Family Law Solicitors in Peterborough

If you are dealing with legal issues relating to your family situation, our local family law solicitors can provide the support and representation you require. We know this is likely to be a difficult time and will work to secure the best possible outcome for you and your family.

We have many years of experience in the sector and have a strong track record of dealing with complex and high value financial claims. We also deal extensively with divorce and financial issues for those in the business and agriculture sectors, where the division and protection of assets can be particularly complicated and deep rooted. We will help you to understand these issues and the ways in which the law can provide a successful and fair outcome.

Where possible, we deal with matters out of court. This is usually considerably faster than using the family courts, as well as being less contentious, helping to reduce conflict.

We also deal with non-contentious family law issues including pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements.

If you need help or advice with family law in Peterborough, please contact our Peterborough office.

Our Peterborough family lawyers assist with:

Pre-and post-nuptial agreements
D ivorce
Separation agreements
Children law
Parental rights
Domestic violence
Matrimonial finance
Pension and property advice
Cohabitation agreements and disputes
Inheritance Act claims
Asset protection and tax mitigation
Children Act proceedings and wardship
Parental responsibility and paternity disputes
Injunctions
Civil partnership disputes
International divorce

Tailored advice from local family law solicitors in Peterborough

Pre-and post-nuptial agreements

Pre-nuptial agreements can help a couple start out their life together with a good understanding of their financial position and how assets and liabilities will be dealt with both during their marriage and should the need for divorce or separation arise.

This type of agreement can reduce the risk of misunderstandings and disagreements. If the marriage does end in divorce, the process will usually be faster and more cost-effective if a pre-nuptial agreement is in place.

Our team of solicitors also provide post-nuptial agreements. A post-nuptial agreement is executed after a couple has married or entered into a civil partnership, to settle affairs and assets in the event of a separation or divorce.

Divorce

If you are considering divorce, you will need to deal with a range of issues as well as ending the marriage itself. These include putting a financial order in place that deals with the division of property and other assets and arrangements for any children that you may have.

Our family solicitors can provide robust representation and expert advice, ensuring that you have the security you need for the future.

Separation agreements

If you are splitting up with your partner but do not currently planning to obtain a divorce or dissolution, a separation agreement can provide clarity as to how issues will be dealt with between you. This can include who will pay the mortgage and other outgoings, what will happen to shared property, who will have joint assets such as cars and furniture, what child maintenance will be paid and how much time children will spend with each parent.

Our family law team can work with you to establish what you want in an agreement and draft a robust document that you can rely on going forward.

Children law, Children Act proceedings

One of the hardest parts of a separation is making new arrangements for children. We can represent you in negotiations to try and agree on how matters will be dealt with.

Where necessary, we can support you through the mediation process or, if this is not successful, apply to the court for a child arrangements order.

Our family law solicitors have extensive experience in dealing with these difficult situations and we will ensure that you have the advice and representation you need to agree the best arrangements for your children.

Parental rights

If you are in dispute with your child’s other parent over issues relating to your child, such as education, overseas trips, religion, changing your child’s name or the healthcare they will receive, our team of family solicitors can represent you in applying to the court for an order. This could be a specific issue order, requiring that certain action is taken, or a prohibited steps order, preventing a parent or other individual from doing something.

Domestic violence

If you are in a situation involving domestic abuse, including violence or other types of abuse, such as emotional, financial or sexual abuse, you should seek help as soon as you are able. Our family law solicitors will take prompt action to keep you and, if necessary, your children safe.

Matrimonial finance

If you are going through a divorce, it is essential to deal with financial matters concurrently. In the absence of a financial order, there is a risk that your former spouse could make a claim against you at some point in the future.

Our family law solicitors will work to obtain the security you need for the future and, where possible, negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf. If an agreement cannot be reached, we will put together the strongest possible claim to the family courts, to give you the support and security you need for the future.

Pension and property advice

Dealing with pensions and property can be complex, particularly during a divorce or separation. Our team are highly experienced and can suggest a range of solutions to even the most difficult of issues.

There are a range of options for sharing both pensions and property in a divorce. We will explain these to you and provide advice on the best choices for your financial and personal circumstances.

Cohabitation agreements and disputes

If you are planning on living with someone or you are already living together, a cohabitation agreement can give you clarity over how issues such as assets, debts, children and property will be dealt with between you, both while you are together, and in the event that you separate.

Our team of solicitors also provide advice on cohabitation disputes. Couples who live together have limited rights over each other’s assets, however in some circumstances, it may be possible to make a claim if you have contributed towards a shared property but your name is not on the title deeds. This is known as a TOLATA claim, in reference to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.

Inheritance Act claims

If your spouse, civil partner, former spouse or civil partner or cohabiting partner has died and you have not been left anything in their Will or less than you believe you should have, we, alongside our team of Private Client solicitors, can advise you on making a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, commonly referred to as the Inheritance Act.

This allows the individuals mentioned, as well as children and anyone treated as a child of the family by the deceased, to make a claim if they have been left out of a Will. A spouse or civil partner can claim a similar amount to that which they might have received in a divorce. Other parties can claim reasonable financial provision.

Our solicitors can discuss the amount that you might be entitled to and represent you in making a claim against the estate.

Asset protection and tax mitigation

In dealing with the structuring of your financial affairs, it is important to both protect your assets and mitigate tax wherever possible. Our family solicitors can advise you of the best way to safeguard your financial position and ensure that you do not become liable for unnecessary tax.

This type of advice is particularly important for those in business or agriculture or who have a high net worth of complex assets.

Parental responsibility and paternity disputes

Having parental responsibility for a child gives you the right to make decisions on behalf of the child and their property. Our family law solicitors can work to obtain parental responsibility if you do not have this for a child in your care.

We also deal with other parental issues such as paternity disputes.

If you would like more information on how we can help, please contact our expert family law solicitors today.

Injunctions

If you or your children have suffered harm or abuse, our family law solicitors in Peterborough can make an application to the Court to secure an injunction on your behalf to protect you.

This could be a non-molestation order, preventing someone from harassing, harming or intimidating you or an occupation order, setting out who is entitled to be in your home and potentially excluding someone from certain areas of the property.

If you need help to be safe, call us today and we will take immediate steps to protect you.

International divorce

If you and/ or your spouse are currently living overseas, and you decide to divorce, you are likely to require the support of a specialist international divorce solicitor.

Our expert team at Roythornes can help you with every necessary stage, supporting you to negotiate and resolve issues. Specifically, our team can help with:

Determining in which country you will go through the divorce proceedings
Assistance to determine where any children will live in the aftermath of the divorce, and with making child contact arrangements
Support with division of assets and liabilities, including those overseas

For more information, please get in touch with our experts at Roythornes.

Our family law solicitors’ fees

We know how important it is to have a clear idea of the costs involved when dealing with the uncertainty of a divorce or separation. We will provide you with a fee estimate at the start as well as updates as your case progresses, checking with you before carrying out work and incurring charges.

For more information about fees or for a quote, please contact us and we will be happy to advise you.

Why choose Roythornes’ family law solicitors in Peterborough?

Our Peterborough family lawyers have an exceptional breadth of expertise across a full range of family law issues. We are highly recommended by the leading legal directory, The Legal 500.

We have the experience to find solutions to difficult issues and we are often able to resolve even complex disputes out of court.

We understand how challenging it can be to deal with the breakdown of a relationship and our team are always supportive as well as providing practical advice and a sound strategy for achieving the right results for you and your family.