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Family Law Solicitors in Birmingham

Family law issues can be difficult and stressful, particularly if they involve children or financial matters. Having an expert family law solicitor on your side will ensure that you have the guidance and support you need as well as the representation to secure the right outcome for you and your family.

At Roythornes, our family solicitors deal with a full range of issues, including complex and entrenched disputes. Wherever possible, we work to resolve matters out of court by negotiation and, where necessary, alternative dispute resolution. This is generally faster and more cost-effective than litigation and can also prevent a situation from degenerating.

We understand that dealing with family law issues can be a real challenge, particularly where these involve the breakdown of a relationship. You will find our family law team to be sympathetic and approachable and we will do all we can to ensure your case is resolved promptly and with minimum conflict.

To speak to a local family law solicitor in Birmingham, please contact our Birmingham office.

Services provided by our family solicitors in Birmingham:

Our family law services include:

Prenuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements

Putting a prenuptial agreement in place before you marry can help you and your future spouse be open about finances from the start and discuss how you intend to deal with matters between you.

It can help avoid misunderstandings in the future and make sure that you both know what to expect financially, particularly in the event of the relationship breakdown.  A prenuptial agreement, also known as a prenup, can be particularly important if you have children from a previous relationship, if you have assets acquired prior to the marriage including business and personal assets or if there is a possibility that you may inherit money in the future.

In the event that you were to separate, it can also make the process easier and less contentious. We can advise you on what to put in a prenuptial agreement and we also provide advice if you have been given a prenup to sign. We also draft post-nuptial agreements for those who have already married but who would like to put their financial affairs on a more formal footing.

Divorce and civil partnership dissolution

If you are considering getting a divorce or dissolving your civil partnership, we can represent you in the process and also advise you of the issues that may need to be dealt with at the same time.  For example, it is essential to have a binding financial agreement in place to end your financial obligations to each other.

Separation agreements

If you do not want to divorce, but you intend to live separately from your spouse, we can prepare a separation agreement that will set out how issues such as property, mortgage payments and bills will be dealt with.  If you have children, you can also specify arrangements for them, including where they will live, how much time they will spend with each parent and who will meet their financial needs.

Having a separation agreement in place will give you some financial certainty for the future and also ensure that you both understand your responsibilities. Having this type of agreement in place can prevent a relationship from becoming more difficult over time.

Children law

If you are separating and you have children, putting a child arrangements agreement in place can be very helpful. It will ensure that everyone knows what to expect and how much time your children will spend with each parent.

As well as setting out where your children will live, you can include other details such as how they will keep in touch with each parent when they are apart, what arrangements will be made for holidays and your respective financial obligations.

Our team has extensive experience in dealing with child law. We know how hard it can be to make new arrangements for children and we will work to ensure that any agreement reached is in the best interests of your family.

Parental rights

We provide a range of family law advice and representation in respect of parental rights, in particular, parental responsibility. This refers to the rights, obligations and authority a parent or other individual has in respect of a child and their property.

While birth mothers automatically have parental responsibility as well as fathers who are married to the mother, unmarried fathers do not have it unless they are named on the child’s birth certificate. We provide representation to fathers and others, such as step-parents, who are seeking parental responsibility.

We also deal with parental responsibility and other parental legal issues, including in respect of same sex-parents.

Domestic violence

If you have been harmed by domestic violence, contact us today and we can advise you and, where necessary, take immediate steps to protect you and your children. This includes psychological and emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and coercive control.

The court offers a range of solutions, including:

  • Non-molestation orders, preventing someone from contacting you or coming near you; and
  • Occupation orders, setting out who can occupy your home and potentially excluding your partner from some or all of it

Domestic abuse is unlikely to end on its own. If you have experienced abuse, you are strongly advised to seek help. Our family law team are sensitive and supportive and we will take all steps necessary to assist you.

Matrimonial finance

If you are going through a divorce or civil partnership dissolution, you will need to deal with financial matters at the same time. Without a binding financial order, your financial liabilities to each other will not end and your former partner could potentially make a claim against you in the future.

Our family law specialists will provide expert divorce finance advice and representation to secure the strongest possible deal, giving you the assets and resources you need for the future. We can advise you on ways to deal with the matrimonial home, business and trust assets, investments, incomes and pensions.  We can also advise in respect of how to deal with assets acquired before your marriage or following your separation.

We will work with you to establish what is important and how we can best structure a financial settlement to give you the security you require. If we are able to reach an agreement, we will ask the court to approve it and make a binding financial order.

Where agreement cannot be reached by negotiation, we can advise you about appropriate forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution and represent you throughout those processes.  Sometimes, it is necessary to issue court proceedings in order to resolve your issues. When this is necessary, we are robust and tactical litigators and will guide you through the court process keeping your best interests and those of your family at the forefront of minds.

A tailored approach to family law to match your priorities

Advice on family law issues and early intervention

We provide initial family law advice in respect of a full range of issues and, where necessary, we can represent you to try and negotiate the resolution of a dispute. Early intervention is often the best way of stopping a disagreement from escalating and matters are often dealt with promptly when lawyers are involved at the start.

Alternative dispute resolution

If it is not possible to reach a negotiated agreement, we can advise and represent you through alternative dispute resolution. One option is mediation and you will usually be required by law to at least attempt mediation before you can approach the court to have a decision made.

At a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting or MIAM, you can discuss your situation with a neutral mediator, who will explain the mediation process to you and how it may help resolve your dispute. If you decide to go ahead, you and your former partner will meet with the mediator who will help you explore the options open to you and ways in which you could reach an agreement.

The mediator will not impose a decision on you, meaning you have the reassurance of knowing that any agreement will be one that it acceptable to you. If an agreement cannot be reached, we can propose other alternatives or take your case to court.

We undertake the full range of ADR to suit your needs including arbitration, Early Neutral Evaluations, Private FDR’s and Collaborative Law.

Family law litigation

If matters cannot be resolved by negotiation or mediation, we can represent you in asking the court to decide the issue. We will prepare the strongest possible case on your behalf and you will be represented by an advocate who is a family law specialist. We know that attending a hearing may seem daunting, and we will make sure that you have our support and advice throughout.

Our family law fees

We will provide you with a clear quote for the likely costs at the outset and make sure that you have updates as necessary throughout. We are able to offer fixed fees for a range of work, meaning that you will know from the start exactly how much the cost will be.

We will always make sure that you are aware of the costs involved and are agreeable to them before we start work.

For more information, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions and discuss the potential costs involved in any work you may need.

Why choose Roythornes’ family law solicitors in Birmingham?

Our Family Law team have an exceptional breadth of experience across a full range of issues and particular expertise in resolving disputes without the need for litigation. You will find our family lawyers to be sensitive and understanding as well as robust in securing the outcome you need.

The team includes members of Resolution, the family lawyer group committed to resolving disputes constructively and with a minimum level of conflict. It is always our priority to deal with your family matters as sensitively as possible.

Thanks to the dedication and hardwork of our team, we have an outstanding reputation. We are highly recommended by leading legal directory The Legal 500, and we are routinely recommended by clients to their friends and family.

We will make sure that you have the right level of expertise for your needs as well as the support and guidance you require to help you through what may be a difficult time.

In addition to our Birmingham office, we have offices in Nottingham, Alconbury, Peterborough and Spalding.

Get in touch with our Birmingham family law solicitors

To speak to a local family law solicitor in Birmingham, please contact our Birmingham office.