Family Court Proceedings
Going to family court is sometimes necessary to help you secure the best possible outcome for you and your family. However, we understand that the idea of going to court can be very scary and stressful.
Our friendly family solicitors are here to support you through the process, providing a shoulder to lean on and practical advice every step of the way.
Not all family court proceedings arise from disputes – for example, when you reach a voluntary agreement about divorce finances, it is usually a good idea to apply to court for a Consent Order to make the agreement legally binding. However, the process can still be difficult, so having a legal specialist on your side is beneficial.
We can help with:
- Voluntary Consent Orders
- Disputed divorce proceedings
- Divorce financial arrangements
- Disputes involving children, including:
- Child Arrangements Orders
- Prohibited Steps Orders
- Specific Issue Orders
- Cohabitation disputes between unmarried couples
- Adoption proceedings
Our family law solicitors can offer you:
- Decades of expertise representing people in family court proceedings
- Law Society accreditation in Children Law
- A warm, welcoming approach
- A listening ear for your worries and concerns
- Flexible fees to suit your circumstances
Speak to our family solicitors today
To speak to one of our solicitors today, please contact your local Atkins Hope office in Blackheath, Croydon, Medway or Guildford.
To ask a quick question, you can use our simple online enquiry form and a member of the team will get back to you promptly.
How our family court solicitors can help
Voluntary Consent Orders
Our family law solicitors are skilled at helping families find positive resolutions wherever possible (even in cases where agreement feels impossible to start with). Whether you are going through a divorce or dissolution, or negotiating a co-parenting plan with your ex-partner, we will explain the process in plain language and support you from start to finish.
Disputed divorce proceedings
We can assist with all disputed divorce proceedings. Whether your partner does not want to get divorced, you disagree with your partner’s petition or any other reason, we can provide practical advice about resolving the matter as straightforwardly as possible.
From autumn 2021, a change in divorce law will mean that it will no longer be possible to defend a divorce or dissolution application (other than very narrow circumstances such as fraud). However, until then, we are on hand to provide all the support and guidance you need, including whether it is worth waiting for no-fault divorce to come in to avoid a prolonged dispute.
Divorce financial settlement disputes
Coming to an agreement over the division of finances is often the most contentious part of getting a divorce or civil partnership dissolution.
We can help you make and defend a range of divorce financial claims and make investigations into your partner’s finances, such as working with forensic accountants to establish the true value of the matrimonial assets.
Visit our Divorce and Financial Settlements page for more information.
Disputes involving children
We want the world for our children, so when separating or co-parenting, it can be hard to compromise about what is best for them. Disputes involving children can arise over many issues, such as:
- Where children should live after their parents get a divorce or separate (referred to as residence).
- How much time the children should spend with each parent (referred to as contact).
- Who else the children should spend time with, such as grandparents or a parent’s new partner.
- How the children should be brought up, such as what school they should go to or whether they should receive a religious education.
- Whether the children should be vaccinated or receive certain types of medical treatment.
- Whether the children can change their surname.
- Whether the children can move abroad with one of their parents.
We can advise on a wide range of family court children matters, including:
- Child Arrangements Orders.
- Specific Issue Orders.
- Prohibited Steps Orders.
- Parental responsibility.
- Urgent family court applications
As well as providing advice to parents, we often advise other family members, such as grandparents, about their rights.
For more information, visit our Disputes over Children page.
Cohabitation disputes
It is not unusual for couples to live together before or instead of getting married nowadays. However, cohabiting couples still do not have the same legal rights as married couples and do not have the automatic right to make financial claims.
This can cause challenges when couples decide to break up but cannot come to a decision about who owns what. In some cases, one partner may be left in financial difficulties because they do not have any legal rights to their partner’s property.
We can help you sort out a wide range of cohabitation disputes, including reviewing and advising on cohabitation agreements and resolving property disputes.
For more information, visit our page on Cohabitation agreements and resolving disputes on separation.
Adoption proceedings
Welcoming a new child into your life is one of the most rewarding things you can do. But adoption comes with some legal obstacles that can be stressful to deal with by yourself. Our specialist solicitors are here to help with all the legal aspects, in particular the process of applying to court for a Parental Order to make sure you have all the legal rights and responsibilities you need.
Speak to our family lawyers today
To speak to one of our solicitors today, please contact your local Atkins Hope office in Blackheath, Croydon, Medway or Guildford.
To ask a quick question, you can use our simple online enquiry form and a member of the team will get back to you promptly.
