When To Consult A Family Law Solicitor

and Family law Londonthese financial issues.
If you need a divorce or family lawyer in London, aChild maintenance is generally calculated by reference
small specialist firm outside Central London mayto the Child Support Act. The parent with whom a child
provide a more personal and affordable service than ais not living will pay a percentage of his or her income
large firm with many departments and largeby way of child support. The court has residual
overheads. Most London family lawyers are memberspowers to order top-up maintenance in particular
of Resolution and committed to resolving family lawcircumstances.
disputes in a constructive and non-confrontational way.Pre-nuptial agreements
Mediation and collaborative lawBefore embarking on marriage, it might be wise to
Increasingly family law solicitors London encouragetake advice from family lawyer London about the
their clients to find ways of resolving issues by meansadvantages of a pre-nuptial agreement. The point of a
other than court proceedings, such as mediation orpre-nuptial agreement is to agree what will happen if
collaborative law.the marriage ends in separation or divorce. Increasingly,
Divorce proceedingsthe courts are taking such agreements into account
Getting a divorce with the help of family or divorcewhen a marriage breaks down. Such agreements
lawyer London is usually straightforward. Divorceneed to be preceded by financial disclosure and each
proceedings are seldom defended or requireparty should have the benefit of independent legal
attendance of the parties at court. A simple divorceadvice. The agreement should be signed at least 21
usually takes about 4 months from start to finish.days before the wedding.
Children issuesCohabitation
If you can reach agreement about the care of yourIf you are cohabiting, or thinking of cohabiting with
children, there will be no need for a court order. If thereanother person, and particularly if you are
is disagreement, a London family lawyer can preparecontemplating a joint purchase of property, you should
proceedings to enable a court to make orders aboutconsider entering into a cohabitation agreement, in
residence and contact, or specific issues such as acase your relationship breaks down and you need to
child's education. The court will encourage the partiesknow what will happen to the property you live in or to
to reach agreement wherever possible but, failingassets which you have acquired together. A London
agreement, will make any orders under the Childrenfamily lawyer can prepare a cohabitation agreement, in
Act 1989 that are necessary in the interests of a child.accordance with family law London, which will state
Financial issues arising from divorcehow each party has contributed, or will contribute, and
The courts have wide-ranging powers on divorce tohow the property will be divided in the future.
redistribute income and capital assets. The courtsInheritance claims
powers are contained in the Matrimonial Causes ActIf you are financially dependent on another person (e.g.
1973. To achieve a fair result the court considers all thea spouse, cohabitant or parent) who dies without
circumstances of the case and the particular factorsmaking reasonable provision for you in their will, you
set out in section 25 of the Act. There is no setmay be eligible to make a claim against their estate. A
formula which the court applies. It is essential for eachLondon divorce or family lawyer can give you
party to make full disclosure of your financialappropriate advice.
circumstances, including income, capital assets andThe best advice in all these circumstances is to consult
pensions. A London divorce lawyer can assist you ina specialist London family law solicitor.