It is very important that you have full confidence in your Solicitor and the service he or she provides. It is very easy to change solicitors and we are happy to travel to you to provide a free consultation to discuss your case, and to advise you as to your options.
There is one ground for divorce and that is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. To prove the irretrievable breakdown, you must establish one of the five facts below:
(a) Your spouse has committed adultery
(b) Your spouse has behaved in such a way that you could not reasonably be expected to live with him or her
(c) You have lived separately from your spouse for a period in excess of two years and your spouse consents to a divorce
(d) You have lived separately from your spouse for a period in excess of five years
(e) Your spouse deserted you more than two years ago
If your spouse does not defend the divorce, it is not usually necessary to actually prove whichever of the five facts is relied upon, although the court can request further details in certain circumstances.
There is actually no such thing as "a quick divorce". The same procedure must be followed regardless of the basis upon which the divorce is brought. For a straightforward uncontested divorce, matters can be finalised in as little as three to four months although most divorces take around six months.
There are complex rules governing when the English courts are able to deal with divorce proceedings. In general, as long as one of the parties lives in England or Wales, and has done so for at least the last six months, a divorce can be obtained. In cases where there is an international element, specialist advice should be obtained from us.
It is not possible for a parent to contract out of paying child maintenance in this way. The Child Support Agency would still be able to assess that parent for the payment of child maintenance regardless of any such agreement. It is important to reach a fair settlement which will take into account both parties' needs and responsibilities.
A father who is not married to a child's mother does not have parental responsibility in respect of that child. This means that he has few rights, and in the absence of an agreement from the child's mother, must apply to the court. However, the courts will generally support a father and grant him rights unless there is very good reason otherwise.
This is an extremely important decision to make and you should not be rushed. Whether it is reasonable for the house to be sold or not may depend on whether there are children, how long the marriage is, how much the property is worth and whether there are any other assets. We are able to give specialist initial advice by email on such matters for a fixed fee. Please contact us for the details.
The above is to give general advice on some of the most common problems. All cases are different and it is important to obtain expert advice on your situation.
We charge £135 per hour plus VAT for all work conducted. There is no extra fee for complex cases. This is around 40% less than most legal firms who would generally charge around £200 per hour plus VAT.
We also do not charge for the time involved in travelling to see clients. With us, you are guaranteed exactly the same level of expertise as that of an established family law firm at a considerably less expense to you.
We have arrangements with several other local firms of specialist solicitors who cover a broad range of legal work. Please see descriptions and links below:
Commercial Property and Development, Buying and Selling of houses, Wills, Probate and Estate Administration
Beaufort Law
Personal Injury claims, medical negligence claims
Glynns Solicitors
Employment Law and Issues
Renney & Co
We can travel to meet with you at a time and place convenient to you. If you prefer to come to us instead, modern office facilities are available throughout the South West.
“I am truly grateful to you; your help and support have really helped and I would have no hesitation in recommending you. Although I no longer need your excellent service, I would know where to come, should I ever need to.”
Mrs L, Bristol