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01205 351114 - Bourne
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Family Law Solicitors in Newark
Legal issues affecting your family are often some of the hardest to deal with emotionally, as well as having the potential to become time-consuming and expensive if not handled correctly.
Our highly experienced family law solicitors in Newark offer sympathetic but practical advice and support designed to make it as easy as possible to resolve your family law matters.
Whether you are getting divorced, separating, need a pre-nuptial agreement or cohabitation agreement, or are experiencing any other issues related to family law, we have the expertise you need to achieve a positive result.
Chattertons’ family law team includes a number of solicitors with decades of experience across all areas of family law. Many of our team are members of Resolution, an organisation committed to promoting a non-confrontational approach to family law. We aim to minimise the conflict involved in resolving family disputes.
For help with any area of family law in Newark or throughout Lincolnshire, contact our family law solicitors in Newark now by calling 01636 673731 or requesting a call back.
OUR FAMILY LAW SERVICES IN NEWARK
Our family lawyers offer a comprehensive legal service for families in Newark and throughout Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. No matter what legal issues you are facing, we offer sensitive, practical advice and support, ensuring you and your loved ones’ interests stay protected at all times.
Our Newark family lawyers’ expertise includes:
- Divorce and separation
- Arrangements for children
- Financial settlements
- Divorce and business assets
- Cohabitation agreements
- Pre and post-nuptial agreements
- Civil partnerships and dissolution
- Independent financial advice via Chattertons Wealth Management
Our family law services in Newark
Divorce and separation
At Chattertons we understand that going through a divorce can be extremely difficult, and when you’re feeling emotional, legal practicalities can be hard to bear. At this challenging time, you need specialist solicitors to take care of the necessary tasks for you.
Our expert family law solicitors can support clients throughout every stage of the no-fault divorce process, from filing a divorce application to applying for a final order, and the vitally important associated task of arranging financial settlements.
Arrangements for children
Legal matters relating to children can be particularly sensitive, so naturally, ensuring the right approach is incredibly important. Rest assured, our children law solicitors in Newark have ample experience.
We can assist with a wide range of matters, including children arrangements, surrogacy, parental responsibility, and all legal tasks concerning separation or divorce.
To discuss how we could help you today, please get in touch with our specialists at Chattertons. Our Newark family lawyers can answer your questions regarding any issues or concerns that you may have.
Financial settlements
When you get divorced, or dissolve your civil partnership, reaching a financial settlement is crucially important. Our divorce solicitors at Chattertons can support you to reach a voluntary financial settlement with your ex-partner, with the help of out-of-Court negotiation processes, such as mediation or collaborative law.
If it is not possible to reach an agreed financial arrangement, we can guide you through the necessary proceedings to obtain a Financial Order in Court.
Divorce and business assets
Where one or both parties own a business, it is likely that this business will be taken into account as part of a divorce settlement. When dividing the assets of a company there are various options available for a divorcing couple, such as:
- If the company is jointly owned, one spouse might ‘buy out’ the other's shares
- The company is sold, and the funds are divided between both spouses
Our family lawyers have much experience working with couples with more complicated assets, including those with businesses. Rest assured, we can help you to protect yourself and your company.
Cohabitation agreements
When a couple decides to move in together, without getting married, this couple are not afforded any financial or legal protection if their relationship later breaks down.
Naturally, when you live with a partner, your finances become linked, and consequently, asset ownership can sometimes cause disputes when a relationship ends.
Our expert family law solicitors in Newark can guide you to create a cohabitation agreement that reflects your needs and preferences, establishing what should happen to your finances, property, and any children, in the event that your relationship ends.
Pre and post-nuptial agreements
Getting married is of course an exciting step, and yet, it’s also a legal commitment that requires consideration. When you are preparing to enter a marriage, it’s wise to think about safeguarding your finances.
A prenuptial agreement refers to a legal document which establishes the assets that each person owns, and details how these would be split if the spouses were to later obtain a divorce. A post-nuptial agreement serves the same purpose, however, is drafted after the couple have got married, instead of before.
Our specialists can support couples to draft either agreement, whilst providing family law advice to help you protect your needs.
Civil partnerships and dissolution
If you are preparing to enter into a civil partnership, you might well have legal questions or require legal advice. Our solicitors can provide guidance in this situation, as well as offering support for those whose relationship has broken down, and would like to dissolve their civil partnership.
We are well positioned to support individuals and separating couples throughout every stage of the process. For more information, please contact our civil partnership dissolution solicitors in Newark.
Independent financial advice
If you require independent financial advice, in relation to family matters, our expert wealth management solicitors can assist you. We can provide legal advice on a wide range of issues including:
- Life insurance
- Pension sharing orders
- Trust investments
- Saving for retirement
To discuss your needs today, contact our wealth management solicitors. With a detailed understanding of your requirements, we can cater our service to your preferences.
FAMILY LAW FAQS
DO I HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO RESOLVE MY FINANCIAL CLAIMS ARISING FROM DIVORCE?
Most couples don’t need to go to court to agree their financial settlement. However, you will need to obtain an agreed order which sets out the terms of the agreement reached, to protect you, and your spouse, from future claims. Sometimes we will suggest mediation, which allows you to agree the details of your financial settlement with the help of a trained mediator.
In some cases, particularly where couples are struggling to negotiate on a voluntary basis, it will be necessary to go to Court, for the Court to make an Order to finalise matters.
ARE PRE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENTS LEGALLY BINDING?
While pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements are not currently legally binding in the UK, they will normally be accepted as carrying weight by the Court as long as they are prepared in a way that meets best practice guidelines.
This includes both parties having had independent family law advice before signing and being under no pressure to sign.
HOW DOES NO FAULT DIVORCE WORK?
The Divorce, Dissolution, and Separation Act 2020, which took effect on the 6th April 2022, introduced new regulations.
These regulations brought changes to the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and Civil Partnership Act 2004, aiming to modernise and simplify the process of divorce and separation and reduce unnecessary conflict.
The changes mean there is no longer a requirement to provide a reason for the divorce, a practice that often led to assigning blame to one party. Consequently, these updated divorce guidelines are commonly referred to as "no-fault" divorce laws.
In simpler terms, couples are now able to divorce without attributing blame to one another based on the previously stipulated grounds, which included unreasonable behaviour, desertion, adultery, two years of separation, or five years of separation.
The legislation governing no-fault divorces is designed to facilitate smoother and more amicable divorce or civil partnership dissolution proceedings, negating the need for couples to hold each other responsible in order to pursue a divorce.
The sole basis for divorce or civil partnership dissolution remains the irreparable breakdown of the relationship. However, there is no longer a requirement to provide evidence relating to this breakdown.
WHAT RIGHTS DO UNMARRIED COUPLES HAVE DURING SEPARATION?
Many people believe unmarried couples have rights under “common law” if they have lived together for long enough.
This is not true however, and unmarried couples have no automatic right to each other’s property or other assets if they separate. This is why creating a cohabitation agreement is strongly recommended as it can protect both parties in the event that you later separate.
CONTACT OUR FAMILY LAW SOLICITORS IN NEWARK
If you are going through a divorce or separation, need advice about cohabiting, are considering a pre-nuptial agreement, or require help with any other area of family law in Newark or throughout Lincolnshire, our experienced team can help.
Get in touch with our family law solicitors in Newark now by calling 01636 673731 or requesting a call back.