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Family Law Solicitors
Our family team is committed to providing a first class service at cost competitive rates. Our philosophy is to firstly understand your personal situation, your requirements and what you would like to achieve, then for us to provide clear advice on the options available and guidance on how to get to achieve your aims.
Introduction to our Specialist Family Law team
We advise a wide range of individuals on family law matters including ultra-high net worth individuals. We work in a cost conscious way to avoid unnecessary costs with the highest levels of care and sensitivity. The best testament to the work which we have done and our ethos around client care and success is consistent referrals of new matters from past satisfied clients.
We have specialists who offer expert advice on all aspects of family law including:
- Divorce and separation
- Child abduction
- Domestic abuse
- Family dispute resolution services including Mediation and Collaboration
- International adoption
- Surrogacy
- Premarital and post nuptial agreements
- Cohabitation agreements
- Claims arising from the breakdown of cohabitation for partners and children
- Same sex families and civil partnerships
Why choose family solicitors at Hodge Jones & Allen to help you?
We are highly regarded specialists and independently recognised as leaders in the field of family law by the Legal 500 who highlight the team as being ‘particularly known for its very high levels of client service.’
We get a large number of past clients recommending our service to friends and family which we believe is a testament to the high quality and effective work which the team does for people.
We also have a network of trusted specialists with whom we work who can assist with elements such as forensic accountancy, private investigators, financial planners and wealth managers. We work closely with our excellent Private Client team on issues relating to trusts, inheritance etc.
Our aim is always to resolve disputes outside court by way of agreement. We can offer mediation and collaborative options, although in our experience solicitor led negotiation most often results in successful agreement. Where we have to use litigation, we are upfront with costs estimates for the process and tenacious and robust in our approach. We will guide you and support you through the court process and make it as stress free as possible.
What happens after I contact a family lawyer?
- We first need to understand the facts of your individual case, what you would like to achieve. This is best done at a first meeting, which may be for a fixed fee in most cases.
- Based on your requirements and the information provided, we will then be able to discuss your options and give you clear and straightforward advice as well as recommending the best way forward.
How much does a specialist family lawyer cost?
The answer to this is it depends on your requirements and as each case is individual there is no one size fits all approach.
That said we will provide you with a clear cost estimate with transparency around the approach.
For most Family Law matters, we would be able to offer a fixed consultation fee for £300 + VAT. We would ask for documentation and information from you beforehand, assess your case, and advise you of your position and the best course of action. You will also be able to ask all your key questions at that meeting.
Following the consultation, if your case is suitable and very straightforward, we also offer a Fixed Fee Divorce service which is £999 plus VAT, disbursements and Court fee of £550 for a petitioner (to start a divorce), and a respondent service of £540 plus VAT.
Family law FAQs
Please note that the answers below are not meant to offer legal advice and we recommend you get in touch with one of our experienced solicitors to explain your issue.
What is a family lawyer?
A family lawyer is a legal practitioner who is specialises in family law. Family law covers a wide range of services, most often divorce, all areas of financial provision – property, pensions, maintenance etc, child arrangements, prenuptial and cohabitation agreements, child adoption and surrogacy, domestic violence and more.
When should I contact a family lawyer?
That is a very individual decision, and if you feel you are in a situation where you think you may need to seek legal advice, you probably should. Seeking advice about your position and rights does not mean you have to start any legal proceedings. Some people like to have the initial consultation just as an information gathering exercise, some have already decided on a course of action and discussed it with their partner and are ready to begin a formal process. We will advise you of options and factors you need to consider and when you should think about taking action.
Why is family law important?
Family law protects the rights of all family members whether they are adults or children. Our family law solicitors understand that family issues can be both complex and sensitive. We have experience helping people with both legal and emotional issues. Whatever your family circumstances, our specialist solicitors in London will be able to provide you with legal advice tailored to your needs.
How soon can you get started?
Once you contact us, a member of our specialist family law team will take information from you to best understand your personal circumstances. If you are eligible for the Fixed Fee meeting, this can take place as soon as possible. We also deal with urgent situations, where injunctions may be needed, sometimes on the same day as initial instruction.
What happens if you want to get divorced- What’s the process?
One of our Family Law solicitors will assist you through the process, starting with a fixed fee meeting to give you all the information about what you need to do and how long the process takes, and what is the cost.
You must file an application at Court called a petition. The person filing the petition is the Petitioner and the person who receives the petition is the Respondent. The benefit of being the Petitioner is that you have greater control over the divorce timetable. You may also be able to obtain a costs order against the Respondent if you are seeking a divorce based on adultery or unreasonable behaviour.
The application for Decree Nisi is then prepared by the Petitioner’s solicitors.
Six weeks after Decree Nisi is pronounced the Petitioner can apply for Decree Absolute. This is the final stage of the divorce and once it is granted by the Court your divorce is finalised.
Do all child arrangements have to be formally approved by the court?
No. The courts will only get involved if you can’t agree on these issues, or if the child’s welfare is a matter of serious concern.
My ex-partner and I are arguing about the level of contact with our children. How can we sort this out?
Advice can be taken on legal rights and responsibilities for children from our specialist solicitors. We can talk you through the options for resolving the issues which include mediation and assistance between solicitors.
Are prenuptial agreements legally binding in England?
Prenuptial agreements aren’t legally binding in England and Wales, although if drafted properly and they meet the legal criteria, they can be fully taken into account on a divorce.
How will our family assets and income be divided if we separate?
There are a number of ways in which you can sort out what happens to capital and income on divorce. Capital includes property, pensions, investments and savings and income may be divided to pay maintenance for you or for children
It is always best to try to reach an agreement outside of the Court and there are various ways this can be done, for example through solicitor negotiation, collaboration, mediation or round-table meetings. The simplest way of resolving a case is for the parties to provide voluntary financial disclosure of all of their assets, liabilities and income. The parties, usually through their solicitors, can then begin negotiations aimed at reaching a fair settlement.
If you are able to come to an agreement then this should be recorded in a Consent Order and filed at Court, to avoid your ex-spouse coming.
In some cases Court proceedings have to be issued in order to get matters progressing. The Court sets out a timetable that must be followed. Most cases settle within this timetable. If the case does not settle it will progress to a final hearing where the Court will decide how the assets are to be divided.
