Family law solicitors
Not all family situations arise from conflict. Many stem from a shared plan: moving in together, entering into a civil partnership or getting married, buying a home, welcoming a child, protecting a partner or a loved one, or planning the transfer of assets. These plans raise legal questions which, if not anticipated, often come to light at the worst possible moment — that of a break-up, illness or death. Supporting a life plan means identifying these issues in advance and addressing them through a chosen framework, in order to safeguard what matters and prevent the unexpected from turning into a legal dispute.
Questions clients often ask
We live together without being married: how can we protect each other? Who will own the property we are buying, and in what proportion? What will happen to our assets if we separate, or if one of us dies? How should we organise our children’s lives and the exercise of parental responsibility? How can we protect the children? Can we set clear rules in advance, so as not to have to make decisions in a rush or in the heat of a dispute?
What this area covers
The firm supports families at every stage of their plans, providing both advisory and litigation services:
- anticipating the legal and financial consequences of a couple’s plans: moving in together, civil partnerships, marriage, cohabitation;
- formalising a framework of obligations between partners or cohabitants, in particular through a cohabitation agreement;
- organising joint acquisitions and cross-financing: joint ownership, shareholdings, repayment clauses;
- protecting the partner and preparing for the transfer of assets: testamentary provisions, life insurance, gifts;
- organising parenting arrangements;
- preventing and amicably resolving disputes before they become entrenched.
The firm views family law as a tool for prevention as much as for resolution. Supporting a life plan involves planning ahead: identifying, from the outset, potential points of friction and addressing them through a framework that is chosen rather than imposed. Whenever possible, the firm prioritises advice and contractual arrangements, which enable clients to determine in advance the rules that will apply to them. Where a dispute has already arisen, the same commitment to rigour guides our litigation work.