Family services
Family Law:
Family breakdown is highly sensitive and distressing. Depending on your circumstances and needs, we can assist you to deal with matters related to divorce, matrimonial finance, children contact, etc. If you need any assistance, please call now to book an appointment with our expert family solicitors to discuss your family matter.
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Ending your marriage/civil partnership
Divorce / Dissolution
If you are considering ending your marriage and require answers to any questions or you have received divorce papers and are not sure what do – we can help. With a wealth of knowledge and experience of over 16 years our solicitors can offer you a helping hand wherever possible. Providing expert legal advice and guidance along the way. Our solicitors have created lasting bonds with their clients due to their friendly nature and effective advice. Our solicitors offer specialist advice on any divorce related matters and will tailor advice to best suit your needs.
Legal Separation
Similar to divorce, we are specialists in legal separation proceeding. Book an appointment with us to make an informed decision on what is the best option for you – divorce or separation.
Annulment / Nullity
Unlike divorce, you can annul your marriage as soon as you get married. Book an appointment with us to discuss your matter further with our expert family solicitors.
Finance
Finances in a marriage can get quite complicated if it is contested in divorce. Whether you are the owner of the property, or your partner is, or even if its jointly owned – our solicitors have extensive expertise on family financial matter. We can advise you keeping your present and future best interests in mind. We provide following services in relation to family finance.
Financial settlement
Once the marriage is over, through a financial settlement you can sort out financial issues and separate your assets from those of your partner. There are several ways to reach such settlement. Most common form is that you reach an agreement with your partner and we can draft the agreement based on your instructions. This can also include making an application with the court by one partner following several court hearings. Such assets can include cash, bank balances, property, household contents, cars, pensions, businesses, personal items worth over £500, all debts and loans including credit cards. Our expert lawyers can advise you on the approach that will suit you the best.
Spousal maintenance
This is a payment which is payable to one spouse to another after a divorce. Unlike to child maintenance, there is no automatic right on the spousal maintenance. The amount is based on the couple’s need and income. During divorce proceedings, interim spousal maintenance can start and a longer term maintenance can begin once the financial settlement of agreed. We can advice you on how much spousal maintenance you may be awarded and any scope for negotiations.
Prenuptial Agreements
Prenuptial agreements are a formal written agreement issued before the marriage between two parties. It sets out ownership of property, money, assets and explains its division upon breakdown of the relationship. It provides a sense of clarity for some, and if you feel this is something you and your partner want to consider – our experts have over 16 years of experience to provide you with the guidance needed.
Postnuptial Agreements
Similar to the prenuptial agreements, these are formal written agreements based on the ownership of property, money and assets and its division in the event of a breakdown of the relationship. However, they are drafted after the couple are married. If you feel this is the right course of action for you or need more advice on the way it works, please contact our solicitors today.
Cohabitation / TOLATA Claims
In case of separation of cohabiting couples, rules dealing with their properties are the same as owners who are not in a relationship and jointly owned properties unless you have children together. Disputes on jointly owned assets arise mostly when a relationship breaks and the parties in that relationship are unable to decide on what to do with their assets. You may establish an express trust outlining the identity of the legal title holder and the beneficial interests holder and their ratios. There can be an implied trust if there is no express declaration of who will have the beneficial interests on jointly owned properties or where the property is held in the name of one party only and the other wants to establish that they have a beneficial interest in the property. Parties needs to abide by the terms of declaration of trusts in the transfer document unless they can establish that it was an invalid or incorrect document, there has been a fraud, mistake or undue influence or there has been a subsequent variation. You can apply with the court to resolve disputes with your partner if you jointly hold a property and unable to agree on sale or sharing of equity. Such applications are made under Trusts of Land and Appointments Trustees Act 1996, commonly known as TOLATA. Under this Act, the court has powers to make orders directing sale and/or equity sharing.
If you have children together with your ex-partner, you may initiate a financial claim under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 for a lump sum claim, a claim for maintenance with legal costs. Housing claims are restricted to provide you and your children under 18 with accommodation.
You may acquire financial interests on your ex-partners property with whom you lived for a long term and made financial contributions. If your ex-partner refuses to sell the property, you may apply with the court to order a sale and how the proceeds will be distributed.
Please call us if you have any issues which you wish to discuss further.
Mediation
Divorce and/or separation are serious matters which require ample thought and consideration. It is not necessary for you to consider divorce straight away. Our solicitors can guide you on the mediation process and able to make appropriate referrals to help you through your marriage related issues to reach a common ground and help you find solutions to remedy it. However, if you still feel you want to proceed with a divorce we are always here to help.
Domestic Violence
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales year ending March 2020, an estimated 5.5% of adults aged 16 to 74 years (2.3 million) experienced domestic abuse in the last year. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the statistics have soared new heights. If you are a victim of domestic violence, or you know someone who is – please speak up. Our specialist services enable you to not live a life of fear. Our experts are able apply for court orders and/or initiate divorce proceedings. Please book an appointment today for a confidential conversation regarding your circumstances.
Non-Molestation Orders & Occupation Orders
If you are in worried for your safety due to the acts of someone, a non-molestation order may be for you. A non-molestation order forbids the abuser from:
- Using or threatening physical violence
- Intimidating, harassing or pestering
- Communicating with you when they are not supposed to
- Instructing or encouraging others to do any of the above
- Entering the restricted zone e.g., not entering within a certain distance of the victim’s place of residence, workplace, pace of study, child’s school etc.
Our experts have handled numerous cases and are aware of the right course of action to be taken.
Contesting Non-Molestation Orders & Occupation Orders
If an order has been made against you or someone you know, and you feel that it is unfair or untrue – we can advise you accordingly. Our experts have extensive experience in dealing with such matters and ensure to fight for you every step of the way. To know the right course of action for you, please contact us today.
For Your Children
Child Contact
Our experts deal with child contact issues on a regular basis. Following a breakdown of the relationship, often the children are left confused and worried. They suddenly see more of one parent than the other and lack a set routine. To help make the process easier for you and your children, we discuss your family situation extensively to ensure an application is made reflecting the children’s best interests. Moreover, if you have not had regular contact with your child(ren) even after an order has been made by the court and you unsure of what to do – we can advise on the necessary steps to be taken. Our experts will provide with you with all the crucial details regarding a Child Arrangements Order when you book an appointment.
Special Guardianship Order
A Special Guardianship Order appoints one or more individuals as the child(ren)’s special guardian. The special guardian must be aged over 16 and not the parent of the child(ren). Generally, any guardian, anyone named in the child arrangements order as with whom the child is to live, a local authority or a relative who has lived with the child(ren) for a period of at least 1 year before the application is made can apply. To gain a better understanding and expert advice on the steps to be taken please contact our experts today.
Contesting Non-Molestation Orders & Occupation Orders
If an order has been made against you or someone you know, and you feel that it is unfair or untrue – we can advise you accordingly. Our experts have extensive experience in dealing with such matters and ensure to fight for you every step of the way. To know the right course of action for you, please contact us today.
Child Contact
Our experts deal with child contact issues on a regular basis. Following a breakdown of the relationship, often the children are left confused and worried. They suddenly see more of one parent than the other and lack a set routine. To help make the process easier for you and your children, we discuss your family situation extensively to ensure an application is made reflecting the children’s best interests. Moreover, if you have not had regular contact with your child(ren) even after an order has been made by the court and you unsure of what to do – we can advise on the necessary steps to be taken. Our experts will provide with you with all the crucial details regarding a Child Arrangements Order when you book an appointment.
Special Guardianship Order
A Special Guardianship Order appoints one or more individuals as the child(ren)’s special guardian. The special guardian must be aged over 16 and not the parent of the child(ren). Generally, any guardian, anyone named in the child arrangements order as with whom the child is to live, a local authority or a relative who has lived with the child(ren) for a period of at least 1 year before the application is made can apply. To gain a better understanding and expert advice on the steps to be taken please contact our experts today.
Specific Issue & Prohibited Steps Order
Any issues that the parents cannot decide on whether that’s which school the child(ren) should go to or any matters importance – the courts can make the decision in the best interests of the child. This is a specific issue order. On the other hand, if you want to stop the other parent from doing something such as, taking them abroad without your consent, you may apply for a Prohibited Steps Order. Depending on your circumstances, our experts can advise you on which application(s) are necessary. The wealth of knowledge and experience our solicitors hold will provide you with the best service. Please book an appointment with us for further information.
Parental Responsibility
The biological mothers receive immediate parental responsibility of the child(ren). Others with parental responsibility include:
- The father – if he was married to the mother at the time the child was born
- Unmarried father – if he is named in the child’s birth certificate
- Same-sex partners – if they were civil partners or married at the time the child(ren) was born or at the time of fertility treatment
You can apply to obtain PR of a child. Our solicitors can offer you advice on the right course of action and clarify any questions you may have.
Any other services
Our expert solicitors can assist you to deal with your legal issues carefully and coherently. Please call to discuss your situation with one of our expert solicitors.
