Family Law Solicitors
Whether seeking help with multi-partner agreements, relationship dissolution, or parental rights in a polyamorous family structure, we offer informed support to assist with the legal complexities of your unique circumstances.
Head of Family & Partner
Whether seeking help with multi-partner agreements, relationship dissolution, or parental rights in a polyamorous family structure, we offer informed support to assist with the legal complexities of your unique circumstances.
Polyamorous relationships encompass any consensual non-monogamous relationship. They have been increasing in prevalence in the UK – particularly in the last 10 years. These relationships often involve complex legal issues. Every relationship will look and feel different and the issues will be unique.
As with any type of relationship, sometimes things don’t work out. We offer compassionate and professional support on all aspects of family law, including separation, child arrangements and cohabitation matters. We handle every enquiry with sensitivity and openness during what may be a very difficult personal circumstance.
Please note we use the term ‘solicitor’ and ‘lawyer’ throughout interchangeably, as a term that refers to anyone in the United Kingdom that is licensed to practice law, provide legal advice, or represent clients in court.
Please note that we do not hold a Legal Aid contract and are therefore unable to provide Legal Aid services. All family matters are undertaken on a privately funded basis only.
Call one of our team to discuss starting and financing your divorce application, your rights and how we can support you through this distressing time in your life.
Head of Family & Partner
“Vanessa Friend is the stand out partner in the team. She is exceptionally bright and knowledgeable. She secures fantastic results for her client. She is a very good negotiator and very personable.”
Our family solicitors offer clear, concise, and personalised advice tailored to the unique needs of polyamorous individuals and families. Drawing on over 45 years of experience, we provide expert guidance on a range of legal matters.
We specialise in drafting agreements for polyamorous relationships, including multi-partner agreements, cohabitation agreements, and bespoke arrangements to protect your interests and define your relationships.
Navigating parental rights within polyamorous structures can be complex. We advise on establishing parental responsibility, creating parenting plans for multi-parent families, and resolving disputes related to the living arrangements and welfare of children. This includes advice on leave to remove if a parent wishes to relocate with children.
Should a polyamorous relationship end, we provide compassionate and effective legal support for dissolution and separation. Our team can assist with financial provision agreements to ensure a fair and stress-free outcome, utilising methods like mediation and arbitration.
We offer expert advice on property ownership disputes within polyamorous households, whether you’re dealing with co-ownership disagreements or seeking to establish an interest in shared property.
Our specialist team provides confidential support and legal protection for individuals experiencing domestic abuse, ensuring the safety of all involved adults and children.
Polyamorous relationships have no legal status in England and Wales; therefore, it’s not against the law to be in one. This is different to polygamy, however. Marriage between more than two people is against the law.
Typically, a polyamorous relationship has three or more consenting people.
The legal status of the people involved depends on the individual circumstances. It may involve a married couple, or civil partners, with the addition of other partners (who are not in the marriage or civil partnership), or all partners could be unmarried.
It should be noted that where there is a mix of married/civil partnered and unmarried partners, the unmarried partners are far more vulnerable legally. Their claims are limited to property ownership according to TOLATA 1996. There are children involved, there may be a claim for financial provision on behalf of a child under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. There is also an additional provision if the partners are engaged.
Polyamorous relationships do not currently have legal status in the UK. However, marrying multiple partners, known as polygamy, is prohibited.
The law in England & Wales currently defines a legal marriage/civil partnership as between two people over the age of 18. The law therefore prohibits any marriage with multiple partners; this is a criminal offence called bigamy.
It is important to understand your rights in a polyamorous relationship as they may not be the same as the other partners, even if you share financial assets, responsibilities and childcare duties.
It depends on the legal status of the relationship in the first place. You may fall into one of the following categories as a partner in a polyamorous relationship and this determines what legal options/routes may apply to you:
If there are children in the family, and you are not certain of your rights following the breakdown of a polyamorous relationship, please do not hesitate to get in touch whether or not you are a biological parent. The law in this area is complex and it would be beneficial to talk it through with one of our solicitors.
“They displayed a very clear and total understanding of my case, and demonstrated having previewed my material very well. Information I was given was clear and honest, neither pessimistic nor simply telling me ‘what I wanted to hear.”
“The firm always puts your wants at the centre of things and always gives the best advice and path to take to try and get to that goal.”
“A stellar firm offering a first- class service. You are assured that anyone on the Family team is able to offer efficient and effective representation, designed and shown to get consistently good results.”
As with any relationship, communication is key. Important topics to discuss with your partners include:
We understand that polyamorous relationships have unique legal considerations. Whether you are seeking guidance on multi-partner agreements, parental rights in a polyamorous family structure, or navigating relationship dissolution, our team of solicitors offers sensitive and informed support.
We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and our lawyers are proud members of the Law Society and the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners. This commitment to high ethical standards ensures that all legal representation we provide is reliable, accountable, and held to the highest professional benchmarks.
Our dedication to client satisfaction is reflected in our ‘Excellent’ rating from independent Trustpilot reviews. We’re committed to offering a trusted and supportive service as we help you navigate the legal complexities of your unique family structure.
We’re one of Chambers and Partners’ top-ranked firms and a top-tier firm in the Legal 500. This recognition underscores our expertise and leadership in family law, extending to thoughtfully address the evolving needs of polyamorous relationships.
Hodge Jones & Allen family solicitors have been recognised as one of Chambers and Partners‘ top firms. We’re also noted by the Legal 500 for our commitment to excellence. You can rest assured that our team are highly experienced in handling even the toughest family law cases.
Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors is proud of the many positive testimonials that we receive, reinforced by our ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot. Please read through what some of our clients have had to say about their experience with our legal teams.
