Children Matters
One of the most difficult and emotional aspects of a seperation is discussing and resolving issues in relation to the chrildren of the family.
Whether you are divorcing, seperating or seperated some time ago and there exists difficulty in agreeing the arrangements in respect to your child or chrildren we will do our best to achieve an amicable outcome for you.
We have an experienced team of Family Lawyers who include Children Panel members and Collaboratives Lawyers.
A Collaborative Lawyer will engage in a procedure whereby each parent can have a meeting with the other and have their solicitors present to represent them at these meetings. The purpose of the meeting is to reach an early and sensible conclusion to any children's issues without the need to go to Court.
We also encourage the use of mediation between seperating couples as does the Court. The mediation process involves the parents concerned sitting with an independent Mediator in order to reach an agreement and to save any uncontested issues being dealt with by the Court.
If your case cannot be settled by the above means we will fully represent your interests in any court proceedings issued.
The paramount concern of the court is always the best interests of the child. We appreciate that for parents this will be their primary concern. We will therefore guide you through the negotiations and any Court process with a view to minimising any distress for the children concerned and yourself.
The Judge will always prefer it when seperated parents agree between themselves where a child should live(residence) and what the visiting arrangements will be (contact).
Our goal is to reach an amicable conclusion on your behalf.
However, in the event that the parties are unable to agree on residence and contact, or other issues such as; the child’s surname, paternity, where the child goes to school, all the way up to abduction, preventing the child from being removed from the jurisdiction and ‘delivery up orders’ (where one parent has failed to return the child), we have a dedicated team of experts at hand to offer you the best possible representation.
We understand your need to ensure the stability and well being of those you hold most dear.
Please note that Legal Aid may be available for Divorce providing your capital and income are not too high but this will change however on the 1st April 2013. The reforms contained within the Legal Aid, Sentancing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LAPSO) which is now an Act of Parliament, will be implemented on that date. This will mean that Legal Aid will not be generally available for such matters as described above and will only be given in exceptional and specified circumstances. If you do therefore wish to recieve legal advice and representation and you may not be able to afford to pay a solicitor we would strongly suggest that you make an appointment to see us before the 1st April 2013 to allow time for any Legal Aid applications to be processed and for the fullest advice to be given.
Please contact a member of our team for an urgent appointment or email us and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
