Achieving the best outcomes possible on Bournemouth family law cases
Many people in Bournemouth and all around Dorset receive assistance from Stowe Family Law's skilled and committed family lawyers in matters concerning divorce, cohabitation, and the dissolution of civil partnerships.
The members of our Bournemouth team are committed to offering clients the best legal assistance and representation, as seen by the case study samples below.
We are convinced that our track record of success will provide you the assurance and peace of mind you need, whether you are going through a challenging divorce, trying to achieve a financial settlement, or finding it difficult to come to an agreement on your child arrangements.
The tricky task of the division of pets
More than 25% of divorces, according to research from Direct Line Pet Insurance, involve a disagreement over the division of pets, and the number of "pet divorces" increased by 56% in 2021.
When a couple separates, arguments over who gets to keep the beloved family pet can be almost as vexatious as disagreements over finances.
However, the law in this case is clear: a pet is classed as a chattel, i.e. an item of personal property, and technically, the person who bought the animal and to whom it is registered will keep it, unless there is clear evidence that the animal was subsequently gifted to the other party.
In reality, though, cases involving the division of pets are never clear cut.
The Bournemouth team recently assisted a client who was in a similar scenario after her 9-year marriage ended, as her husband had an affair and moved out to live with his new partner.
The couple, who had no children, quickly agreed on how to divide the assets they shared, but could not agree on who would have custody of their chocolate brown labrador, Bertie.
Both partners insisted on full ownership of the dog, despite the fact that the husband frequently travelled abroad for work, and his new partner already had two dogs.
After lengthy negotiations with the other party’s legal team, it was agreed that the dogs' time and expenses would be split evenly between them on a week on, week off basis.
However, after several months, it was clear that the other party was struggling to stick to the arrangements due to travel commitments, and there were issues with the new partner’s two dogs. This led to full ownership being transferred to our client, who was delighted with this new outcome.
Negotiating the division of a business to achieve a fair settlement
Divorcing couples sometimes fight over financial issues related to the division of a business or stake in one.
The Bournemouth team recently supported a client in a complicated financial settlement involving a well-established family business, a saw mill selling fencing, decking and other wooden products.
The business was started at the beginning of the couple's marriage, which had lasted 25 years.
Managed by the husband, the wife had raised the couple's children and managed the household, so she knew little about the firm, it's worth, or its potential for income.
It was crucial that the team understood the firm, its value, the money it generates, and the potential income it could generate in the future to effectively advise their client.
The other party had provided a valuation, but it seemed on the low side, and there was suspicion of potentially inaccurate disclosure and value of other assets.
The team called upon the Stowe in-house forensic accountancy team and external experts to gain a more accurate business valuation, as well as a greater grasp of the structure and income possibilities.
Once this was completed, the Bournemouth team was able to advance negotiations to secure a fair financial settlement for the wife, based on a more accurate business valuation and full disclosure of all assets.
The rising use of prenuptial agreements
No longer the preserve of the wealthy, there has been a steady rise in the use of prenuptial agreements over the past decade. Here at Stowe alone, we have seen a remarkable 144% increase in cases since 2021, and enquiries continue to grow each month.
For the team in Bournemouth, prenuptial agreements are becoming a key area in which they support clients.
A prenup offers a certain level of protection, as it can set out the ownership of belongings (money, assets and property) and what will happen to them in the event of a breakdown of the relationship. Although, it is important to remember that they are not legally binding in England and Wales.
In a recent case, the Bournemouth team worked with a client who was about to marry for the second time, but wanted to ring fence certain assets for her children as their inheritance. Her partner agreed with this decision.
The team worked with the client to draft a fair and considered prenup, which was agreed with the other party, and their legal representation without contest.
Contact Stowe Family Law in Bournemouth today
The largest family law firm in the UK is Stowe Family Law, which has over 70 offices.
They provide assistance to people coping with the problems caused by a relationship breakdown at their Bournemouth location, one of several assisting customers in the Dorset region.
Team leader Partners, Liza Gatrell & Vicki Rawlins and their team can help with a range of family matters, from dissolving a civil partnership to ending a marriage, and helping cohabiting couples.
Our team of Bournemouth family solicitors can be found at 25 Basepoint Business Centre located in the Aviation Business Park, near to Bournemouth International Airport.
You can call us on 01202 113664 from 8:30am – 7pm, Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday