Family Law

Relationships don’t always run smoothly and there are various points where expert legal advice can be invaluable. Our family law solicitors are here if you are starting a new phase of a relationship and want to protect your future or where a relationship is ending and you need to sort out the practical details so you can move on.

Our experienced Matrimonial and Family Law team is highly regarded for the firm, pragmatic and balanced advice we offer. We pride ourselves on being understanding and approachable, working closely with clients to respect their wishes and achieve the best available outcome for them.

All our family lawyers are members of the national body Resolution which has its own code of practice that promotes a non-confrontational, conciliatory approach to family problems. 

We seek to resolve matters constructively and cost effectively. The vast majority of matters are resolved to the benefit of our clients without a court hearing. However, if settlement is not possible, we will vigorously protect our clients' interests through the courts.

Our clients include married couples, civil partnered couples, unmarried couples and children. We provide a tailored approach for every client, making sure we fully understand what they want to achieve and any concerns they have, so we can offer the very best options for them.

We draw on the experience of specialists in other departments who often provide advice on property, tax, trusts and business issues. Our clients can therefore rest assured that they are receiving the full service which they require.

To discuss your requirements with our experienced family law solicitors in Westminster, London, please get in touch.

• Call: 0207 222 5381
• Or use our quick enquiry form

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Matters our London family law solicitors can assist with

Examples of Matrimonial and Family matters on which we advise include:

• Financial remedies including pensions, property, periodical payments, shares and lump sums
• Divorce, dissolution and annulment
• Child residence and contact issues
• Prenuptial and postnuptial Agreements
• Adoption
• Cohabitation Agreements
• Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders
• Separation Agreements.

Why trust us for family law advice?

• We have many years of experience with a strong track record of helping our clients to get the outcomes they need under even the most challenging circumstances.
• Client care is at the heart of our service. We make sure that the practical solutions we offer are carefully tailored to your requirements while offering sympathetic support at what can be a very difficult time.
• Our team understand the importance of timely responses and, as such, tailor the work they provide to ensure that no time goes to waste.
• We assist in all forms of Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR). We are experts in options including constructive negotiation and mediation to help you get the best outcome for you in the easiest way possible.
• We will always be here to answer your questions and keep you updated on progress.
• You will have a dedicated person who will deal with your case, giving you a consistent point of contact you can turn to whenever you need them.

Find out more about our specific areas of family law expertise

Divorce, Civil Partnership Dissolution and Separation

At LBMW we understand the emotional strain of going through the end of a relationship and we try to lighten the load for you as best as possible.

For divorce and civil partnership dissolution, we will guide you through the process and procedure to secure approval by the court as quickly as possible whilst trying to ensure it does not become unnecessarily acrimonious. When a relationship sadly breaks down it seldom helps to apportion blame and we can help take the sting out of the process.

Divorce and civil partnership dissolution are largely procedural and rarely require a court hearing. By working collaboratively with your partner, where appropriate, we can help reduce the stress, cost and emotional strain of a process that no-one anticipated having to undergo.

Our divorce and separation expertise includes:

• Initiating divorce proceedings
• Responding to divorce proceedings
• Civil partnership dissolution proceedings
• Separation for unmarried couples

Pre-nuptial Agreements & Post-nuptial Agreements

Whilst pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements are not strictly legally binding, the court is paying more and more attention to them. With careful drafting, full financial disclosure and independent legal advice we can increase the chances that a pre-nuptial agreement or post-nuptial agreement will give you the protection you seek if the relationship breaks down. 

We regularly advise High Net Worth individuals how best to protect themselves before entering into a marriage, as well as when they are already married. Perhaps even more so than with other areas of law, it is important that the parties work together to ensure that the agreement represents their intentions and is fair to both of them.

LBMW will advise you on appropriate terms for the agreement and will work amicably with your partner or their representatives to ensure that the agreement is finalised in good time, with minimal potential for conflict and that it gives you the comfort you seek. 

Likewise, we routinely advise the less affluent party to the agreement to ensure they understand what they may be giving up and to ensure the agreement is fair and provides for them in the future.

Our expertise with pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements includes:

• Drafting pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
• Independent advice on a pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreement you have been asked to sign
• The application of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements during divorce

Financial Remedies for divorce and separation

If your marriage sadly breaks down, we will work hard to ensure you obtain a fair settlement, either by agreement or through the courts if necessary. 

Often, through skilled negotiation, a compromise can be reached which is acceptable to both parties to enable them to move on with their lives with financial security. Taking an amicable approach like this can be highly beneficial as it typically allows you to achieve a financial separation faster, with lower costs and less conflict.

It is obviously preferable to avoid the stress and costs of a full trial if possible, but that should not mean accepting a settlement which is not fair and just. Parties can often feel pressured to accept an offer which is not in their best interests. We will shield you from that pressure and give you frank and honest legal advice so you can make your own independent decisions with all the requisite information.

Our divorce finance expertise includes:

• Negotiating financial settlements
• Applying to a court for a Financial Order
• Complex financial arrangements including trust funds, offshore assets, investments and pensions

Child law

If parents are unable to agree arrangements for their children, we will advise you how best to protect the best interests of the children. Parents can often come to arrangements between themselves, with a steer from legal advisers, but, if that is not possible, we are experienced in making the necessary court applications. This could be for child arrangements general, a specific issue order or an occupation order if your partner is being abusive.

This area of law has to be conducted with great sensitivity and always with the best interests of the children foremost in the mind. Where parents are in dispute, they often both have a genuine desire to do the best for the children but cannot agree what that actually is. We can guide you through the process and advise you in these difficult circumstances.

Our child law expertise includes:

• Agreeing child arrangements during divorce or separation
• Applying to a court for a Child Arrangements Order
• Ongoing child residence and contact issues
• Parental responsibility
• Adoption

Cohabitation

More and more couples are choosing to cohabit without getting married or entering a civil partnership. If you are in this situation or are planning to cohabit, it is essential to understand your legal rights as there are many common misconceptions.

Cohabiting couples have no automatic legal rights with regard to each other’s property, so it is sensible to consider creating a cohabitation agreement to protect yourself against the potential of separation in the future. A cohabitation agreement can also allow you to agree how to manage your shared financial obligations while you are living together.

Our expertise in family law for unmarried couples includes:

• Drafting cohabitation agreements
• Reviewing and amending cohabitation agreements
• The application of cohabitation agreements during separation
• Separation for unmarried couples
• Child law for unmarried couples

Our family law solicitors’ fees

We believe that our fees should be as transparent as possible. For this reason, we will make all of the likely costs clear upfront, allowing you to make a fair comparison with our competitors.

In certain situations, we may be able to offer fixed fee family law services, allowing us to complete an agreed piece of work for a set price.

To find out more about our family law fees, please get in touch.

Speak to our family law solicitors in Westminster, London

To discuss your family law needs with our experienced team, please get in touch.

• Call: 0207 222 5381
• Or use our quick enquiry form