Project status: Pre-project
The problem Burial and cremation are currently in use as funerary methods in England and Wales, but companies are also developing new funerary methods. These include: alkaline hydrolysis, which uses water and alkaline chemicals, and heat, to break down a body into a sterile liquid and bone fragments; and human composting, which involves keeping a … Read more >
Project status: Consultation
The Law Commission is seeking to reform the law of burial in England and Wales, which is piecemeal, complex and outdated. It is also gauging solutions for unresolved issues in cremation law. We have published a consultation paper and a summary and are looking for views on our proposals. The consultation is open until 9 January 2025. … Read more >
Project status: Pre-consultation
The problem As part of its response to Clare Wade KC’s Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review, the Government asked the Law Commission to review the use of defences in domestic homicide cases. In 2004 the Law Commission made recommendations for reform of the partial defences to murder including provocation (now loss of control) and diminished responsibility. … Read more >
Project status: Consultation
The Law Commission is reviewing the legal framework governing social care for disabled children in England to ensure that the law is fair, modern and accessible, allowing children with disabilities to access the support they need. We have published a consultation paper asking people to tell us about their experiences of the current system and … Read more >
Project status: Analysis of responses
Download the 2023 Supplementary Consultation Paper. Download the Summary of the 2023 Supplementary Consultation Paper. Download the Welsh Summary of the 2023 Supplementary Consultation Paper. Download the Easy Read Summary of the 2023 Supplementary Consultation Paper. Download the 2017 Consultation Paper. Download the Summary of the 2017 Consultation Paper. Download the Welsh Summary of the … Read more >
Project status: Complete
Download the final report here. Download a summary of the final report here. About arbitration Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution. If two or more parties have a dispute which they cannot resolve themselves, instead of going to court, they might appoint a third person as an arbitrator to resolve the dispute for … Read more >
Project status: Pre-consultation
The Law Commission has been asked to review the law about appeals in criminal cases, including the tests applied by the Court of Appeal and the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and laws governing post-trial retention and disclosure of evidence Documents Download the issues paper here. Download the summary of the issues paper here. Download the … Read more >
Assessing the reform options for the laws governing finances on divorce and the ending of a civil partnership The Law Commission published a scoping report on the 18 December 2024, along with a summary of the report and a Welsh version of the summary. The problem Going through a divorce or ending a civil partnership is … Read more >
Project status: Consultation
Our wide-ranging review will consider in detail how the right to renew business tenancies, set out in Part 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, is working and will consider options for reform. We have published a first Consultation Paper and a summary. We have also published a survey. Consultees can respond to the Consultation Paper here and … Read more >
Project status: Pre-project