Reading divorce solicitors & family lawyers

The team in Reading is led by Managing Partner, Claire McParland, a highly experienced and well-regarded family lawyer.

We are highly experienced in the complexities faced by families and individuals dealing with a family law issue. We frequently work on cases to resolve complex financial matters with multiple assets and protect the welfare of any children involved.

Our clients range from high-net-worth families with substantial assets, income and investments through to professional families and stay at home parents in the Reading area.

Side by side 

We listen to your unique circumstances and help you to find a workable solution for your family’s well being. Our holistic approach supports achieving out-of-court settlements, but we appreciate that at times, litigation is appropriate, and we adopt a strong and robust strategy.

We tailor our approach and legal advice to the unique needs of each client. We guide you through the practical, emotional and legal aspects of divorce (and other types of separation), from the very start of the divorce process and over the finish line.

While our divorce solicitors have a reputation for being expert litigators, court proceedings can add unnecessary time, expense and stress to a divorce or separation.  We offer out of court (alternative dispute resolution) routes: mediation, arbitration and collaborative law, which allow each spouse to find solutions and reach agreements on finances, any children involved and other family issues.  In addition to supporting our clients through the legal side of divorce, we always apply an empathetic approach and encourage reaching out to our network of family support professionals if needed.  This includes including coaches, therapists and parenting groups.

Your family’s finances

Our in-house accounting team will provide a clear picture of the assets in your marriage to create the optimum financial settlement. They have a breadth of specialist experience in tax, property, valuations, accounts and pension knowledge.

Every family is unique, and family finances are no exception.  Unpicking years of shared finances can be a daunting and difficult task.  Complex assets often need examining such as property, shares and trusts, in the UK and sometimes overseas. Financial settlements (known as ‘divorce settlements’) cover all of the above and of course the family home and pensions, investments.  What each of you owned before getting married also needs to be understood.  Getting specialist help with your finances is crucial in protecting your future, which includes ensuring you can continue to provide for your family after divorce.

With decades of experience in dealing with complex financial matters, including estates, inherited wealth and assets abroad, our lawyers and forensic accountants can protect your assets and achieve a fair settlement.

Prenuptial agreements

While typically viewed as pessimistic, prenuptial agreements offer peace of mind by clarifying how assets, wealth and the overall estate will be dealt with in the event of a divorce.  Recent case law has given prenup’s more weighting in divorce proceedings (a few years ago they were less effective).  Our prenup lawyers are experts on what can be included in a prenup and how they should be set out and signed – all of which impacts their effectiveness if the worst should come to pass.

It is also possible to draft an agreement after marriage – unsurprisingly called a postnuptial agreement.

If you are interested in protecting your assets and finances with a marital agreement, book in a consultation with our family law team using the button below.

Civil partnership dissolution

Deciding to end a civil partnership can feel like a scary and ‘final’ step. Unlike the concept of divorce, the path to dissolving a civil partnership can seem much less clear to some people.

Divorce for a civil partnership is known as dissolution and can only be instigated after being in the partnership for a year or more. The same arrangements need to be made as in a divorce, including arrangements for children and the sharing of assets. Our civil partnership solicitors can provide practical guidance through the civil partnership dissolution process and help you to achieve your desired outcome.

Cohabitation solicitors

If living with someone in an unmarried relationship you may have questioned or wondered about what may happen if the relationship ends.  Our cohabitation solicitors can help you to address this by drawing up a cohabitation agreement, to set out what will happen in the event of death or separation.  Otherwise known as a cohabitation “contract”, the legally binding document gives peace of mind that should the worst happen, everything is set out in black and white.

A cohabitation agreement is legally binding so long as it has been agreed to by both parties and has been drawn up and signed properly.