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In this article, we’ll discuss seven reasons why you might need to enlist a family lawyer one day.
At some point or another in everyone’s lives, appointing a lawyer may be on the cards. That said, for those who don’t work within the legal sector, it can be confusing to know who to turn to for help with legal matters. It can also be confusing to when the right time is to call in the help of a solicitor.
Many high street practises are separated by areas of law and tend to concentrate and specialise in certain areas, such as family law or conveyancing for example. For individuals seeking guidance on wills and trusts, a Chandler estate planning lawyer may be available in practices that focus on estate and financial matters. The services offered by each practise typically depend on the size of the practise and how many staff they have.
A family lawyer can offer legal advice and services from anything to do with divorce to financial services. In this article, we’ll cover seven reasons why a person may seek the help of a family lawyer…
Divorce
Divorce is one of the main reasons a person may seek the help of a family lawyer. Each country has established certain grounds for divorce – some may be fault based, including adultery, desertion and unreasonable behaviour. There have also been laws introduced this year in the UK, such as the no-fault divorce, which means no blame is required to go ahead.
A family lawyer can help make sense of the reasons for divorce which can affect the outcome of how assets and childcare are split. So, it’s important to have the right representation so there’s minimal risk of losing money or assets, and to make sure everything is fair.
Separation
A legal separation is a way of dissolving a marriage without a divorce. It’s often referred to as ‘judicial separation’. People may seek a separation over a divorce for religious or cultural reasons, or if they’ve been married less than a year. The same process can be followed for the dissolution of civil partnerships.
Financial Matters
After a divorce or separation, there’s often various financial matters to take care of, which can get complicated. Some financial matters can include:
- spousal maintenance
- child maintenance
- lump sum orders
- property adjustment
- investments
- pension sharing
- pension offsetting
- third party expert reports
- taxation issues
- clean break
Children Matters
A family breakdown can have profound effects on all family members, particularly the children involved. It’s always best to get advice on how to arrange your children’s time after a separation. Family lawyers can also help with other matters including child maintenance, parental responsibilities, and schooling.
As matters involving children can often become stressful and emotional, it helps leaning on solicitors for straight forward pragmatic information that serves the best interest of any children involved. Mediators are also available to help families come to amicable conclusions.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse will affect 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men in their lifetime. There are various forms of domestic violence, including physical or sexual attacks to less obvious forms, such as emotional or psychological abuse. It can take complete control over someone’s life, leaving a person feeling defenseless.
Family lawyers are trained to be compassionate, sensitive, and supportive towards clients. They tend to be widely experienced in helping victims of abuse to secure the full protection of the law.
Prenuptial Agreements
A prenuptial agreement, also known as ‘prenup’, in the UK is a legal document drawn up between a couple before marriage. They typically outline how each person’s assets will be divided between them in the event of a divorce.
Assets including property, debts and income are typically covered within the prenuptial agreement. It helps make the event of divorce a lot more straightforward, and removes any financial surprises if the relationship breaks down.
Cohabitation Agreements
People who live together long term don’t have the same rights as a married couple. Couples who separate having lived together for a long time may wind up in unpleasant disputes, as there’s no arrangement in place despite sharing assets such as debt and property.
Where people have joint assets and live together long term, it’s sensible to have a cohabitation agreement in place. It’s important to note that these agreements don’t cover childcare. A family lawyer can assist in drawing up terms of agreements and help review them periodically.
Enlisting a Family Lawyer Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated..
As you can tell from this article, a family lawyer can be handy for many areas in law relating to family matters, and even between people who aren’t legally bound in marriage.
Please be aware, not every firm will offer all services mentioned in this article. Many practises offer a consultation (sometimes free of charge) to explain exactly how they can help. It’s always worth enquiring to know your options with what help is available.
Please be advised that this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for advice from a trained legal professional. Be sure to consult a lawyer/solicitor if you’re seeking advice on family law. We are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information on this site.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post