Kelly is a Knowledge Development Lawyer and Legal Director sitting within the Family team.
Kelly joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2001 upon qualification and practised as a family lawyer for 14 years specialising in high net worth divorce and private children law matters. Following a career break Kelly became a Knowledge Development Lawyer at a City firm and then rejoined Payne Hicks Beach in January 2020 supporting the Family team in a knowledge management capacity and providing research, technical know how and training to her fellow solicitors.
Kelly read Jurisprudence at Christ Church, Oxford University. She is a member of Resolution and the Family Law Knowledge Network.
Qualified 2001, joined Payne Hicks Beach 2001, Legal Director 2020.
To learn more about divorce and separation visit our dedicated webpage and download our guide.
Recent Insights
March 06, 2025
Disputes over pets are increasingly common in separations and can be highly emotive and difficult to...
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How does mediation support mental health during family breakdown?
February 18, 2025
Family breakdown, whether through separation, divorce or the breakdown of a civil partnership, can b...
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Kelly is a member of Resolution and the Family Law Knowledge Network.
- Corbett v Corbett [2003] EWCA Civ 559 – Court of Appeal
- Judge v Judge [2008] EWCA Civ 1458 – Court of Appeal
- SR v RS [2014] EWHC 4305
- Robertson v Robertson [2016] EWHC 613
Should I have a petnuptial agreement?
March 06, 2025
Disputes over pets are increasingly common in separations and can be highly emotive and difficult to...
Read more
How does mediation support mental health during family breakdown?
February 18, 2025
Family breakdown, whether through separation, divorce or the breakdown of a civil partnership, can b...
Read more
Roses are red, violets are blue, please sign this Prenup before we say “I do”
February 14, 2025
“As a quarter of marriages now start with a Prenup, Millenial couples are more likely to be pullin...
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What does the year ahead hold for family law?
January 07, 2025
Family Law expert Kelly Gerrard shares her insights on the key developments shaping family law in 2...
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Navigating the festive season whilst going through a separation/divorce
December 16, 2024
For many of us the festive season is a highlight of the year filled with parties and family time. ...
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Vulnerable clients: who are they, how do we identify them, how do we manage them – Kelly Gerrard for Family Law Journal
September 17, 2024
Kelly Gerrard, Legal Director in the Family Department has co-authored with Sheena Cassidy Hope of...
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Can my ex-spouse claim my inheritance?
July 16, 2024
The answer to the question posed is complex and will depend on multiple variables. Inherited asset...
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Common Prenuptial Agreement Questions: What You Should Know
April 04, 2024
There are many misconceptions about the role and value of prenups prior to marriages, but as a recen...
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International Prenuptial Agreements [“Prenup”]
April 02, 2024
As Prenups become more commonplace and accepted, Victoria Hingston (Partner) and Kelly Gerrard (Lega...
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Launch of the Mental Health & Family Breakdown initiative to support and protect vulnerable clients
March 20, 2024
Last night dozens of family lawyers representing a wide range of firms and chambers met at the launc...
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Court of Appeal overturn judgment in the case of a woman who applied to set aside her own Decree Nisi
October 09, 2023
Kelly Gerrard, Legal Director in our Family Team, breaks down the proceedings of this unique case.
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How to get divorced during a cost of living crisis – Kelly Gerrard for The i Paper
January 30, 2023
Kelly Gerrard, Legal Director, tells The i Paper that postponing a divorce until after a cost of liv...
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Wife applies to set aside her own decree nisi
January 10, 2023
In this unusual but interesting case, the wife applied to set aside the decree nisi of divorce which...
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Manufacturing documents in divorce proceedings
August 31, 2022
For those engaged in financial remedies litigation, dishonesty by individuals seeking to secure an a...
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IVF issues for LGBTQ+ couples
August 05, 2022
The government has recently announced a strategy to improve access to IVF treatment for female same-...
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Anonymity in private law children proceedings
June 09, 2022
In the recently reported case of MacDougall v SW and others (sperm donor: parental responsibility or...
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Declining rates of marriage
May 26, 2022
The Office for National Statistics (“ONS”) have released their latest data on marriages ...
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How will no fault divorce affect my financial settlement?
May 19, 2022
On 6 April 2022 the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (“DDSA 2020”) came into...
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The cost of family breakdown
May 05, 2022
A hot topic in politics today is the cost of living crisis. On 26 April 2022, Downing Street confi...
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No fault divorce in force from 6 April 2022
March 25, 2022
The new “no fault” divorce law will come into force on 6 April 2022. The Divorce, Disso...
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What happens if I don’t want a divorce? Defended divorces and the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
March 08, 2022
Often, a couple will reach the decision that a marriage has come to an end together. However, in ma...
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Horizon scanning – what does the year ahead hold for family law in 2022?
December 31, 2021
On the 24th December 2020 I wrote about what the year ahead held for family law in 2021. You can r...
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Are remote hearings here to stay?
December 14, 2021
The evolution of remote hearings
At the beginning of 2020 most applications in the family court were...
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Don’t air your dirty laundry in public – social media and divorce
October 15, 2021
The vast majority of us now have a number of social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram and Tw...
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How Are Personal Belongings Divided After Divorce?
June 15, 2023
When considering the division of assets on divorce, focus, quite rightly, usually starts on the big ...
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What is parental responsibility and who has it?
May 27, 2021
Parental responsibility (“PR”) is defined by s3 (1) Children Act 1989 as ‘all the...
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How are Chattel Divided after Divorce
September 14, 2021
When considering the division of assets on divorce, focus, quite rightly, usually starts on the big ...
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Summer Holidays 2021 – Don’t wait until the 11th hour!
May 26, 2021
We are now some 15 months into the global pandemic and, whilst restrictions at home are easing, inte...
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What support are unmarried parents entitled to? A long way to fall when the child reaches its majority and no ability to save for the future
April 15, 2021
Under English law there is currently no such concept as a common law marriage. This often comes as ...
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An end to the Marinos v Munro debate?
February 22, 2021
The UK finally left the EU at 11pm on 31st December 2020. Unfortunately, no bespoke family law arra...
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The Domestic Abuse Bill
February 04, 2021
The Domestic Abuse Bill 2019-2021, sponsored by Priti Patel and Baroness Williams of Trafford, reach...
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Horizon Scanning: What does the year ahead hold for Family Law in 2021?
December 24, 2020
Many of us will be glad to herald the end of 2020. But what does the year ahead in 2021 hold for F...
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