Family Law

Our family lawyers advise on all aspects of divorce/no-fault divorce and separation law, including negotiation of financial settlements and enforcement of financial orders both in the UK and overseas. We also provide assistance to those who need protection from harassment, seeking occupation orders and non-molestation orders when the situation demands. Our family law solicitors are regarded as leading specialists in divorce, matrimonial and family proceedings domestically, as well as for matters with international elements and for those individuals with high value and complex financial arrangements.

Following divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership questions about where your children will live, when they will spend team with each parent and the type of contact that can take place are all top of the agenda. If parents can’t agree matters, the family court will always put the welfare of children first when deciding appropriate arrangements. Our family lawyers take a pragmatic approach, encouraging agreement where possible but advising you on the steps needed to start court proceedings if necessary.

Our children law work covers post-divorce living arrangements for children as well as securing maintenance and financial support for children whose parents are unmarried. Our international family law expertise means we can offer bespoke advice if a parent wishes to move abroad with the children. If appropriate we can pursue or defend international abduction proceedings on your behalf.

Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements are now commonplace in the UK and are a useful tool to help preserve personal and family wealth in the event of divorce or civil partnership dissolution. We have particular expertise in advising clients with substantial business and personal assets in this country and overseas. If you are considering an arrangement like this, it’s important to get advice at an early stage. Pre-nuptial agreements must be formalised well in advance of any marriage for example, and there are other requirements too such as ensuring that each side receives independent legal advice that you need to be aware of.

Our family lawyers have extensive experience in drafting and finalising pre-nuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements (for example where there has not been time to execute an agreement before marriage).

Our family lawyers advise on the legal position of cohabitees, drawing up legally binding agreements where appropriate and handling disputes that arise over property and other assets in the event of a relationship breaking down.

The financial disputes we deal with tend to revolve around high value assets, often with an international dimension. The size and breadth of the various legal teams at DMH Stallard means in these cases, our family lawyers can lean on the expertise of our  corporate and property experts within the firm. This enables us to tackle head on complex financial and business issues when they arise in the context of divorce.

Increasingly we use mediation, arbitration and other forms of private alternative dispute resolution like Early Neutral Evaluation to help clients find acceptable solutions to the issues they face.

Our family lawyers act swiftly to obtain orders like Non Molestation Orders, Occupation Orders and injunctions through the family and civil courts. We follow this up when necessary by liaising with the police and authorities to enforce and extend the protection obtained in the courts.