Ian Walker – Solicitor/ Mediator/ Arbitrator/ Managing Director
We have one of the largest and most experienced teams of divorce specialist solicitors and mediators in the South-West.
Our team has been recognised as a leading team of family lawyers in the South-West respected publication – the Legal 500
Divorce can be a very emotive and difficult time, not just for the couple, but also for their children and other family members.
Couples invariably separate because they are not getting on with each other or because they have grown apart.
Marriage gives legal rights to the couple. Bringing the marriage to an end requires at least some degree of legal process. Normally this is obtaining the Decree Absolute – which formally brings the marriage to an end as well as a Final Financial Order. (This can be a clean break).
Ideally the arrangements for any minor children will be agreed and there would be no need for these to be formalised in a court order. However, some parents cannot agree what the arrangements for their children will be after separation – and a court will need to decide.
If you are separating from your partner and/or are thinking about getting divorced, or if your former partner has started a divorce process – we are able to help you.
Good legal advice and representation is about assisting clients to achieve a fair settlement whilst at the same time seeking to avoid unnecessary conflict and cost.
Lauren Preedy – Senior Solicitor – Head of Divorce and Relationships Team
It is too easy for couples to become involved in drawn-out, nasty and expensive disputes.
Our divorce team has considerable experience. Our team members are all committed to the principles of Resolution and includes three Chairs/Past Chairs of Resolution’s regional groups.
These principles are about maximising the use of negotiation where appropriate (including through mediation, collaborative family law and principled negotiation), but if necessary taking court action – but doing so in a principled and reasonable way.
Good negotiation is as much about the gathering of evidence and presenting reasoned and reasonable proposals as is good representation in court.
Paul Jacobs FCCA – Finance Manager – Our in house accountant
Whilst we have considerable legal expertise we are not regulated financial advice. (We are regulated as lawyers). We therefore work with appropriate financial experts who can include actuaries, accountants and financial planners to properly understand the finances of a couple so that we are better able to negotiate or persuade the court what constitutes a fair settlement.
We have the benefit of having within our own team and in-house accountant. This is Paul Jacobs.
Paul is financially literate and in addition to his role in assisting with the smooth running of our business, Paul also works with our divorce team.
Whilst Paul is not able to give financial advice – he is able to act as a link between our lawyers and finance professionals and assist in the interpretation of financial documents and also so that we can best identify when a financial expert is needed and who the best financial expert will be.
Bridget Garrood – Senior Consultant Solicitor – Divorce/ Finance/ LGBT+ Specialist
This can save time and cost.
Whether mutually, or by one of the couple, separation and divorce are adult decisions.
Separation and divorce and their consequences can be very challenging times for the adults and occasionally the needs of their children can slip out of focus.
Separation and divorce can be difficult and confusing times for children. It is important that the adults in their life focus on their need to have a safe and happy childhood.
Please be reassured that our divorce team are very child focused. If possible we will promote constructive negotiation (including through collaborative
Fiona Griffin – Senior Consultant Solicitor – Divorce/ Finance Specialist
family law or with the assistance of family mediation), but if this is not possible – then decisive action through a court process may be the only way. We have years of expertise in assisting clients with complex cases involving children.
There is a lot of information on our website. However all cases are different. It is important to take legal advice at an early stage.
We are conscious that couples can get into a mess if they try to agree what to do without having received legal advice.
Couples can also get into a mess if they agree to things without there having been full financial disclosure.
Taking legal advice is about gaining knowledge to enable you to make informed decisions. Having a good solicitor will assist in making good decisions. A good solicitor is not emotionally involved. They will give good advice with an outsider’s perspective.
Karen Elliott – Senior Consultant Chartered Legal Executive – Divorce/ Finance Specialist
It is normal for each of the couple to pay for their own costs in connection with a divorce and resolving the wider issues.
The potential costs of a divorce can be very worrying.
We are open about our charges. We have always published our standard charge rates on our website. We are also committed to monthly billing to assist you to keep on top of costs.
We are also happy to consider fixed fees. There is more about all of this on our funding pages.
We are happy to talk to you openly about how your case will be funded.
Sometimes clients will take out a litigation loan from companies who will lend money in the knowledge that an asset will be sold (e.g. a home) as part of the overall divorce process – which will mean that the lender is repaid.
Generally delay and unnecessary conflict lead to costs rising. The best way to keep costs down is usually to move matters forward but in a principled way and through negotiation where that is possible. Where negotiation is not possible because the other party appears unlikely to be able to recognise what is a reasonable solution – then the best way forward is normally to push proceedings forward (avoiding unnecessary side disputes) to the stage where the Court is able to assist an a reasonable outcome being achieved.
Our pages on divorce finance include reference to Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. This section contains the criteria that the court must take into account when deciding a case or determining whether an agreement is fair.
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Where a couple has accumulated significant assets the process of achieving a fair financial settlement can become more complicated. Our experienced divorce team have the experience to assist.
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Pensions are often the single largest asset after the family home for divorcing couples, yet there has been inconsistency of approach to pensions across England and Wales and a considerable shortfall in understanding. This report from the Pensions Advisory Group (PAG) is intended to assist the Judiciary and legal professionals.
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We are committed members of Resolution. The Resolution Code of Practice promotes a constructive approach to family law issues and considers the needs of the whole family.
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There are many ways in which a victim of domestic abuse may feel trapped in their own home, unable to escape from their abuser. There may be economic reasons preventing them from leaving, they may fear the consequences of leaving, or they m
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Family mediation week is important to help couples who are separating and whom are having difficulty agreeing on arrangements for their children, get the advise and support they need.
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The mortgage lender Halifax has published details of house prices in the UK over the last year. The figures show that prices in many parts of the country have been increasing, with the biggest increase recorded for Taunton in Somerset.
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Over Christmas and New Year a story played out in the local and National media that is every parent’s worst nightmare. On the 20th of December a 12 year-old girl disappeared from the Newton Abbot area, prompting a nationwide police search
Read moreLeading Regional Legal 500 Niche Family Law Practice seeks talented Family Law Solicitors All levels PQE, Specialisms - Divorce, Private Law Children, Child Care Law, Child Abduction; Employed and Consultancy; Flexible/Blended Working;
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The Ministry of Justice (‘MoJ’) has published its latest quarterly figures on the volume of cases dealt with by the Family Court, for July to September this year. Children cases taking longer than at any time since current records began.
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As 2021 draws to a close we look back at some of the big things that have happened in the field of family law this year, and look forward to what will, or might, happen next year.
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Family Court proceedings almost always take place in private, and very few judgments are published. These things can lead to public concern, and even suspicion, about the workings of the family justice system, discouraging some from using
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When parents separate the most important issue in their lives is the arrangements for their children. They want what they believe is best for their children, no matter what anyone else believes. Whilst this may be natural
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The Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab has told the House of Commons Justice Committee that he wants to do more to reduce the number of family disputes going to court. Mr Raab said that most cases that did not involve safeguarding or domestic
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I want a divorce. Anyone presently contemplating divorce is in the unusual position of having two quite different divorce systems to choose from: the present system, which largely places the blame for the breakdown of the marriage
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Defending allegations of abuse in children cases. Much has quite rightly been written about the victims of domestic abuse in the context of court proceedings regarding arrangements for children. It is, of course, essential that
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