 |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
|
Family & Child Law and Relationship Matters “Where do I stand?”: We advise separating couples on the law that governs their situation, either as spouses, civil partners or co-habitees. We give guidance on financial separation, drawing up deeds of agreement, commenting on the fairness of a proposal and assisting parties to reach an amicable conclusion. We advise on the law governing the parties’ financial responsibilities to each other and their children. If a settlement by negotiation is not possible, we begin and conduct court proceedings, instructing counsel where appropriate, obtaining expert valuations were necessary and taking emergency steps where the occasion calls for them. The position is different for spouses, civil partners and co-habitees, and because emotions are generally running high at the point where our advice is sought, we offer a short interview at a fixed fee to help address the request “I just want to know where I stand”. We advise in emergency situations involving children, personal safety and in finances. Wider consequences The financial separation is often only the beginning of the rearrangement of an individual’s monetary situation. Every individual will need to reconsider their Wills, their tax position and that of their dependants and many will want to revise their future financial plans. Separation may change the benefits under insurance policies. Bankruptcy will often affect the “innocent” party in a way that may be quite unexpected and be seen as very unfair. Children Where children live, when they see their parents, where they go to school and where they can go on their holidays with their separated parents, are questions that the court is called upon to decide in difficult and emotional separations. Children almost always know that they are caught up in the argument between their parents, and it takes a great deal of patience for all the adults involved to find a way through the dispute that causes the least damage. We can help in all degrees of dispute, from setting out an agreement about times for children to see each parent, “in black and white”, to conducting court proceedings where negotiation has failed or is no longer the key to the dispute. Divorce and Dissolution We advise on divorce (and dissolution of civil partnerships) itself, both for Petitioners and Respondents, and prepare the necessary documents from beginning to end.
For advice on each of these matters, please contact Ann Matthews or Susan Anderson |
|||||