Divorce Law
If you have decided to make the difficult decision to divorce your partner, or if you’ve been served with a divorce petition or divorce papers, you will be looking for compassionate support delivered by experts, local to you.
The divorce process can be frustrating, and for many, it can instil a sense of anxiety and confusion, which is why we recruit only the best divorce law solicitors that Leeds has to offer, solicitors who can carefully outline the emotional, practical and legal challenges that lie ahead whilst providing clarity on the next steps you need to take, so you can move forward and achieve the outcome you need.
Our team can provide guidance on all areas of family law, from completing or responding to the divorce petition through to negotiating financial settlements and child custody (child arrangement orders). We are also able to guide you through the mediation process, and have qualified collaborative lawyers. We’re based in offices at Minerva House on East Parade in the city centre (LS1) so we’re well placed to help you if you’re looking for solicitors in Leeds.
Starting a divorce petition
Taking the first steps to initiate the divorce process can feel both challenging and scary. The first step in filing for divorce, involves completing a divorce petition (form D8). This form requires that you select the right reasons (grounds) for your divorce and these ‘grounds’ must be sufficient for the court to accept them. It’s important that this early part of the process is done well, as it can save you both time and money further down the line, and it can help to make the process more amicable. If, for example, your spouse objects to the ‘grounds’ or reasons you’ve chosen for your divroce, and feels that you are being unfair, it could make the rest of the process more difficult than is necessary. Our divorce lawyers can support you in filling out and submitting the divorce petition in the best possible way to prevent delays and wasted time.
Responding to a divorce petition
If you have been served with a divorce petition (divorce papers) and have been named as the respondent, it’s not always clear how you need to respond. Our Leeds divorce solicitors can support you in responding to a petition while providing guidance on what you can expect to happen next – to get the best possible outcome for you, and for your family.
Child law and child solicitors
Child custody lawyers and arrangements for children
Of all the challenges arising from a divorce, we find that working out the arrangements for the children (often described as child custody but legally termed as child arrangements) are often the most emotive and difficult. While child custody can be a contentious issue, it is in the best interests of your children to reach an amicable agreement with your ex-partner wherever possible. During this time, having the support of a child law specialist in your corner can be helpful in providing guidance on what a fair and workable arrangement might look like for you and your family. Our expert child solicitors have extensive experience in child arrangements and will have seen a variety of solutions to suit every situation, no matter how specific or unusual. 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 you can.
Child adoption lawyers
Adoption is a substantial step for any adult or child to take. Once complete, the adopted person is treated by law as though they were born of the adoptive parent – giving that parent full parental rights and responsibility of the adopted child. Adoption law is complex and can be tough to navigate alone, so getting advice early on from a specialist adoption lawyer can help you to make progress more quickly. Whether you’re looking for help with growing your family, or if you’re a step-parent and wish to blend your families, we can help.
Surrogacy lawyers and solicitors
Surrogacy is a wonderful way of starting a family for those who are not able to do so naturally for whatever reason. When a child is born through surrogacy, the surrogate mother and potentially her husband automatically have rights and responsibilities for the child so legal proceedings need to be pursued in order to transfer those rights to the intended parents who will then be recognised as the child’s parents in the eyes of the law. There are many potential pitfalls along the way, so getting legal advice from a reputable surrogacy solicitor at an early stage is important in ensuring that these are avoided and the process runs smoothly. We would be delighted to help you on your journey.
Financial settlements in divorce
After years of marriage, one of the most difficult areas to unpick can be your finances. Each marriage is unique, and this is often reflected in the way you’ve jointly managed your money, assets and investments. Trying to separate your financial ties in a way that feels fair to you can feel like an overwhelming task, and there are often complex financial issues that will need to be considered and resolved. Divorce settlements can cover everything from pensions, to investments, the family home, and even assets you owned before you got married (pre-marital assets); 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 finalised.
In some cases, you may be worried that your spouse might try to hide their assets, or that they might find ways to downplay the value of what they own. Sometimes this involves diverting their income to other places, divesting themselves of their assets and/or transferring their property to other people. If this is a worry, you should seek our help right away, as measures such as freezing orders may be possible to prevent or undo this type of conduct to protect assets until an overall settlement is reached or ordered by the Court.
We have experience in dealing with complex financial matters, property and estates; as well as catering to high net worth individuals and clients with assets abroad, so if you are looking to achieve a fair and final financial settlement while protecting your assets, our divorce settlement lawyers and forensic accounting team can help you.
Why choose Stowe Family Law solicitors in Leeds?
Our expert divorce solicitors and family law team 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.
We understand that the best outcomes are often achieved amicably, where positive relationships persist long after your need for our help has ended, so the majority of our Leeds lawyers are members of Resolution; a body of family lawyers 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 legal advice 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.
Whether you need support in handling a divorce, child arrangements, or complex financial matters after a marriage has ended, your team of family solicitors have the skills and expertise to support you.
