We provide the complete commercial debt recovery service; from outsourced early arrears collections through to expert litigation, all handled in-house by a multi-award winning law firm.
We provide the complete commercial debt recovery service; from outsourced early arrears collections through to expert litigation, all handled in-house by a multi-award winning law firm.
Divorce, dissolution and separation
Our experienced divorce lawyers specialise in wealth preservation and will provide you with the knowledge and support that you need to make informed decisions to resolve your differences with your spouse or partner.
We will take the time to understand your individual needs, including any financial implications and arrangements for your children, as well as any business interests you may have.
You might be worried about what is involved in divorce proceedings and have lots of questions such as, how much does a typical divorce cost? What will happen to your money, your house and other valuable possessions? How will this affect your children?
To help, our family law solicitors have produced a useful step-by-step guide to ‘Divorce: What you need to know’.
Divorce, dissolution and separation
Several of our divorces solicitors are nationally recognised as leaders in their field by independent guides such as Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 for their work in dealing with proceedings, judicial separations, civil partnership dissolutions and annulments.
Our expertise in dealing with large and complex cases for high-net-worth individuals including city professionals, entrepreneurs and farmers, often involving sizeable pensions, international divorce proceedings, overseas property and hidden assets, has helped numerous people reach favourable outcomes, enabling them to confidently plan for their future.
Divorce, dissolution and separation
Although it is not a prerequisite to divorce, it is always in the best interests of the children to begin discussions about where they will live and how much time they will spend with the non-resident parent at the point when you separate and live in separate households.
In most cases, the reason for the divorce will not be a relevant factor when it comes to the financial settlement or arrangements for children. However, in rare and exceptional circumstances, behaviour can be taken into account by the court and may affect the outcome.
It is not essential for a financial agreement to be reached before the decree absolute is made, however, it is advisable as some pension rights can be lost if not.
Provided that you or your spouse/civil partner reside in England or Wales, the place of marriage is irrelevant, as long as the marriage is valid under the laws of the country where the marriage took place.
This depends on the ‘fact’ on which you are relying in your divorce application. If the divorce is on the basis of adultery, you should be sure that this will be admitted as otherwise, it is very difficult to prove. With unreasonable behaviour, the allegations do not need to be admitted for the divorce to proceed.
If you have been separated for more than five years, then you do not need consent. However, if you are basing your divorce application on having been separated for two years, you will need your spouse/partner to agree to the divorce.
However, if your spouse/civil partner deliberately ignores the paperwork sent to them, it is possible in some circumstances to arrange for the divorce application to be personally served by a process server and the court can allow the divorce to proceed without their consent.
You must get permission from everyone with Parental Responsibility for a child or from the court before taking them abroad.
If you are planning on taking your children abroad and you have a Child Arrangements Order confirming that the children live with you, you technically only need consent from the other parent if you are going to be out of the UK for more than 28 days.
However, it is always good practice to get the other parent’s permission before you take your children abroad regardless of the intended length of the trip.
If you and your spouse/civil partner both agree to the divorce and how the costs in relation to it are to be paid then you will not be required to attend court.
You may need to attend court if there are disputes in relation to the children’s arrangements or finances but these are dealt with separate to the divorce itself.
It is not a legal requirement to change your name after a divorce. It is your prerogative to decide whether you wish to retain your married name.
The way in which pensions are dealt with following a divorce depends on your specific circumstances.
However, these are lost if the ex-spouse remarries or the member spouse dies.
Testimonial
“Flint Bishop dealt with my divorce over a period of nearly 3 years due to delaying on my ex-husbands part. My first solicitor, who had been very supportive in the early stages when I was unsure of the procedures, left the company during this time. However, I had excellent continuity as my case was taken over by a partner at no extra cost. I was always kept informed very clearly of everything that my solicitor was doing on my behalf and was consulted when appropriate. When my solicitor was away I was always given details of another solicitor at the firm who would be able to help me if needed. Even throughout lockdown and beyond, my case was moved forward as much as possible given the problems caused with my ex-husband’s solicitor. I particularly liked the fact that it was possible to communicate by phone rather than only by email as I have experienced with other solicitors. This is much more efficient and enabled me to make informed decisions more easily. I live in Hertfordshire and Flint Bishop are in Derby but this caused no difficulties in any regard due to their flexibility over exchanging documents etc. I would highly recommend their services.”
Private Client
“Kirpal Bidmead heads the team and is an outstanding children solicitor. She manages expectations with a calmness that inspires absolute confidence in her.”
“Flint Bishop fields a ‘strong team of very senior and capable solicitors’. The practice is geared towards representing high-net-worth clients, handling complicated financial issues and matters involving arrangements for children. Department head Kirpal Bidmead is an ‘outstanding children solicitor’, and her team regularly handles cases involving a cross-border element, including jurisdictions such as China, Hong Kong and Dubai.”
“Words cannot express how much help and support Kirpal has been to me over the last five years. I just wished I had approached her and Flint Bishop when I first needed the advice and representation, not coming to you so many years later when things went awry. Kirpal has been truly wonderful and I thank her from the bottom of my heart.”
Private Client
“Kirpal Bidmead specialises in protecting the interests of high net worth clients handling cases involving complex financial issues and also arrangements for the children of the family. She has a talent for locating assets that have not been voluntarily disclosed and forensically analysing accounts and financial statements. These assets have included properties, bank accounts, trusts and on one memorable occasion, a racehorse.”
“A highly knowledgeable, experienced and exceptionally customer-orientated family law team, specialising in wealth preservation with an aim to empower clients to make informed decisions.”
Contact Us
For more information and advice on divorce, dissolution or separation, please call our divorce lawyers on 01332 226 174 or complete the form below.
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