Our family law services
Divorce
We appreciate that divorce can be an emotional time, and that arranging the practical and legal elements can be confusing and overwhelming.
With substantial experience supporting divorcing couples and with varied and complex circumstances, our team are perfectly positioned to assist you. Our divorce solicitors can guide you through every stage of the application process, from completing the initial application forms, to applying for a Conditional Order, and later a Final Order, to legally end the marriage.
When you work with our family solicitors in Chester, you can feel confident that you’ll receive a bespoke family law service that considers your individual needs.
Divorce financial settlements
Reaching a financial settlement is one of the most important parts of a divorce process, and you may well be concerned about protecting your finances during this time. Rest assured, you can rely on our team to support you and answer all of your questions.
Our expert team at Cullimore Dutton can often help clients reach voluntary financial settlements outside of Court using alternative dispute resolution techniques such as negotiation or mediation.
Where reaching an agreement out of Court is not an option, we can assist you to divide your assets and obtain a Final Order through court proceedings.
When it comes to divorce and finance matters, we always focus on providing more personalisation, support, and transparency.
For more information, please contact our expert solicitors at Cullimore Dutton.
High net worth divorce
For high net worth couples, we are able to provide specialist support to negotiate complex financial arrangements.
We can assist you in valuing and identifying assets as required, including properties, companies, investments, and offshore accounts. Once you and your ex-spouse have disclosed all of your assets, we can assist you to negotiate a financial settlement, whilst safeguarding your interests.
If you suspect that your ex-spouse may be attempting to hide assets, we can provide robust legal support to resolve matters.
To learn more about how we can help with high net worth divorce, please contact our team at Cullimore Dutton today.
Child arrangements
If you are going through a divorce and you have children, you may be worried about the impact on them and confused about your legal rights.
You will need to negotiate your child’s living arrangements with your ex-spouse, deciding who they will live with moving forward, whether with one parent or both, and general arrangements for child contact.
Our sensitive and experienced team can ensure that you understand your position and can assist you in negotiating child arrangements matters with your ex-spouse, for instance, through alternative dispute resolution methods.
If you and your partner cannot reach an agreement out of court, we can help you obtain a Child Arrangements Order through court proceedings.
Child law
As well as supporting you with child arrangement matters, our specialist family law team can also provide assistance with various other child law matters, including:
- Prohibited Steps Orders: If one parent wishes to prevent the other from making a decision about their child’s upbringing, they can obtain a Prohibited Steps Order, for instance, to prevent the other parent from relocating the child
- Specific Issue Orders: If parents are unable to agree on a certain aspect of raising their child, for example, matters of religion, a Specific Issue Order can be obtained to gain a decision on the matter
If you and your partner are struggling to agree on key aspects of your child’s upbringing, and believe that you may require legal intervention, please contact us.
Cohabitation
Cohabiting partners are not afforded the same rights as married couples, and therefore, arranging financial matters and living arrangements can become incredibly complex if a cohabitating couple’s relationship comes to an end.
At Cullimore Dutton, we can help you to draft a cohabitation agreement, helping you to protect your interests, should you split up with your cohabitating partner.
Cohabitation agreements vary according to the needs and wishes of the couple, but typically cover how each will contribute to bills and the mortgage, as well as both parties entitlements to property and assets, and how these should be divided if the couple were to split up.
Separation agreements
If you and your partner would like to separate, yet you do not wish to end your marriage or civil partnership legally, we can assist you to arrange the necessary financial practicalities by drafting a bespoke separation agreement.
Separation agreements cover various areas, according to the separating couple’s needs, for instance:
- Establishing who will continue living in the shared property
- Establishing who will pay what share of the rent, mortgage, and bills
- Establishing arrangements for debts and other liabilities
If you would like more information about separation agreements, please do not hesitate to contact our family law team.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Prenuptial agreements are legal agreements entered into by a couple when they are preparing to get married. The agreement is used to establish financial responsibilities and property entitlement and outline how assets would be divided should the couple get divorced later.
Postnuptial agreements are used to serve the same purpose, the difference being that these are entered into once a couple are already married.
Our family law specialists have helped many couples draft prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to align with their needs, offering tailor-fit guidance along the way.
Civil partnership dissolution
If you are preparing to end your civil partnership, you are bound to be going through a difficult time, and as such, the practical matters may be challenging to navigate.
Our team have extensive experience supporting clients through civil partnership dissolution. We will always remain sensitive, answer your questions in simple terms, and help you arrange the key matters, including reaching a financial settlement and making arrangements for any children.
Why work with Cullimore Dutton?
Cullimore Dutton boasts a proud heritage that dates back to 1792. Over the years, our commitment and expertise have earned us an outstanding reputation within the local community, and we are delighted to have some of the UK’s best family law solicitors in our ranks.
As one of the few firms to offer both legal and financial support under one roof, we take a truly integrated approach. This unique combination allows us to provide more comprehensive advice, ensuring better-informed decisions, particularly in sensitive areas such as family law.
We understand that these areas of law can be deeply personal, which is why we handle every case with empathy and professionalism, striving to achieve the best outcomes for you and your family.
By choosing our local family law firm, you’ll benefit from more care, more professionalism, and more support.
