Matrimonial, Divorce & Civil Partnership

Matrimonial & Civil Partnership Services – Divorce, Annulments & more

We provide a wide range of legal services covering all aspects of matrimonal and civil partnership matters.

Divorce Services

Divorce is a life-changing situation and we want that experience to be as stress-free as possible.

Our solicitors can assist with all aspects of divorce, from the initial issuing of the divorce petition, all the way through to obtaining the final order.

We usually find the most problematic part can be resolving the financial aspects of a divorce.  Our lawyers are very experienced in dealing with all types of financial dispute, whether it involves businesses, property portfolios and assets abroad, or nominal assets of small value.

Each case is important to us, however long it takes to complete. We ensure every case is completed the same way, with as much attention to each one.

Separation Deed

Not everyone wants to have a divorce. Some of our clients merely wish to have a document which outlines the fact that the parties have separated, how the matrimonial finances will be dealt with and how the children will be cared for. This could be for religious reasons or simply because you are not ready to end your marriage, but do need financial security.

We can draft a Deed of Separation for married and unmarried couples. Our sole objective is to protect your interests. We therefore ensure that the Deed is Court-proof and so if it is used in a later divorce, unless there has been a change in circumstances, the document will stand as the agreement, without it being varied.

Annulments

Annulment, like divorce, is a way of ending a marriage. Unlike divorce, you can get a marriage annulled at any time after the wedding.

It may be that you want an annulment if you have religious reasons for not wanting a divorce.

Regardless of the reason, you need to show that the marriage was either not valid in the first place, or is defective.  If a marriage was not legally valid, the law says that it never existed.

We may also have to consider the financial consequences in these cases. If so, we can also assist with this.

Civil Partnership Dissolution

If you have been in a civil partnership for at least a year, you can apply to dissolve the partnership.  You have to show the relationship has irretrievably broken down, and that you have good reasons for ending it.  To dissolve the civil partnership we need to carry out 3 steps: file a dissolution petition, apply for a conditional order and apply for a final order.

Our solicitors can help you throughout the entire process.  At BTTJ we understand how difficult it is to end any relationship and we can assist you and support you with every stage of your dissolution.

Settlement of Family Finances

Relationship breakdown can have a devastating emotional impact on families. What should never be overlooked, no matter how easy the temptation, is the financial needs of both spouses and the children. This is key.

No case is ever the same. There is no set formula for division of income and assets. All the income and assets of the parties must be quantified and decisions made on the future requirements of both spouses and their children. This is a complex area in which we can help you straight away because of our track record in this field.

Your well being is our overall concern and our legal firm’s reputation has been forged over a solid 200 years.  Let us take the stress away from you by helping you in this area.

Prenuptial agreement

Prenuptial agreements are becoming more and more popular. A significant percentage of marriages, currently around 50%, end in divorce. It is therefore natural to want to agree what should happen in the event of a breakdown of the relationship.

Prenuptial agreements can provide a measure of certainty and the means of protecting pre-marriage assets, inheritance, and existing family commitments such as children from a previous marriage.
Legally, once married all of these assets become matrimonial assets and, unless specifically protected, are thrown into a single financial pot. The primary purpose of a “pre-nup” will frequently be to limit the potential claims on the wealth of one of the parties to the marriage.

We can advise you on all of the above and will be happy to speak to you. Please contact Kate Booth, Natasha Abel or Samantha Chater to find out more.