Family Law

Divorce & Finances

We understand the breakdown of any relationship is a profoundly difficult time. Trying to assess its impact on your children, home, pension and finances can leave you confused, distressed and unsure about what the future holds. We understand that you need clear advice about how to resolve the issues you face.

Agreements

If you are planning to buy a property with your partner, or are already living with them in a property that one of you owns, you should consider having a Living Together or Cohabitation Agreement. This clearly states what property you each own at the start of your relationship and how you intend to manage your finances while you are living together. Pre-nuptial agreements are typically used by people who want to protect their wealth for their children or people entering a second marriage.

Cohabitation Disputes

Couples who live together rather than marrying or forming a civil partnership, have different legal rights if the relationship breaks down, and the Law in this area is continually developing and quite unlike the Law about divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships.

Child Abduction

Child Abduction is a very complex area of Law that requires knowledge and experience. Having your child taken abroad by a family member without your agreement is a very frightening and distressing experience and you need to be sure that your child abduction Lawyer really is a specialist.

Child Arrangements

Studies reveal that more than one-third of children will see their parents separate before their 16th birthday. If you are worried about how your children will cope with your separation, you are not alone.

Relocation

Grandparents Rights

We understand how much grandparents have to offer children and we work to advise and support our clients to help them re-establish contact where that has broken down. We will advise you about the various processes available to you including family mediation and applications to Court.

Urgent Orders

If you're a parent whose child has been kept by your ex-partner without your consent, or if you're a parent who believes it's not safe for your child/ren to return to the other parent's care, you may need to apply for a Prohibited Steps Order or Specific Issue Order from the Court. These orders can help you protect your child's welfare and ensure their safety.

Social Services Involvement

If you're facing a difficult time with Children's Services, we can help. Yarwood Holmes Law Ltd specialises in Children Law proceedings. Seek legal advice immediately if your child is at risk of being removed from your care, and don't sign any agreements without consulting a lawyer first.

Public Law Outline Matters

Children's Services may use the Public Law Outline (PLO) before Care Proceedings for a child. Parents receive a letter outlining concerns and are invited to a meeting. We can help and advise you during this process and attend PLO meetings with you to represent your interests.

Domestic Abuse

Women’s Aid defines domestic abuse as “an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour including sexual violence, in the majority of cases by a partner or ex-partner but also by a family member or carer”. It is very common. In the vast majority of cases, it is experienced by women and perpetuated by men

Care Proceedings

If a child is at risk, Children’s Services may apply to court to protect them. In such cases, multiple hearings take place and proceedings usually last no more than 26 weeks. Yarwood Holmes Law Ltd is committed to achieving positive outcomes and reuniting families whenever possible.

Kinship Carers and Special Guardianship Orders

We can assist extended family members who care for children by securing Parental Responsibility and obtaining a Child Arrangements Order or Special Guardianship Order. We also provide legal advice for family members recommended to become Special Guardians.