HOW CAN
I HELP?
Family law is always incredibly personal, so you need to know that the solicitor you’re working with understands your situation, as well as the specific challenges and complications involved in your case.
You also need to feel seen, heard and in control of your own future. That’s why many of my clients prefer working with me, because I’m not your average corporate lawyer.
My warm, approachable style makes clients feel like family. It’s never easy to discuss and navigate such personal, difficult issues as separation and child custody, but you can rely on a safe environment to share and receive advice when we work together.
I’ll work with you to help simplify the process, translating and decoding the legalise so that you feel comfortable that you’re making smart, informed choices. Ultimately, your goal is to reach the best, most favourable outcome for your family. That’s my goal too.
Rest assured, there is light at the end of this tunnel, and we’ll get you there together.
YOU DON'T
HAVE TO
ACCEPT THE
THINGS YOU
ARE NOT
OK WITH
"
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Divorce/Judicial Separation
Whether you're the one looking to commence divorce or separation proceedings, or you’ve been served with court papers, I can represent you throughout the process, providing clear, professional advice to help you reach the best outcome
Financial Matters
The best outcome is to reach a financial settlement by mutual consent, if at all possible. This means that there is no need to go to court. I’ll work with you to help guide you through the process and prepare the legal document to reflect the agreement you reach.
If you find that you are unable to reach an agreement and you’ve exhausted all your options (including Family Mediation), I can offer you professional advice about issuing an application at court for Financial Remedy
Arrangements for Children
When you separate from your partner or spouse, particularly if it’s acrimonious, one of the most difficult elements of the separation can be agreeing on what should happen to your children, where they’ll live and how regularly they will see the non-resident parent.
I can help you with Child Arrangements Orders (whom the children shall live with/spend time with) Specific Issue Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders or orders to locate your child’s whereabouts.
Of course, all legal matters relating to children need to be dealt with sensitively, adopting a pragmatic, non-confrontational approach. Here I can provide invaluable support, helping you to reach the best possible agreement for your children. If you haven’t been able to reach a consensus about your children, I can provide advice on the options available to you, including Mediation or making an application to the Court.
I’m also able to offer helpful advice to other family members, such as grandparents, about securing contact with a child. Extended family members often struggle to maintain their relationships when parents separate. So, whether you are a parent, stepparent, grandparent or other family member, and you want to remain part of a child’s life, I can advise you on what steps to take.
If you are unsure of the whereabouts of a child, I’ll advise you about obtaining an Order so that an organisation or third party is ordered to disclose that child’s address to the Court.
In some cases, urgent orders are required to protect your children from imminent harm or from being removed from your care, or from being removed from the UK. There could also be the need for an urgent order to protect yourself from harassment or violence. If this is the case, I’ll endeavour to accommodate same day appointments if at all possible, in order for you to achieve the urgent protection you need from the Courts.
Applications for a child to permanently reside in another jurisdiction.
In my experience, when one parent chooses to relocate with the children to another part of the country or outside of the UK, this is often disputed by the remaining parent, who has concerns about remaining part of the child’s life. Whichever parent you are, I can provide sound practical advice on how to deal with this situation.
Enforcement Orders
If you’ve got an existing Order that states how often your child spends with you and your ex-partner, but the Order is not being complied with, there are options available to you. I can support you with the steps you need to take to enforce it, or indeed represent you if you’re the non-compliant party.
Please be aware that there can be serious potential consequences of breaching an Order, so if you’re unable to comply, please seek urgent legal advice.
Parental Responsibility Orders
If you’re trying to establish legal rights and responsibilities towards a child, I can help you obtain parental responsibility and make an application to the Court, where applicable.
Declaration of Parentage
Jo can advise on the procedure to obtain this type of Order with the option of full representation at Court
Special Guardianship Orders
These are specifically a way in which to secure a child’s long term residence with non-parent family members, and they are becoming increasingly more common. They offer certain rights over and beyond the normal parental rights.
Harassment matters/Non-Molestation Orders/Occupation Orders/Transfer of Tenancies
If you are a victim of domestic abuse or harassment, I’m on hand to support you.
This can be through sending a warning letter, or if appropriate, applying for an urgent application to the Court to obtain immediate protection for your safety - all of which can be done without notice to the opponent.
Should you need an Occupation Order or transfer of tenancies where you require the Court’s intervention to regulate occupation of the family home, I can help you do this too.
