Family Law

We give sensitive and practical legal advice across family matters. Family questions carry personal, financial and emotional weight at the same time, and we approach each one with discretion and professionalism. The practice covers both long-settled family matters and newer areas of family law.

Spouses separating or divorcing, parents settling custody and maintenance, couples agreeing how property is held, and families going through adoption or an arrangement involving assisted reproduction.

What we do

• Marriage-related legal matters: Registration of marriages and the legal consequences of the form of marriage chosen.
• Divorce and separation: Petitions and responses, with settlement pursued wherever both sides will take it.
• Matrimonial property matters: What each spouse owns, contributed and may claim when a marriage ends.
• Child custody and related matters: Custody, access and maintenance, approached from the child's welfare rather than the parents' positions.
• Adoption: The application and the process, with the assessments and consents it requires.
• Assisted reproduction: The legal side of arrangements involving assisted conception, including consents and parentage.
• Surrogacy: Agreements and the legal position of the parties, in an area where the documentation matters greatly.
• Family-related agreements: Agreements between spouses or family members about property, maintenance or arrangements for children.
• Family disputes and litigation: Representation where a family matter must go before the court.
• Legal advice on parental and family rights: Where a parent, spouse or relative stands, explained without jargon.

How a matter usually runs

1. A private conversation: What has happened, who is involved, and what worries you most. Everything stays confidential.
2. Options in writing: A short note of the routes open to you, what each involves, and what it costs.
3. Agreement or proceedings: We negotiate terms where that is possible, and prepare and argue the application or petition where it is not.
4. Orders and follow-through: We see any order carried out, and leave you a note of what to keep and what to do if circumstances change.

What to bring

• Identification and the marriage certificate, where there is one
• Children's birth certificates
• Any court papers already filed or received
• Land documents, bank records and evidence of contributions, for property matters
• A note of what has been agreed between you so far

Common questions

Can a divorce be settled without a fight?

Often. Where both spouses want to resolve matters, terms on property, custody and maintenance can be agreed and put before the court, which is quicker and far less costly.

How is custody decided?

By what serves the child's welfare, which the court assesses on the circumstances rather than on which parent argues harder.

What counts as matrimonial property?

It turns on the facts: what was acquired, when, and what each spouse contributed, directly or otherwise. Gather the documents early, because the paper trail decides most of it.

Will you speak to my family members?

Only on your instructions. We act for you, and we keep what you tell us confidential.