Family law solicitors & divorce lawyers Reading

Our divorce solicitors are members of Resolution, an organisation that promotes a non-confrontational based family law approach for divorce.  In our experience, resolving family disputes without confrontation provides better outcomes for families and also reduces the possibility of an acrimonious divorce in court, which can slow the process and increase costs.  Where possible we will encourage and facilitate dialogue between both parties so that at least basic arrangements can be agreed for family finances and children.

We also offer mediation, which is a process conducted by one of our qualified mediators to help both parties reach a compromise on any sticking points.  These points are usually children and finance related.  We offer mediation to help encourage openness and willingness to communicate.  Two alternatives to divorce mediation are collaborative law and divorce arbitration – you can read more about all three here and your solicitor can explain further.

We understand that sometimes it is not possible to reach agreements without going to court and having a Family Court judge decide.  We are expert litigators with an excellent track record in court.

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.

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.

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 child custody (child arrangements order) 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.

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.

Our family law solicitors in Reading have decades of experience and have attracted more positive feedback from clients than any other Stowe office.  They also have access to hundreds of years of expertise from our family law teams across the country.

Due to our client-centric approach, the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners have recognised our commitment to outstanding client service and client success.

Our family lawyers are members of Resolution and are therefore dedicated to taking a non-conflictive approach to help maintain family bonds while achieving a positive outcome.

Clients frequently rate our compassion, empathy, explaining the ‘hard facts’ and clear guidance they need to move forward with their case, and their lives. If you are interested in what our clients think about Stowe and our approach, watch our video here.

We’re the UK’s largest family law specialist, delivering tailored service and expertise, locally to you.

Find out all the information you need to know about our divorce solicitors in Reading

Stowe Family Law’s growth continues with a new office in Reading

The Stowe office in Reading collaborates with The School of Law at the University of Reading

View our Reading Google Business Profile