Zoopla
provides links and information on buying and letting aimed at making house moves easier

Wills and asset planning

The National Archives
provides information on how to obtain a copy of an old will

Probate and estate administration

HM Courts & Tribunals Service
wills, probate and inheritance information
Department for Work & Pensions
for information about claims against estates relating to over-payment of state benefits

Genealogists

Hoopers
for the location of missing beneficiaries
Title Research
for the location of missing beneficiaries and heirs
The Society of Genealogists
Formerly the Family Records Centre
for information on births, deaths, marriages, adoption, emigration etc

Valuers and property specialists

Bonhams Auctioneers
the website for the international auctioneers
Central Association of Agricultural Valuers
the national association of specialist agricultural and rural valuers
Christie’s
the website for the international auctioneers
LMG Jewellery Claims Service
the largest provider of independent validation and replacement of jewellery claims
Society of Fine Art Auctioneers
the association of specialist auctioneers and valuers
Sotheby’s
the website for the international auctioneers
Stanley Gibbons Limited
experts in valuing postage stamps and in postal history
Royal Philatelic Society
the society for amateur collectors of stamps
Valuation Office Agency
responsible for setting business rates and council tax banding and valuations of property and lands

Trust and probate litigation

The Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
this government officer can help in disputes between or with trustees, to act as an impartial trustee when needed, act in transfer of property to be held on trust, act as guardian of a minor’s estate or interest or hold money. The office will become involved in the administration of an estate or trust if necessary
The Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists
an association of lawyers specializing in contentious trust and probate work

Charities

The Charity Commission
the Charity Commission supervises charities in England and Wales. Its website provides most information needed to establish and run a charity. You can draw down forms and publications on all aspects of charities in England and Wales
Institute for Fiscal Studies
The Charity Law Association
this website has a good updating facility on charity law

Powers of attorney

The Court of Protection
its responsibilities include management of financial affairs for people who lack mental capacity to manage their own affairs and administers decisions of the Court of Protection
Office of the Public Guardian
this provides financial protection services for clients who are not able to manage their financial affairs because of mental incapacity
Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
this body has responsibility for the representation of people who are under a legal disability due to minority or mental disorder
Youreable.com
a website for the disabled
Age UK
a federation of charities concerned with the needs of the elderly
Family Carers Net
a website for carers
Alzheimer’s Society
this website provides extensive advice on dementia and appropriate levels of care
Royal College of Psychiatry
this website has a helpful page on patients’ rights & monies

Emergency Line