No one wants to think that they could experience problems in their family life that would require legal intervention. If you do, you need to know that you can go to a Solicitor who will guide you through what may be one of the most traumatic experiences and most vulnerable of times in your life in full knowledge that your solicitor will not make a bad situation worse.
Our team includes accredited members of the Law Society Family Panel, Law Society Children Panel and Resolution Panel. We also have one trained Collaborative Lawyer and one Family Mediator.
Our services include:
Divorce, Separation & Civil Partnership
Let us sensitively guide you through the legal complexities of divorce and/or separation at a time when you feel you’re most vulnerable. We will advise negotiate and conduct matters so as to assist you in achieving a constructive settlement in as amicable way as possible. We recognise you will need time to adjust to your new situation and we will work to protect your interests throughout.
Matrimonial Finances
Financial arrangements arising out of divorce, separation and/or the ending of civil partnerships can be complicated. The guiding legal principal is to achieve a fair settlement for you both. How better to achieve is different for every family as different considerations are taken into account according to each family’s varying circumstances. This is further complicated where there are children involved.
We have experience in dealing with cases of both high and more modest monetary value and our team of family lawyers will give you sound advice to achieve a fair settlement for you whatever your situation.
Increasingly couples are opting to enter into a prenuptial agreement and, although not legally binding, the Court can take this into account upon marriage breakdown when financial settlements are considered.
Cohabitation
Couples living together but not marrying has become increasingly more popular. What is not often understood is that these couples on separating are far more vulnerable than married couples. In particular legal intervention may be necessary amongst other things in relation to a division of the property and children’s issues.
To avoid ignorance about your legal rights it is advisable to enter into a cohabitation agreement at the beginning of your cohabitation rather than unpick the problems at the end when hostilities and communication problems could prevent a fair and sensible resolution.
Children
When divorcing and or separating the last thing any parent wants is for the children to be “piggy in the middle”. The priority for the majority of parents is to protect their children from the adult issues. Unfortunately sometimes disputes arise over the children. Our team of family lawyers have a wealth of experience in working with families experiencing such disputes. Throughout, we will be committed to a conciliatory approach to putting the children first in bringing such disputes to a satisfactory resolution.
Should an abduction crisis develop we can act swiftly and take all necessary emergency steps to bring matters to a satisfactory conclusion.
If you experience the intervention into your life of the Social Services Department as a result of child protection issues being identified or are looking to adopt, our care and adoption department is one of the most experienced and respected in the North West of England.
Family Mediation & Collaborative Law
On separating if you have decided not to instruct solicitors to deal with finances and/or children matters as you prefer to resolve issues arising out of your separation in an alternative manner we can offer our expert assistance and advice through Mediation or Collaborative Law.
If you choose to mediate you will be in control of the issues you want to discuss with the Mediator and the Mediator, who must remain impartial, will guide and assist you in considering optional ways of resolving those issues giving you legal information to help you both consider those options in a legal context.
Alternatively, you could each instruct a Collaborative Lawyer and together you and your respective lawyers would meet and work together in a conciliatory and intensive manner and environment to reach an amicable and fair financial settlement.
Both of these approaches can result in a settlement being reached in a timely and cost effective manner.
Domestic Abuse
If you are the victim of domestic abuse, be it verbal or physical, you do not need to tolerate such treatment. The law will protect you and your children where appropriate. Our team of experienced family lawyers will talk you through all the optional protective measures and interventions available to your circumstances.
