‘A Practical Guide to Pets on Divorce for Family Lawyers’ by Sadie Glover & Estella Newbold-Brown

This book brings together the combined experience of two senior family law practitioners and fellow members of The Working Group on Pets in Divorce and Separation. The authors’ combined experience informs a guide that aims not only to explain the law as it stands, but to support practitioners in navigating one of the most emotionally complex and evolving areas of modern family law.

Sadie Glover

Sadie Glover is a Partner and the Head of Family & Divorce at Blaser Mills Law in Marlow. She is an experienced family law solicitor with over two decades of practice in private family law. Sadie is a recommended lawyer in Legal 500 guide, where she has been noted as being a “titan” and a formidable force”.

Alongside her legal work, Sadie is an all-issues Family Mediator, a twice published author (A Practical Guide to Short Marriages for Family Lawyers, first edition and the second edition which she co-authored with Philip Perrins and Beth Hibbert of 1GC Family Law) and the Co-Chair of the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Resolution Committee.

Sadie regularly presents for MBL, the leading CPD provider in England and Wales. She is also regularly asked to speak at national family law conferences.

Sadie is the founder of “Family Law Friends”, the podcast which focusses on wellbeing and connection with the family law community, which she co-hosts with Estella Newbold-Brown.

Estella Newbold-Brown

Estella Newbold-Brown is a Partner and Head of Family Law at Lester Aldridge, based in London. Ranked in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, she has been described as a “Powerhouse” and a lawyer with so much “energy and drive”. Estella specialises in all aspects of private family law and is ranked by Citywealth as a Top 75 Family Lawyer.

Estella regularly speaks at conferences, delivers webinars and appears on podcasts and television discussing the topic of pets and the law. She is the co-founder of the Working Group on Pets on Divorce and Separation, together with barrister, Sarah-Lucy Cooper.

Estella is a member of the London Resolution Committee and is a Resolution accredited specialist. In her spare time, Estella is a children’s author, one of her books (Isla and Quinn – The sunflowers) is aimed towards family lawyers to provide as a resource for their clients and for parents who are separating to read to their children.

A shared perspective

Although Sadie Glover and Estella Newbold-Brown bring different professional experiences to this work, they share a common perspective on family law practice. Both recognise the limits of the current legal framework in relation to pets on divorce, and the significant role played by practitioners in managing those limits through advice, negotiation and dispute resolution. This book reflects that shared approach. It is written for family lawyers, by family lawyers, and is rooted in the realities of practice.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 – Introduction: Pets, Families and the Law
Chapter 2 – The Legal Status of Pets in England and Wales
Chapter 3 – The Court’s Approach to Pet Disputes
Chapter 4 – Relevant Case Law on Pets and Divorce
Chapter 5 – Property Adjustment Orders
Chapter 6 – Managing Client Expectations
Chapter 7 – Non-Court Dispute Resolution in Pet Disputes
Chapter 8 – Pet Nups
Chapter 9 – Comparative and International Perspectives
Chapter 10 – The Working Group on Pets on Divorce & Separation
Chapter 11 – The Case for Reform
Chapter 12 – What Does All of This Mean for Family Practitioners?
Chapter 13 – Conclusion