Family Disputes
At Clarke & Son, our family law solicitors are experienced in representing and advising individuals in a range of legal issues regarding family disputes.
Our Family Law services cover all different aspects of family disputes. Our expert team can help you with:
- Disputes about Children
- Family Dispute Resolution
- Grandparent’s Rights
Book an Appointment
Our family law team are on hand to assist with a range of family dispute enquiries, get in touch to book an appointment.
Disputes about Children
Relationship breakdowns can be difficult and when children are involved your main concern will be to protect their wellbeing. Many parents will be able to sort this out by themselves or through mediation but when this is not possible you may need the help of the Courts.
Our family law solicitors are experienced in helping parents and families make arrangements for children following the breakdown of a relationship. We’ll make sure that everyone involved understands their legal rights and responsibilities whilst ensuring that the views of you and your children are heard.
We are able to help you with:
- Contact orders which can sometimes be called ‘access’
- Residence orders which can sometimes be called ‘custody’
- Prohibited steps orders: for example, preventing an ex-partner from taking your child abroad without permission
- Other applications to the Court: for example concerning schooling
- Child maintenance and support issues
- Child abduction.
Family Dispute Resolution
Divorce and separation can often lead to conflict and heartache. Having the right professional advice and support can make all the difference in choosing the right family dispute resolution option for you.
Reaching an agreement between yourselves
Negotiating your own agreement, with or without support, can be the cheapest way to a settlement and at first glance can seem the easiest. However, it can be a complex process with many aspects you and your partner will need to consider, and so it is not suitable for everyone.
Mediation and MIAMs
Mediators are trained to help resolve disputes over all issues faced by divorcing and separating couples or specific issues such as arrangements for any children. Mediators are neutral and are there to manage the mediation process and help with the exchange of information. The process works best if you instruct a lawyer to provide independent legal advice alongside the mediation process.
Collaborative Process
Under the collaborative process, each person appoints their own collaboratively trained lawyer and you and your respective lawyers all meet together to work things out face to face. Both of you will have your lawyer by your side throughout the process and so you will have their support and legal advice as you go.
Arbitration
In family arbitration, you and your partner appoint an arbitrator, usually with the help of a solicitor. Your solicitor can also advise and assist you throughout the process. The arbitrator will make a decision that will be final and binding between the parties on any financial and property disputes arising from family relationships.
Lawyer negotiations on your behalf
Some people choose this approach because they think that an agreement is not possible in their circumstances; for others, it is the last resort after all options have been exhausted. Outcomes often depend largely on what lawyers would expect the outcome to be of any eventual court process.
Going to court
If an agreement cannot be reached, an application is sent to the court, although this sometimes happens right away if there are urgent issues to be resolved.
Take time to think through your options and do so with professional advice and guidance. Your individual circumstances will determine which of these options will be best for you and your family.
Grandparent’s Rights
Sometimes a conflict between parents and grandparents can lead to the children being denied contact with the grandparents.
It’s part of the parent’s exercising of parental responsibility to decide whom the children may see and when. It is important to know that just because grandparents do not have the same automatic rights to contact as parents do, does not mean that they have no recourse. If you and your grandchildren have a good relationship and you believe that not being able to see them is having a bad effect on them you’ll want to do what you can to see them again.
Family Law Team
Contact Details
If you have any questions or would like to enquire about one of our services, please fill in the enquiry form below and one of the team will get back to you.
