We have a great team who work hard together to provide an excellent service for all our clients. We cover many different areas of family and matrimonial law. These include Children (both in private law and public law matters), child abduction, domestic violence, matrimonial divorce and separation, including sorting out financial and property matters, and cohabitation. In addition our conveyancing department is able to undertake the sale or purchase of properties in matrimonial cases.
Private Law – Children
Private law does not involve social services. It concerns disputes and difficulties within families about the best arrangements for their children. This may involve questions about where the children should live and with whom, how often and where they should see their absent parent or other relatives, which school they should attend, their religious upbringing, and their medical treatment.
We deal with wrongful removal of children and can make emergency applications for their return. We also have experience of applications for permission to remove children from the jurisdiction.
We act for mothers, fathers, grandparents – whoever needs our help and advice. We will encourage you to find an amicable solution to your family’s problems, if that is possible, and we are happy to arrange referrals to Mediation where appropriate. It is not our style to argue for the sake of it but we will defend your corner if that is necessary. Our main concern will be to find a lasting solution for the sake of you and your children.
We can apply for Residence, Contact, Prohibited Steps and Specific Issue Orders on your behalf. We also have considerable experience of the new Special Guardianship Orders.
We attend court for you and try and make sure you know who is looking after your case at every stage. We have a great deal of experience in court advocacy and we are well-regarded by the judges at our local courts.
All of our solicitors will take private law children cases.
Public Law – Children
Public Law concerns those cases where social workers from a local authority have decided that they need to apply to court for a Public Law Order. This may be a Care Order or a Supervision Order, an Adoption or Placement Order, a Secure Accommodation or an Emergency Protection Order. They are the most draconian orders that a court can make with regard to the family so expert representation is essential.
We act for parents, carers and children and we have gained considerable experience over many years in dealing with a range of difficult cases. These often require careful and detailed preparation as well as very sensitive case management. We have a proven track record for both.
We have an extensive database of professional experts that we call upon to help us with the more technical aspects of these cases including medical experts, psychologists and psychiatrists. We make sure that every case that goes to court is fully and properly prepared.
Pat, Helen and Sarah deal with the public law children cases.
Child Abduction
With the growth in global travel and the movement of people to live and work abroad, family cases are taking on an increasingly international dimension. We have expertise in international cases involving children, especially those involving child abduction. Our firm is on the Panel of Solicitors who accept referrals from the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit in London; we also represent parents here and abroad.
This is a specialist area and needs the help and advice of those who are aware of the potential pitfalls and difficulties that surround these cases. Very often “time is of the essence” in these cases and we are able to deal with emergency applications to Court.
Helen deals with these cases and is assisted by Sarah and Sally.
Domestic Violence
All of us have been trained in dealing with domestic violence cases from the start of our training. Pat Gore was involved in helping establish the first Leeds Women’s Aid refuge back in 1975! We understand the seriousness of the concerns that domestic violence raises for both the victims and the children of the family. We are able to advise and to take emergency protective action where appropriate.
We can apply for Non-molestation and Occupation Orders to provide future protection. Breach of these is now a criminal offence. If there are worries for the safety of children we can apply for a Prohibited Steps Order.
Sally, Maria and Sarah deal with most of our domestic violence cases.
Matrimonial
We deal with all aspects of divorce and separation, including sorting out financial and property matters. We will do our best to negotiate a satisfactory solution on your behalf and we will use Mediation and round-table meetings, where appropriate.
We understand that for those involved in the breakdown of their relationship they seek a satisfactory settlement as quickly as possible but not at any cost. It is a requirement on both parties in a matrimonial dispute to provide full and frank disclosure of all their assets. This is sometimes hard to obtain and it is our task to ensure we know the full facts before advising you to settle.
For those cases therefore that we cannot settle we will issue an application at court and we will represent you through to a fully contested final hearing, if that should be necessary. We are mindful that protracted litigation is a costly business and we will therefore keep you informed of the progress of your case at the same time as continuing to seek a negotiated solution on your behalf wherever possible.
Maria and Sally deal with our matrimonial work
Cohabitation
Unmarried couples need specialist advice at any stage in their relationship. Buying a house together, for example, is not as easy as it sounds! There are many pitfalls so it is important that you make the right decisions. Getting it right to start with can save you a lot of headaches at the end.
If you do find yourself in dispute over finances, property or your children then we can advise what steps you can take to help sort matters out. We will encourage you to negotiate and to mediate where appropriate. We can also advise on Inheritance problems where one of the partners has died.
We have good experience of handling cases involving same-sex couples, including those involving children.
We are also happy to assist with advice on civil partnerships including advice on pre-registration agreements and on relationship breakdown.
Maria and Sally deal with our cohabitation cases.
