The solicitors in our family department are experienced practitioners who deal with all aspects of marital and relationship breakdowns.
All are members of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association), a body committed to promoting a spirit of non confrontation in which matters can be dealt with in a sensitive, constructive and cost-effective way.
Julian Scrace is trained in Collaborative law, a process which encourages couples to try and settle their differences and reach the best solutions for them and their families by agreement without involving the heartache and uncertainty of a court hearing.
Deborah Yeates is a member of the Children Panel Accreditation Scheme (formerly the Law Society's Children Panel) specialising in both child care law (e.g. care proceedings and Adoption) and family disputes about children.
We can advise on:
For couples contemplating a relationship
Pre cohabitation/marriage/civil partnerships agreements.
Divorce & Separation
The grounds and the procedure. For a summary and guide to your options for resolving the financial issues in a divorce click Here.
Financial Matters
- The Home.
- Financial Provision (and division of assets).
- Maintenance.
- School Fees.
- Business interests.
- Pensions.
Cohabitation
Under English law relationships outside of marriage and the Civil Partnership Act 2004 currently have no legal status.
When partners separate, unless they have made prior arrangements, they must rely, for the most part, on a complex web of trust and property law to establish who has ownership of the assets and what they are entitled to as an individual and as a parent.
To avoid uncertainty a Cohabitation Agreement can be drawn up setting out the arrangements for the children, and the ownership of assets, should the relationship end.
There are a number of other issues regarding the breakdown of relationships where the parties have chosen not to marry. The law is in a state of flux on some of these and professional advice should always be sought. We can advise you about:
- The Rights of Unmarried Parents.
- Financial Issues.
- The Home.
- The Child Support Agency.
- Cohabitation Agreements.
- Separation Agreements.
Children
Disputes about the welfare and upbringing of children occur most frequently when the parents' relationship is ending.
The most common issues are disputes about with whom a child/children should live, what arrangements should be made to see the non-resident parent or other family members, and what financial arrangements should be made for their welfare.
This is a difficult time for all concerned, especially for the children. We can help resolve the following issues:
- Residence (with whom the children should live).
- Contact Arrangements.
- Financial Agreements.
- Child Support Agency matters.
- Adoption.
- Leave to remove a child from England and Wales.
- Parental Responsibility.
Domestic violence/harassment
For further information please contact Julian Scrace or Deborah Yeates.
