DIVORCE AND SEPARATION

We can advise whether you would have grounds for a divorce, and what the legal consequences of the formal ending of your relationship would be. We can advise as to timescale and we hope assist you in making a very difficult decision as to your future. If you are coming for advice regarding divorce or separation, then please bring along your marriage certificate. We can also advise as to the implications of the break-up of a relationship where you are not married. If you are receiving state benefits, or on a low income, bring along proof, and you may be eligible for Legal Aid to assist you through the process.

MONEY MATTERS

Naturally, everybody's immediate concern after a family breakdown is making ends meet and paying the monthly bills. We can assist in both advising as to short term arrangements, so you can ensure the utility bills get paid and the mortgage payments are met, and sorting out the sharing of the couple's savings and income for the future.

We can advise as to how to achieve a long term solution, whether that be by agreement with your spouse, or after the involvement of the court. Legal Aid may be available if court proceedings are required, depending on your financial circumstances.

To enable us to advise more fully, please bring details of bank accounts, pensions, mortgages and life polices along with you.

We can offer advice regarding child maintenance, and also help as to what state benefits you may be entitled to.

CHILD CARE ARRANGEMENTS AFTER FAMILY BREAKDOWN

We can advise as to levels of contact between absent parent and child, whether you be mum or dad. We can explain the factors that a court would take into account when deciding where a child should live, and how often he or she should see the absent parent. Hopefully, we can set in place arrangements that are to everyone's satisfaction, without recourse to the courts.

We can advise as to an absent father's rights, be that a married or unmarried father.

If matters do get to the stage however of requiring a court's intervention, we can advise as to the court's procedure and powers, and if needs be (subject to your means) obtain Legal Aid, whether that is to take an action, or defend it.

We also appreciate that there are sometimes emergencies concerning children, for example in the case of threatened abduction. In those circumstances we aim to give clients a 'same day appointment' if one is requested, and if needs be emergency applications can be made to court.

Most importantly, we aim to assist in keeping a good relationship between parents over children issues. We recognize, as do the courts, that it is in no-one's interests, and certainly not the child's, to have warring parents.

Child Care as a Result of Local Authority Intervention.

We, and the Legal Services Commission, recognize that this must be one of the most traumatic times for any parent, when parenting abilities are called into question, often with the effect that a court is asked to decide whether or not a child should be taken into care.

We aim to assist and advise through this difficult process. These proceedings can become complicated, with experts giving many views as to what is best for the child concerned, and parents can easily become confused by the whole process. Because of this, and because the matter is so fundamentally important, we aim to give the most sensitive treatment possible to our 'care clients', and Legal Aid is available in these cases for parents, without an assessment of financial means.

DOMESTIC VILENCE AND INJUNCTION

Since the advent of the Domestic Violence Officer at the Police, thankfully injunctions (court orders) have been needed less often. However, there are times when the police cannot help, and we can, in obtaining protection for a person under threat.

It is possible not only to apply for an injunction to prevent violence, but also to remove an aggressor from the home. We aim to give injunction clients a speedy service: if necessary, and possible, an interview on the day of request and, if circumstances merit it, an immediate application to the courts.

We can refer to the appropriate agencies such as the Women's Refuge, or the Police, to give support and assistance to people in these types of difficulties. As speed is often of the essence in these types of matters, please ensure that you ask for an urgent appointment if your problem concerns the use or threat of violence.