Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements can benefit not just wealthy individuals but anyone who wishes to protect their assets and clarify how matters will be dealt with in the event of a divorce or separation. Having an open and honest approach will ensure that both parties know where they stand and can help to reduce the risk of any misunderstandings. 
Our family law team advise on and draft pre-nuptial agreements as well as post-nuptial agreements for those who are already married.

If you are facing a divorce, our family law solicitors can help you through the process, ensuring that other related issues, including financial remedies and arrangements for children, are dealt with alongside the divorce process itself. 

For those who do not want to divorce but no longer wish to be together, a separation agreement can help you deal with issues such as who will pay the bills, how property will be dealt with and the way in which you will parent any children.
Our family law team can work with you to draft a separation agreement that will give you some certainty and clarity for the next phase of your life, all whilst keeping conflict to a minimum. 

Putting a new schedule in place for your children after the breakdown of a relationship can be contentious. We can negotiate on your behalf to agree the best arrangements for your family. Where necessary, we can support you through an alternative method of dispute resolution such as mediation or, if this is not successful, through litigation.

Our family law team also deal with other issues, including advice on parental rights, enforcement action if a child arrangements order is breached and dealing with single-issue disputes, such as choice of school and residence, a child’s name and overseas holidays.

If you are experiencing or are a victim of domestic abuse, including physical, psychological, sexual, financial or emotional abuse, you are advised to seek help as soon as you can. Our family law team will take immediate action to protect you and, if necessary, your children. 
This includes asking the court for an injunction, such as a non-molestation order to stop abuse or an occupation order setting out who is entitled to live in a shared property.

It is essential to deal with financial matters as part of the divorce procedure. Without a financial order, your former spouse could make a claim against you at any point in the future, even many years from now.
Our family law solicitors can represent you in securing a fair financial settlement that will give you the support and security you need for the future.

Cohabiting couples have far fewer legal rights than those who are married. A cohabitation agreement can offer protection and make sure that you both know how your financial assets and liabilities will be dealt with between you should you separate. This can include a range of issues, such as how bills will be dealt with, who will pay the mortgage and how assets will be shared should you separate. 
Our family law team also represent individuals following the breakdown of a relationship or, should a disagreement arise, over issues such as property ownership.

If your spouse, former spouse, or cohabiting partner has died and you have not been included in their Will or you have not received as much as you feel proportionate, we, alongside our Private Client department, can advise you of your rights. As a spouse, you may be entitled to a similar amount that you would have received had you divorced. Other parties may be entitled to reasonable financial provision.
Our solicitors can also advise you in respect of asset protection and tax mitigation in relation to family matters.

Our expert family law team provide a full range of services relating to children, including Child Arrangement Orders to regulate with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with and Specific Issue Orders dealing with individual matters such as where a child is to attend school, receive a particular health treatment and if they should have a religious education. Our family law team can also provide assistance in Prohibited Steps Orders, to prohibit a parent from exercising some elements of their parental responsibility.

Our solicitors deal with requesting parental responsibility, adoption cases and surrogacy, as well as paternity cases. We always handle these matters sensitively and we will do all we can to secure the right result for you and your children.

If you have had advice from a family lawyer that fell short of the standard you are entitled to expect from a professional, you may be able to make a professional negligence claim. Issues could include missing court dates or other deadlines, or negligent advice in respect of property or financial matters. 
Our family law solicitors will advise you as to whether you have grounds for a claim and provide robust representation if you do.

If you are ending your civil partnership or separating from your partner, we can help you deal with the legal process of dissolution or put a separation agreement in place. Our solicitors will provide comprehensive advice in respect of all relevant issues, including financial matters, division of property and arrangements for children.

If you are not married and are separating from someone you lived with, you will not have an automatic right to claim a share of a property if you are not named on the title deeds. However, if you made financial contributions on the understanding or belief that you would have an interest in the property, for example, paying the bills so that your partner could pay the mortgage or funding major alterations, we can advise you on making a claim under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, known as TOLATA. If you wish to make a claim, speak to one of our expert solicitors today.