Family Team Associate Hannah Yellop Speaks To Times Radio On Legal Issues Around Polyamory

Hannah Yellop, an Associate in the Family team at Hodge Jones & Allen, joined Jane Mulkerrins at Times Radio earlier yesterday to discuss the legal issues pertaining to polyamorous relationships.

If you missed it, here’s another chance to listen again, Times Radio with Jane Mulkerrins

The conversation delved into the new dynamics surrounding these non-traditional relationships and Hannah explained how she and the Family department have seen a demonstrable uptick in the number of fresh enquiries made and in navigating the complex legal issues they arrive with.

Polyamory relates to the practice of having a romantic and/or sexual relationship with more than one person, with the knowledge and consent of all parties involved. Hannah cited a 2019 YouGov study which confirmed that 7% of UK adults said that they had been in a consensual non-monogamous relationship at some point in their lives (a marked increase from only 2% only 4 years earlier). The same survey found that 23% of UK adults had been open to the idea of non-monogamy, suggesting that the number of people exploring polyamory could continue to grow in years to come. Polyamorous relationships have come into the cultural fore lately through books, television and film, most recently the motion picture Challengers starring actors Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor.

The Times Radio conversation touched upon the fact that this type of relationship is becoming more and more visible in the UK and while it may still be considered a relatively unconventional lifestyle choice, the evidence cited by the YouGov study at the least seems to suggest that polyamory is far more prevalent than many people might think.

Hannah explained that the growth in enquiries to the Family team often relate to questions upon relationship breakdown, and the issues and subsequent complications around property interests/ownership, inheritance concerns, and particularly childcare arrangements for multi-parent families. For instance, it is not uncommon to find a child raised within a polyamorous unit where there are more than three parents involved.

This is an area of law that requires a particularly sensitive pair of hands when dealing with clients in polyamorous relationships, and Hannah has quickly built a solid reputation in this field promoting an atmosphere of openness and goodwill, often helping her clients navigate very difficult personal circumstances, and associated complex issues.

HJA’s Family Law Team regularly secures successful outcomes for a broad range of clients and has built a reputation for providing an early constructive approach with every client. The team continue to successfully handle complex children and financial matters and polyamorous relationships come within the wide basket of skills underpinning a dynamic and growing team.

At Hodge Jones & Allen, we know that marriages or relationships may experience difficulty or break down. Seeking legal advice quickly will provide you with an understanding of the options open to you, helping you to achieve a resolution. We know that it won’t be a process you enjoy, so we focus on efficiency and transparency.

If you’d like to find out how we can help you, find out more about Hannah Yellop and our Family Law team. Our highly experienced team of family solicitors are available to speak with you over the telephone on 0330 822 3451, via video or at our offices.