Going through a divorce is never easy; it’s often highly emotional for all involved, and there can be many practicalities to sort out such as division of assets and childcare arrangements.
It’s natural to want divorce proceedings to be as quick and painless as possible, but even the most amicable of separations can benefit from some professional help and support.
A divorce lawyer can offer the guidance and professional assistance you need during this difficult time; so if you’d like to know more about some of the services a divorce lawyer can provide, see below.
How to divide your finances is often one of the main points of contention during a divorce or separation, but a divorce lawyer can offer impartial legal advice on how best to split your assets following a divorce. They will cover all the main concerns, such as the immediate financial issues following a divorce to ensure neither party gets into debt, whether maintenance should be paid and for how long, selling the family home (if applicable), and how to split savings and pension pots.
Many family law solicitors offer mediation for couples to ensure the divorce stays as amiable as possible, and to hopefully avoid the need to go to court. Agreements made during mediation are not legally binding, but it’s a useful way to reduce conflict and hash out the terms of a divorce on neutral ground. Mediation can help you decide how to divide assets, childcare arrangements, and custody agreements. It gives both parties a say in how they would like the divorce to proceed, and can save a lot of time and money if you can come to an agreement without taking things to court.
Parental responsibility refers to the legal rights a parent has over decisions involving their child; such as education, religious upbringing and medical treatment. The child’s mother has automatic parental responsibility from birth, and so does the father if the couple were married either before or after the child was born. Fathers also have parental responsibility if the child was born after 2003 and they are listed on the birth certificate; this applies even if you were not married. Having parental responsibility means that decisions about the child’s upbringing cannot be made without your involvement, and a divorce lawyer can help you understand more about what this means and your rights.
If you need help with family law issues in and around Torquay, get in touch with Almy & Thomas Solicitors. Our highly experienced team of solicitors specialise in divorce finance, parental rights and mediation, and offer support and guidance every step of the way. We also offer a free, no obligation 30 minute consultation to provide you with expert advice and possible legal strategies for your situation. To arrange an appointment, give us a call on 01803 299131 or visit our website today .