You have just made a life changing decision to divorce or separate from your spouse. But now what? Often people don’t know where to turn or what to do when first making the decision to divorce or separate. Jessica Palmer, head of our North London Family Law team has set out some useful tips to help navigate these tricky early stages.
Partner & Head of Family Law
3 min read
Firstly, it is important to get legal advice right at the outset. Any decisions you make at this early stage could have a real impact on both the financial and child arrangements. It is important to be fully armed with the facts before deciding how to proceed!
Whilst it can be extremely difficult to remain in the same house as someone you are divorcing or separating from, it is important not to leave the house until you have sought legal advice. Once you leave it can be very difficult to return and it can have a knock-on impact on both the arrangements for the children and the finances.
Attending mediation is often a good way to get the process started. It allows you and your spouse to start having practical discussions about both the short-term and longer-term arrangements. You can discuss the divorce, finances and arrangements for the children.
If you have any concerns that your spouse may seek to withhold or dispose of joint assets without your consent, you may need to consider whether steps need to be taken to protect them. This will depend on the circumstances so it is important to discuss this with a specialist solicitor.
Divorce or separation is difficult for everyone, no matter what the circumstances are, so it can often be helpful to have specialist therapeutic support alongside. This will not only help you manage your emotional health but can also help with navigating the legal process and communicating effectively with your ex-spouse.
Combining deep technical expertise with empathy and clear advice, our specialists can guide you through divorce, financial settlements, child arrangements and pre-nuptial plans.
Our specialist divorce solicitors provide support through divorce, dissolution and separation. We combine deep expertise and strong advocacy with human understanding to help you move forward.
We advise on financial settlements, including: property, businesses, pensions, maintenance and asset division. We’ll provide clear guidance and resolution through negotiation, mediation or court proceedings.
From living arrangements and parental responsibility to disputes, relocation and financial provision – our family solicitors provide dedicated support that’s tailored to your circumstances.
Our family solicitors will work to find practical solutions without unnecessary court proceedings. This includes support with financial and family disputes, using mediation.
We advise on both pre- and postnuptial agreements, helping couples to protect assets, clarify financial arrangements and address international matters with structured advice, shaped to the individuals.
Our family solicitors can support you through mediation and act as mediators, helping to resolve financial and family disputes constructively – avoiding any unnecessary conflict or cost.
With clear advice tailored to your circumstances, our property solicitors provide support for buying, selling and financing property, ownership arrangements, lease extensions and development.
Divorce
Once you have made the difficult decision that your marriage has come to an end, one of the next steps is determining how the finances will be divided between you and your former partner.
Family and Children
Making the decision to contact a family lawyer can often feel overwhelming. We have compiled some useful practical advice below to help you make the most out of your first meeting with a family solicitor.
Divorce
Judith approached us as her and her husband, Henry, had decided that the time to separate had unfortunately arrived. They had been married for around 12 years.
Family and Children
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Corporate Transactions
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Family and Children
Private Client
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Corporate Transactions
Family and Children
Family and Children
Private Client
Corporate Transactions
