This workshop seeks to examine the evolving landscape of family law reform in England and Wales. It aims to foster critical discussion of recent and proposed reforms to wedding law. Lady Hale has agreed to present her views on financial remedies on divorce and Professor Andy Hayward (Durham Law School) will share his research on cohabitation. Professor Lisa Webley (Law Commissioner for the Property, Family and Trusts team) will also attend and participate in this event.
Abstract Submission deadline: 16 March 2026
Event date: 22 May 2026
Format: In person / hybrid (details to be confirmed)
Background and Rationale
The past decade has seen significant reforms in family law in England and Wales, including the reform of marriage law and the enactment of comprehensive no-fault divorce. Led by the Law Commission and the Ministry of Justice, these developments reflect a sustained effort to modernise family law in response to changing social realities. Most recently, on 2 October 2025, the Ministry of Justice announced proposals for what has been described as the most significant reform of wedding law since the nineteenth century.
Despite this momentum, progress across other areas of family law has been uneven. According to the Law Commission’s Fourteenth Programme of Law Reform (Law Com No 404, 2025), the Commission is still awaiting a formal government response to its December 2024 scoping report on financial remedies on divorce, although a public consultation is scheduled for Spring 2026. Reform of cohabitation law has similarly stalled, notwithstanding detailed Law Commission recommendations made in 2007 and the issue remaining under review by the Ministry of Justice. Other areas, including surrogacy, are also under consideration, highlighting both the scope of the reform agenda and the challenges of translating recommendations into legislative change.
Themes and Topics
The organisers welcome paper proposals addressing one or more of the following (non-exhaustive) themes:
Reform of wedding law following the Law Commission’s 2022 recommendations
Legal recognition of religious and non-religious marriages
Financial remedies on divorce and the case for reform
Cohabitation law: past proposals, present inertia, and future options
Surrogacy and emerging family forms
Political, institutional, and constitutional constraints on family law reform
Comparative perspectives on family law reform
Submission Guidelines
Please submit an abstract of 300–400 words outlining your proposed paper’s argument, methodology, and relevance to the workshop themes.
Abstract submission deadline: 16 March 2026
Notification of acceptance: Early April 2026
Submission of detailed plans or full papers: 1 May 2026
Event date: 22 May 2026
Selected papers will be considered for inclusion in a future special edition of a law journal or edited collection.
Audience and Format
The workshop is intended for academics, legal practitioners, policymakers, judges, and postgraduate researchers with an interest in family law reform. Contributions that bridge doctrinal analysis, empirical research, and policy engagement are particularly encouraged.
The conference is funded by the Society of Legal Scholars. Early career researchers are strongly encouraged to apply. Funding to cover travel costs might be available, with preference given to early career researchers.
Submission and Enquiries
Abstracts and enquiries should be sent to the organisers:
Dr Filipa Tavares Moreira, Filipa.TavaresMoreira@rhul.ac.uk and Dr Zubair Abbasi, Zubair.abbasi@rhul.ac.uk
