Our Specialism

---

Divorce can be a daunting time. Our boutique family law firm aims to make it as stress free as it can be and get our clients the best outcomes within the legal frameworks. 

By understanding your circumstances, needs and what’s important to you we provide you with the highest quality advice, always act in your best interests and keep you informed as matters progress.

We understand that you will want to resolve matters as quickly as possible so that you can move on with your life. Our pragmatic approach seeks to resolve matters as efficiently as possible for you whilst moving at your pace. By focusing on one area of law our team have a thorough understanding of family law, it’s legal precedents, court processes and how to work with other organisations that may become involved (for example social services or CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service).

Religious Divorce:

Where couples living in the UK have both a legal and religious marriage it is important to follow both the legal and religious process of ending the marriage.

We have specialist solicitors that are sensitive to the religious and cultural considerations surrounding divorce, whilst working through the legal process of divorce. The legal process of divorce seeks to achieve a clean break and resolve matters concerning property, finances and children. 

If the legal divorce is delayed for several years matters can become more complicated and costly, particularly when it comes to identifying and valuing matrimonial assets as things will have changed over the years. 

In addition to the divorce or separation itself, it is so important to resolve any matters concerning property or finances. By property we generally mean the home that you and your ex-partner shared. Finances can be a more complex area - it may involve dividing assets, dealing with joint bank accounts, spousal maintenance, child maintenance or repayment of debts. 

You may need our help in reaching agreement or going to court for a judgement where an agreement can’t be reached. You may have even already reached an agreement with your ex-partner yourselves. However, the agreement or judgment is made it is still a requirement for any order to be approved by the courts. Otherwise, it isn’t legally binding on either party. The only way to achieve a clean break and avoid unnecessary future claims is to secure court order. 

We can provide whatever level of assistance you require in achieving an agreement or judgement, and draft the necessary paperwork required for the courts to issue an order making the agreement or judgement legally binding. 

Following a separation there can often be several issues to resolve where children are involved. 

Some of the points to consider will include:

· Who the child(ren) will live with 

· When the other parent will spend time with the child(ren)

· How will time over school holidays be divided

· Child maintenance payments

· How and when time will be spent with     

grandparents

· Specific issues – e.g. which school the child(ren) will attend

We can provide whatever level of assistance you require in achieving an agreement or judgement relating to children matters. Once the agreement or judgement has been reached we’ll draft the necessary paperwork required for the courts to issue an order making the agreement or judgement legally binding. 

You will likely require one or more of the following Orders:

· Child Arrangements Order

· Prohibited Steps Order

· Specific Issue Order

There can be a lot of things to consider when children are involved in the divorce or separation of their parents, not least what is best for the child(ren). Other parties will likely be involved for example Social Services or or CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service). We are specialists in advising in this area, and can advise you with professionalism and empathy.

If you have been affected by domestic violence the most important thing is to secure your own safety in the immediate term. This will often involve seeking the help of friends and family, domestic violence charities and/or the police. 

Thereafter legal proceedings are typically needed to secure your safety and security on a longer-term basis. This may involve a Non-Molestation Order and/or Occupation Order.

A Non-Molestation Order protects a victim of domestic violence from their ex-partner, whereas an Occupation Order prohibits their ex-partner from entering the home. Both are enforceable by the police once the Orders have been issued by the Courts. 

Advice in this area is very time sensitive. Please contact as soon as possible so that we can start to put these protective steps in place. 

For unmarried and cohabiting couples a separation can be more complex. The position with regards to children matters is much the same as for divorcing couples. However, property and financial matters are very different as the phrase of “common law” spouse is a misconception. 

When it comes to property and financial matters, one party doesn’t have an automatic claim over the property of the other. It is important to get advice without undue delay following the breakdown of a relationship where the parties are not married or in a civil partnership.

The situation will be clearer where the parties arranged a Cohabitation / Living Together Agreement earlier in their relationship. This is also an area that our specialist solicitors can advise on.