Meadows Fraser are Divorce Solicitors based in Weybridge and serving Cobham, Esher and surrounding Surrey areas. We deal with divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, separation, financial provision when a marriage breaks down and other issues arising from separation.
Divorce and separation
Even the most amicable separation or divorce is likely to be difficult and stressful at times. Worrying about the legal proceedings involved, the financial arrangements and what happens to you and your children can be an additional worry.
If you have not consulted a solicitor before, you may also feel anxious about seeking legal advice.
But independent legal advice can be crucial in helping to resolve issues within divorce, for example when you are not sure about whether you have grounds for divorce, your partner does not agree to a divorce or you have concerns about financial issues and how to divide your property, assets and/or liabilities.
As your solicitor, our job is to look after your best interests, and those of any children. We will give realistic, professional advice that is right for you and your circumstances, drawing on our knowledge of the law and our professional experience.
There are around 150,000 divorces each year in England and Wales alone and each one is different. Divorce law has been designed to be flexible, to meet the different needs of each couple and family going through the process, this can also make it very complicated.
So seeking expert legal advice will almost certainly save you time, money and anxiety and may be vital in bringing issues within divorce and separation to a satisfactory conclusion.
Financial provision when a marriage breaks down
When a marriage breaks down, financial issues are likely to be a significant concern for both parties, particularly where children are involved.
Proceedings to sort out financial matters take place separately to divorce proceedings, with both parties required to disclose their financial circumstances to the other, with the aim of achieving a satisfactory financial settlement without the involvement of the courts.
Our sensitive, conciliatory approach to family law issues means that wherever possible, we encourage clients to make mutually agreeable financial arrangements independently of the courts.
If this cannot be achieved, however, we will work with our clients to advise and support them through court proceedings, which include opportunities for both parties to consent to a financial order made by the court.
If the finances cannot be resolved voluntarily, the courts will make a binding order to make financial arrangements. Such orders may relate to maintenance for a partner and/or children, a lump sum for a partner (and children, if necessary), a property adjustment or transfer of property order (such as selling the house or putting it into one person’s name) or giving one partner a share of the other person’s pension fund.
By seeking our expert legal advice, we can work with you to help settle financial and property arrangements that make adequate provision for you and your children, no matter how complex the assets involved may be.
We have produced a straightforward guide to divorce and separation, which you can download by clicking here.
