Making the decision to divorce can be difficult, for those with children it is often even more so. You need to consider how you will tell the children, how they will react and how you can minimise the impact upon them. As family law solicitors we see the consequences of…
The cost of divorce is often in the news, with scare stories of divorce costing tens of thousands of pounds and having a knock on effect on personal finances many years into the future. So it’s understandable that if you talk to a family law solicitor you want to understand…
As a divorce solicitor I speak daily to people who have already or are about to separate. For the vast majority their anxieties rest around their financial position. They want to get everything sorted financially and the last thing they want to discuss or even think about is taking what…
Parents who separate are always concerned about the care and welfare of their children. Recent changes means the family courts now put a focus on ‘shared care’, but what does that really mean? I receive lots of calls from parents who have recently separated and want to know more about…
Heterosexual and same-sex couples can now marry equally under English law, but do they have the same legal rights? This guest blog from Rebecca Rothwell of barristers’ chambers 36 Bedford Row provides the answers. Since Civil Partnerships became legal in England and Wales on 05 December 2005, there have been…
Gordon Gecko said in the film Wall Street “The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed – for lack of a better word – is good.” I’m not sure I agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment but it does make me think about my role as a family law solicitor and…
Agreeing the content of a divorce settlement can often be a challenge and it’s our job as family law solicitors to make sure that our clients come to a financial agreement that serves their interests and is agreed by the other party. To do this it’s important to have full…
Is it possible for divorce lawyers to give gender neutral legal advice? Or are we ‘sexist’ because we often deal with clearly defined roles within a marriage? I was asked recently whether I favour male or female clients. I thought back over the clients I have helped over the years…
Divorce does not bring an end to any financial claims between a married couple – as has been amply demonstrated in the recently reported case of Vince v Wyatt. As family lawyers we speak almost daily to clients who believe that “divorce proceedings” means bringing an end to a marriage,…
Single parents, absent fathers, parent with care. What’s in a name? I am often surprised at how people expect their status as a parent to change, simply because their relationship status does. Being a partner and a spouse is something that can cease or change depending on the choice of…
The papers have been full of commentary on the family case heard by the Court of Appeal recently, in which Tracey Wright, the ex wife of a highly paid horse surgeon, was told very firmly that rather than expecting to receive substantial on-going maintenance from her former husband she should…
Divorce doesn’t have to go to court, but unless you and your partner are willing to talk, to negotiate and to settle that’s exactly where your family dispute will end up. Top tips for avoiding the divorce courts When your relationship breaks down not only are you dealing with the…