Family life can be difficult at times and there are ups and downs for many families. Sometimes there are situations where you need to have the right legal advice and representation, in the form of a family law solicitor like this family law Gloucester based solicitors https://www.deeandgriffin.co.uk/services/family-law
There are many reasons why someone might go to a family law solicitor – here are some of them…
Going Through a Divorce
Divorce is something that many married couples feel is the only resolution to a relationship that has broken down. If other avenues have been explored such as counselling and mediation, then it is better to go separate ways than to try to struggle on in a relationship that is making both parties unhappy.
Once this is something that you have decided to do, it will need to be done through the legal system and a family law solicitor will be able to help you through the process, ensuring that everything is dealt with. Even if you are not married, if you are cohabiting and have shared assets, then it is wise to get in touch with a family law solicitor.
Child Custody Arrangements
One of the most heartbreaking parts of a divorce is the fact that the children will not be living with both parents, and arrangements for care of the children and what is in the child’s best interests can sometimes become heated.
A family law solicitor will help to ensure that arrangements for children and the custody of them are put in place with as little disruption to the children’s lives as possible, and depending on their ages they will also take the children’s requests and needs into account.
Wills – It is important to make sure that you have a will when you have a family as this ensures that your assets are going where you want them to and also to ensure that any of your wishes are upheld, such as arrangements for taking care of children if the worst should happen.
This means that you can rest assured that things will be sorted out as you want them to be. You can also make changes to your will should circumstances change in the future.
How wide family law goes
Family law covers far more than divorce and arrangements for children. It also deals with separation and financial settlements, how property and pensions are divided, adoption, guardianship, and disputes over contact with children, including claims by grandparents. Unmarried couples who live together are in a different legal position from married couples when they separate, which catches many people out.
Most family matters are settled without a judge. A solicitor will usually try to reach agreement through negotiation, and in England and Wales anyone applying to court over children or finances is normally expected to attend a mediation information meeting first, unless an exemption applies, such as where there has been domestic abuse. Only issues that cannot be agreed go before the family court. Because these cases often involve children and vulnerable adults, solicitors frequently work alongside mediators, social workers and other specialists to reach an arrangement that will last.
Why mediation can be worth considering
Not every family dispute needs to end up in court. Mediation is not suitable for everyone, and a mediator and your own solicitor will look at anything that might make it difficult, but where it works it has clear benefits. The parties help set the agenda, sessions are arranged at times and places that suit, and you control the pace rather than waiting months for a court date.
Decisions are reached together, so they can be shaped around your family in ways a judge may not have the power to order. Because both sides agree the outcome, they are more likely to stick to it, and the process encourages the kind of communication that supports lasting co-parenting.
Mediation is also private and confidential, which often lets people speak more openly than they would in court. When it succeeds it is usually quicker and cheaper than litigation, and the mediator will bring it to a close if it becomes unproductive or risks making matters worse.