Divorce Law
Whether you’re looking to divorce your partner, or you’ve been served with a divorce petition or divorce papers, you’ll be looking for expert help and support.
The divorce process can be difficult to navigate, and for many, it can instil a sense of anxiety and confusion; which is why we take great care to outline the emotional, practical and legal challenges that lie ahead whilst providing practical next steps so that you can move forward to achieve the outcome you need.
We can provide guidance on completing the divorce petition, through to negotiating financial settlements and child custody (child arrangement orders). Our expert team is based in offices located on in Regus House on Herons Way (CH4) so we’re well placed to help you if you’re looking for divorce solicitors Chester.
Starting a divorce petition
When taking the first step in divorce process, you will need to complete a divorce petition. This form requires that you choose the appropriate reasons (grounds) for your divorce and these must be enough for the court to accept them. Getting this early part right is important as it can help to save you time and money; it can also help to make the process more amicable. Our Chester divorce lawyers can support you in completing and submitting the divorce petition to prevent delays.
Responding to a divorce petition
If you’ve been served with a divorce petition and named as the respondent, it’s sometimes unclear as to how you should respond; you’ll be presented with a lot of legal wording and expressions that do more to create frustration than they do to provide clarity. Our divorce lawyers Chester can help you to respond to a divorce petition while preparing you to get the best possible outcome for you, and for your family.
Arrangements for children and child custody
One of the most difficult steps in a separation or divorce is in working through the arrangements for your children (formerly known as child custody). While this is a challenging process, it is in the best interests of your children to reach a civil agreement with your ex-partner. To make sure you get the best result for you and your children, it often helps to have a child law specialist on-hand to provide you with guidance on what a fair and workable arrangement might look like. Our Chester child solicitors have extensive experience in child arrangement cases and have seen a variety of solutions to suit every situation, no matter how niche. Our goal is to get the best outcome for your children and to help you to maintain a positive relationship with your ex-partner wherever possible.
Financial settlements in divorce
Like every relationship, every couple’s finances will be unique to them. Trying to separate years of financial ties is often challenging, and there are usually tough financial issues that need to be resolved. Financial Settlements (commonly known as Divorce settlements) can cover everything from the family home, and even assets you owned before you got married to pensions, and investments; so getting expert financial and legal help is important if you’re looking to protect your assets while providing for your family once the divorce is completed.
We have a lot of experience in dealing with difficult financial matters, property and estates; as well as catering to high-net-worth individuals, and clients with assets abroad. So, if you’d like advice on how to handle your assets, our financial settlement lawyers and forensic accounting team can help you.
Civil partnership dissolution
Taking the decision to end a civil partnership takes a heavy emotional toll. While many are familiar with the concept of divorce, the path to dissolving a civil partnership will feel much less clear. The process used to end a civil partnership is known as dissolution and it can only be instigated after you have been in a civil partnership for a year.
If you choose to dissolve your civil partnership, you will still be entitled to all the same benefits and entitlements as those who get divorced, and in a similar vein, thought will need to be given to the sharing of assets and the arrangements that need to be made for your children. To help you navigate a dissolution, our expert team can provide practical guidance and peace of mind.
Why choose Stowe Family Law solicitors Chester?
Our expert family law solicitors have decades of experience and have access to hundreds of years’ worth of expertise from our teams across the country. We are the UK’s largest family law specialist, delivering tailored service and expertise, locally to you.
Our client-centric approach has seen us recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners for our commitment to outstanding client service and client success.
We understand that the best outcomes are often achieved amicably, where positive relationships persist long after your need for us had ended, so all of our Chester lawyers are members of Resolution; a network of legal experts who are committed to promoting a constructive approach to dispute resolution that focuses on meeting the needs of the whole family and achieving a positive outcome.
Clients often talk about our compassion, empathy and our ability to deliver the ‘hard facts’ and the clear guidance they need to move forward with their case, and their lives.
To hear more about what our clients think about us and our approach, watch our video here.
