Divorce Law
Deciding to instigate the divorce process isn’t a decision that’s taken lightly. Often takes a heavy heart and often years of frustration, stress and anxiety spent in trying to make a marriage work before getting to this point. So, whether you want to start the divorce process, or you’ve received divorce papers (a divorce petition), you’ll appreciate having expert support that is delivered with sympathy and compassion to help you through this trying time.
It’s likely that the divorce process will be new to you. Many aspects of divorce will feel unfamiliar, from the archaic legal language through to the many forms that will eventually need to be completed and posted. The divorce process can often do more to provoke frustration, rather than to offer clarity, so it’s for this reason that we take great care to provide guidance on the emotional, legal and practical challenges that lie ahead whilst outlining the next steps so that you can move forward to achieve the outcome you need.
We can provide guidance on completing the divorce petition, and on responding to it. We can also help you through negotiating financial settlements (also known as divorce settlements) and child custody (child arrangement orders). Our expert team is based in offices located on Oxford Road (WA14) so we’re well placed to help you if you’re looking for divorce solicitors in Altrincham and Cheshire.
Starting a divorce petition
The divorce process begins with the completion of the divorce petition. When filling this out, you will need to select the ‘grounds’ (reasons) for the divorce and the court will need to feel satisfied that these reasons are sufficient. It’s critical that the grounds you select are reflective of your situation and fair, as it can save you time, money and it can make your spouse more likely to cooperate. Our divorce law solicitors can provide support and guidance in completing the petition to prevent delays and to give you the best chance of success from the outset.
Responding to a divorce petition
If you’re in the unfortunate position of having been served with a divorce petition, and you’re the named respondent, you might not be clear on how you should proceed. You will be presented with a lot of ‘legalese’ and archaic law expressions that do more to create frustration than they do to provide clarity; so if you need some support, our Altrincham divorce lawyers can guide you in responding to the divorce petition while providing guidance on what to expect next; so you can get the best outcome possible for you, and for your family.
Arrangements for children and child custody
Following a divorce, among the most emotive of issues that need to be handled is that of child arrangements (formerly known as child custody). While this process can be challenging, it’s important that wherever possible, an amicable solution is reached so that a child arrangement order can be finalised to provide much-needed closure.
Family law matters like these can be contentious, so having the support of a child law specialist can make all the difference. An expert in child law can provide guidance on what a fair and workable arrangement might look like for you and your family while drawing up terms to suit you that are likely to be accepted by your ex-partner.
Our Altrincham child solicitors have extensive experience in child custody 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 where possible.
Financial settlements in divorce
Every marriage is unique, and often this is reflected in your finances. Years of financial ties can be difficult to unpick and this can feel like a daunting task. In some cases, there may be complex financial issues that need to be clarified; involving property, shares in businesses, trusts or assets overseas. Financial settlements (commonly known as Divorce settlements) can cover everything from the family home, pensions, investments, through to assets you owned before your marriage began; so getting specialist financial and legal help is critical if you’re looking to protect your assets while providing for your family once the divorce is finalised.
Our family law team have spent decades dealing with complex financial matters, including property and estates; as well as catering to high net worth individuals and clients with assets abroad, so if achieving a balanced settlement while protecting your assets is important to you, our financial settlement lawyers and forensic accounting team can help.
Prenuptial agreements
Also known as a ‘prenup’, prenuptial agreements can be an awkward topic to deal with, but they’re designed to protect the assets of both parties should the worst come to pass and provide great peace of mind. Our prenup lawyers can help you to understand what can, and cannot, be included in a prenuptial agreement and the likely impact this may have for the management of your wealth, finances and overall estate. If you have complex financial affairs that you would like to see protected with a prenuptial agreement, book in a consultation with our family law team today.
Civil partnership dissolution
Taking the decision to end a civil partnership will feel like a very scary and ‘final’ step. While some people are familiar with the concept of divorce, comparatively, the path to dissolving a civil partnership can seem much less clear.
The path to dissolving a civil partnership is known as dissolution, and this can only be instigated after you’ve been in the partnership for a year. You will be entitled to all the same benefits and entitlements as those who get divorced, and so thought will need to be given to the arrangements made for your children and the sharing of assets. To support you through the dissolution process, our civil partnership solicitors can provide practical guidance to help you to achieve your desired outcome.
Why choose Stowe Family Law solicitors in Altrincham?
Our expert family law solicitors have decades of experience, as well as access to hundreds of years of expertise from our teams across the country. We’re 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.
Often the best outcomes are achieved through amicable resolutions, where positive relationships persist long after your need for us had ended, so our Altrincham 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 frequently cite our compassion, empathy and our ability to deliver the ‘hard facts’ and 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.
