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Family law

Experienced, compassionate family law solicitors here to support you

Our dedicated team of family lawyers will help you protect what matters to you and secure the future for yourself and your loved ones.

Whether you are splitting up with your partner, agreeing the terms of your current relationship, or looking after your children’s interests, it’s vital to find a solicitor with the right expertise to support you through the process. Our family law solicitors can help you plan ahead, formalise arrangements and resolve conflicts, however convoluted and complex.

Our highly experienced team can help you at any stage of the divorce process. We have expertise in the many sensitive areas that can make negotiations difficult and complex, such as custody of your children and settling conflicts about your money, including business interests.

Our clients come from throughout the UK and abroad. Our highly experienced family law team specialise in:

Relationship breakdown

If your marriage or civil partnership has broken down, our divorce lawyers will advise and support you through this difficult time, with patience and sensitivity.

We will protect your interests and get tough when needed. We will also always act in your best interests by managing costs carefully and being fair, pragmatic and sensible in our decision making.

When divorce involves a business careful negotiation is needed to work out who is entitled to what. We have the knowledge and experience to help you navigate both the practical and legal challenges involved.

Divorce involving children

Your children are likely to be the most sensitive aspect in your divorce, and may lead to conflict between you, your partner and perhaps other family members. We understand that your children’s welfare is paramount, so we will always put their needs first, and do all we can to reduce the impact of the relationship breakdown on them.

Our divorce lawyers will always act in their best interests, whether we’re negotiating and formalising childcare arrangements, access and maintenance for you, or dealing with more complicated matters such as child abduction proceedings or surrogacy.

International divorces can add an extra layer of difficulty to negotiations; our team of family law solicitors has experience and expertise acting for families in disputes over custody, visitation rights, maintenance and relocation. We can also help if you are worried about your children being taken abroad without your consent.

Legal arrangements between couples

Whether you are soon to be married or have tied the knot already, our family lawyers can advise you on setting up a pre- or post-nuptial agreement. This is a sensible way to protect your pre-marital assets, including your business interests, and can simplify negotiations if you do sadly decide later to separate or divorce.

If you’re unmarried and living with your partner, we can advise you on setting up a cohabitation agreement. This will set out the financial arrangement between you and agree how your property and other assets will be divided if you split up at some time in the future.

Financial settlements

Divorce or separation are emotional times, which can make it very hard to agree on the best way to meet the financial needs of everyone affected. With financial settlements, there is no simple ‘rule of thumb’, as no two relationships’ finances are ever the same. This makes it tough to find a solution that suits everyone involved – including how to divide income and assets and setting up child or spousal support arrangements. If either or both partners have property or investment portfolios, overseas assets or business interests, things can become even more complicated.

Our divorce lawyers have a strong track record in this complex area and will help you reach the best possible financial settlement to secure your future.

Specialist parenting law

There are many ways to start or grow a family. Although the law has evolved to support a diverse spectrum of families, it must be navigated carefully to ensure parental rights fall to the intended people. It is also important to ensure that the expectations of all parties are aligned.

Our team of family law solicitors includes experts in parenting law who work with our clients to help them build their family. Our parenting specialisms include surrogacyconceiving with a donorco-parenting arrangementsadoptionassisted reproduction and fertility law, and family breakdown.

Who our family lawyers can help

Our family law solicitors can help people from all walks of life, especially those faced with complex or challenging issues.

The team acts for clients throughout the UK and overseas and has particular experience working with:

Why clients choose our family law solicitors

  • Member of Resolution – we fully subscribe to Resolution’s Code of Practice, which sets out the principles of a non-confrontational approach to family law matters.
  • Highly rated specialists – we are acclaimed as leaders in the field of family law in The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.
  • Focussed on collaboration – whenever it is appropriate, our trained collaborative lawyers and mediators will work with you, your partner and your solicitors to reach a settlement out of court.
  • At the forefront of legal innovation – we have been instrumental in shaping new law, most notably in the case of White v White heard in the House of Lords.
  • Breadth of expertise and experience – as a firm we have combined expertise across a broad range of family and family business matters including tax, Wills, trusts, wealth management, and company and property structures.
  • Cross-border knowledge – if you live, were married or have assets overseas, we can help you navigate the divorce process in your, and your children’s, best interests.
  • Cost competitive – our rates are extremely competitive and our tight control on time and cost ensures the desired outcome is achieved in the most cost-effective way.

Recommendations

“They are thoroughly impressive from top to bottom, from excellent trainees through to partners.” Chambers Uk 2022
“Sterling commitment to client care and terrific at supporting clients through the most difficult of times. Compassionate and consummate professionals.” The Legal 500 2022
“The team are organised, responsive and quality practitioners. It is a really top-notch firm with a well-deserved, great reputation.” Chambers UK 2022
“The whole team has all the skills to guide you through, maybe the most vulnerable and life changing time of your life.” The Legal 500 2022
“Results-driven, but with empathy, support and understanding.” Chambers UK 2022
“Our experience from dealing with the team has been that they are very knowledgeable and are also efficient at delivering a quality service.” The Legal 500 2022
“Every detail in my case was explored and addressed in a timely manner.” Chambers UK 2022

Contact a family lawyer today

If you need legal advice on divorce or any other family matter, call now on 0800 422 0123 or contact us online for a confidential initial consultation. We have family law solicitors ready to help in London, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Southampton and Taunton.

What the experts say about our family law solicitors

The team is highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced and provides excellent customer service and care to its clients.

The Legal 500 2020

They have a very good team that strikes the balance between fighting the client’s corner and not unduly raising the temperature in the room. They have a sensible approach to cases but represent clients in a way that is faithful to their own structure.

Chambers UK 2020

Your key contacts

Rayner Grice

Partner

Birmingham
Rayner advises on the issues that arise for an individual following the breakdown of a relationship in relation to divorce/civil partnership dissolution, their financial affairs and their children.
View profile for Rayner Grice >

Clare Webb

Partner

Bristol
Clare has built her practice with a commitment to helping her clients resolve their issues in a constructive and conciliatory way. In doing so, she will always have regard to the longterm hopes and aspirations for the family as a whole, whilst of course protecting her client’s interest.
View profile for Clare Webb >

Adam Maguire

Partner

Birmingham
Adam specialises in divorce and family law. He advises clients regarding all aspects of private family law including cohabitation, separation, divorce and related financial issues, disputes concerning children and nuptial agreements.
View profile for Adam Maguire >

Philippa Yeo

Partner

Bristol
Philippa is committed to helping couples navigate all aspects of the legal process on the breakdown of their relationship in a pragmatic, collaborative and family-focused way including supporting couples to reach arrangements for their children and achieve healthy future co-parenting relationships.
View profile for Philippa Yeo >

Meet our wider divorce and family team

With seven offices throughout England and Wales, Clarke Willmott is a national law firm with a local presence. Click to learn more about our wider team of legal professionals and how they can support you.

Meet the team

Latest news and updates

Divorce and family law

Clarke Willmott holds webinar on controlling and coercive behaviour

Clarke Willmott has held a webinar delving into the offence of coercive and controlling behaviour and looking at what legal professionals can do to help clients who fall victim Led by partner and expert family lawyer, Rayner Grice, the webinar covered how the family court deals with… “”

Read more on Clarke Willmott holds webinar on controlling and coercive behaviour
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