Family and Matrimonial

Family and Matrimonial

Why choose us?

Our compassionate team possesses a wealth of family law experience, helping to make us one of Shropshire’s leading law firms, with an excellent regional reputation.

• We can help you with any aspect of family law from early relationship planning to providing practical and constructive advice if things go wrong.

• We will not only advise you on the most appropriate legal action to take – we will support you throughout the process, and can also direct you to additional support services where needed.

• When a relationship breaks down we understand that it can be a very difficult time for all those involved and so our aim is to resolve issues without confrontation and provide clear and realistic advice on your options given your specific situation.

• We are one of the few firms in Shropshire who are committed to offering, where possible, a free 30-minute telephone consultation to potential new clients. We believe that this provides you with an excellent opportunity to build trust and a rapport with our lawyers and as a potential new client.

What we do

Pre and post marital/civil partnership agreements

Not just for the super wealthy but an important relationship planning tool, pre and post marital/civil partnership agreements offer a sensible way to protect your financial interests in the event of a marriage or civil partnership ending. Recent cases suggest that these agreements, where entered freely, with each party receiving appropriate advice, will continue to be of increasing evidential value in the future in assessing the division of income and assets on divorce or dissolution. We are experts in representing the interests of anyone wishing to take this precaution to protect their position and assets and have significant experience in working with individuals to negotiate agreements bespoke to your requirements.

Divorce, separation, and unmarried couples

Many people we speak to have not yet firmly decided to divorce or separate. During these early discussions our lawyers will talk you through your options so you can make an informed decision about what is best for you and your family. These options might include relationship counselling, family therapy or a referral to alternative dispute resolution processes such as mediation. However, if the relationship has come to an end, we can help you to take those next steps to formalise your divorce or separation.

Financial and property issues arising out of all forms of relationship breakdown (divorce, civil partnership dissolution and unmarried partners)

We can help you to reach a fair and cost-effective solution when dividing assets following relationship breakdown, including securing a Final Financial Remedy Order in divorce proceedings or a formal Separation Agreement for unmarried couples.

Our lawyers specialise in both modest asset and more complicated high net worth cases, including those involving family businesses, cases where one party has an interest in a separate company, farms and farming assets, and inherited or trust assets.

Civil partnerships dissolution

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 creates legal and financial rights, responsibilities, and obligations between couples similar to those arising from marriage. We can advise you on the impact of entering a civil partnership and help you to resolve financial and property issues and arrangements for children should your relationship break down.

Cohabitation Agreements

We can help couples wishing to regulate their living and financial arrangements outside of marriage to protect their individual assets from future claims in the event of relationship breakdown.

Children

We can help you resolve parental disputes in respect of children. Our team can play a crucial role in assisting you with the welfare of any children. This may include disputes over who the children should live with and how much time they will spend with the absent parent and other family members. We can also assist in disputes over parental responsibilities and specific issues such as children being taken out of the jurisdiction or relocation within the UK, change of schools, undergoing a particular medical treatment or other issues that you feel may affect the welfare of the children involved. We will support you throughout the process to ensure that an outcome is achieved in the best interests of the children.

Domestic violence

Where circumstances necessitate, we can help prevent you being exposed to harassment, violence, coercive and controlling behaviour and financial exploitation whilst in a relationship or following the end of a relationship. We can help arrange non-molestation and occupation orders, injunctions, undertakings, powers of arrest and matrimonial home rights to protect your personal safety and your financial interests.

You can apply to a Court for protection against a partner who you live with, a spouse or any ‘associated’ persons such as a former partner, spouse or even a relative. We can also assist you in defending any such Court applications.

Legal Aid

We do not currently offer Legal Aid for family matters.