Divorce & Family Law Solicitors in Leicester
Our Leicester Divorce Lawyers Are Here For You
Experiencing divorce or separation can be an overwhelming and emotional journey, often accompanied by worry and anxiety. It is important to consider various factors such as child arrangements and financial settlements during this process. However, our divorce solicitors, who are experienced, empathetic, and highly-rated, can provide you with the necessary support and confidence to navigate through this difficult time and assist you every step of the way towards moving forward with your life.
“The divorce team’s caring attitude gave me real confidence on the way forward and I am very appreciative of the help they have given both recently and over the last few years.”
Wherever you are on your journey, our legal advisors can help. Call us today on 0330 024 0333 or use the button below to complete our contact form.
How Our Divorce & Family Law Experts in Leicester Can Help
Mediation, Arbitration & Collaborative Family Law
When a relationship breaks down, reaching a solution that works for all parties can be easier said than done, particularly when trying to communicate with your ex-partner.
It’s natural not to agree on everything, but that doesn’t mean your divorce or dissolution has to be settled in court. We can work with you to arrange your finances and protect your children’s future through constructive out-of-court processes.
International Divorce
Our international divorce lawyers can support you through complex, multi-jurisdictional divorce cases ensuring the best outcome for you and your family.
Child Law
Relationship breakdown is never pleasant and even more troubling and complicated if children are involved. Custody cases require considered, sensitive handling to ensure that the best outcome is achieved for the children.
Divorce Financial Settlement
This is not the place for one-size-fits-all approaches as financial settlements are highly individual. Guided by your goals, we take a forensic look at your finances and lifestyle, applying our understanding of the impact of all aspects such as inherited wealth and overseas assets.
Settling Divorce Outside Of Court
Going to court isn’t necessarily needed to reach a settlement. Our trained mediators and negotiators can help you get a rapid resolution. But if the answer lies only in court, you can have every confidence in us to represent your case with confidence and determination.
Child Custody
Child custody cases require considered, sensitive handling to ensure that the best outcome is achieved for the children – this is where our experts come in.
Divorce & Family Law Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing a family solicitor can be a daunting task, but here are some things to consider when making your decision:
- Specialisation: Look for a solicitor who specialises in family law. They should have experience in dealing with divorce, child custody, financial settlements, and other family law matters.
- Experience: Find out how long the solicitor has been practicing family law. You want someone who has dealt with cases similar to yours and has a good track record.
- Communication: You should feel comfortable speaking to your solicitor and confident that they will keep you informed of any developments in your case. Look for a solicitor who listens to you and explains things clearly.
- Cost: It is important to understand the solicitor’s fees and how they charge for their services. Make sure you understand the costs involved before you engage their services.
- Availability: Find out how easy it is to contact your solicitor and how quickly they respond to your queries. You want someone who is accessible and responsive to your needs.
By considering these factors, you should be able to choose a family solicitor who is right for you and your situation.
The costs for a divorce will vary depending on whether you are the applicant or the respondent within the divorce proceedings. The costs you pay will also depend on whether you reach an agreement with your ex-partner regarding splitting the costs of the divorce.
If you are the person who starts the divorce proceedings (i.e. the applicant) and you tick the box on your divorce application to state you would like your ex-partner to pay your divorce costs, you may not have to pay any costs at all.
As a general guide, an applicant’s divorce costs tend to be in the region of £1000 to £1500 plus VAT which included the £550 court fee to issue the divorce application. You can’t get a free divorce in the UK.
It is not a legal requirement for both parties to have a solicitor in a divorce. However, it is advisable for both parties to seek independent legal advice from a solicitor, especially if there are complex issues involved such as children, finances or property.
Having a solicitor can help ensure that your rights and interests are protected throughout the divorce process. A solicitor can also provide you with guidance and advice on the legal process, help you negotiate a settlement agreement with your spouse, and represent you in court if necessary.
In cases where one party has a solicitor and the other does not, it is still possible for the divorce to proceed. However, it is important to note that the party without a solicitor may be at a disadvantage when it comes to negotiating a settlement or presenting their case in court.
Ultimately, whether or not to hire a solicitor is a personal decision that depends on the specific circumstances of your case. If you are unsure whether you need a solicitor, you should seek advice from a qualified family law solicitor who can help you understand your options.
You can get divorced in England or Wales if all of the following are true:
- you’ve been married for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your marriage is legally recognised in the UK (including same-sex marriage)
If you do not want a divorce, you can get a legal separation so you can live apart without ending the marriage. You might also be able to annul the marriage. You can apply for separation or annulment during your first year of marriage.
There is a different process if you want to get a divorce in Scotland or get a divorce in Northern Ireland.
In the UK, the general rule is that each party is responsible for their own legal costs in child custody cases, regardless of who wins or loses the case. This means that each party will need to pay for their own legal representation and any associated costs, such as court fees.
However, in some circumstances, the court may order one party to pay some or all of the other party’s costs. For example, if one party has been unreasonable in their conduct during the case or has acted in bad faith, the court may order them to pay some or all of the other party’s costs.
It is important to note that legal costs in child custody cases can quickly add up, and it is advisable to seek legal advice from a qualified family law solicitor who can help you understand your legal options and the potential costs involved.
Following the introduction of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act legislation in April 2022, commonly known as no-fault divorce, there is now no requirement to give a reason for divorce or blame your partner – it is now largely on the basis of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. One party or a couple can jointly start, proceedings.
On Wednesday 6 April 2022, no-fault divorce became legislation. No-fault divorce is the common name for the Divorce, Dissolutions and Separation Act which came in in April 2022 and supersedes any previous divorce law. The legislation means that no reason now has to be given or any blame apportioned when a couple divorces. Proceedings can be started by one party or jointly by the couple.
More information can be found in our guide on how to get a divorce.
Checklist:
How you can speed up the conveyancing process
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Choose a reputable and experienced conveyancing solicitor who can handle the transaction efficiently and effectively.
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Make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready and available, including property deeds, building regulations certificates, and planning permission documents.
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Respond promptly to any requests or questions from your solicitor, as delays in communication can cause significant delays in the conveyancing process.
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Arrange a mortgage in principle before making an offer on a property, as this can help to speed up the mortgage application process.
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Consider carrying out a homebuyer survey or property valuation before making an offer, as this can help to identify any potential issues that may cause delays later on.
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Be prepared to negotiate on the price and terms of the sale to help speed up the process and avoid any unnecessary delays.
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Check the status of the property's title and any relevant searches early on in the process to identify any potential issues that may cause delays later on.
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Make sure you have sufficient funds available to cover all necessary fees and expenses, including legal fees, stamp duty land tax, and other costs associated with the conveyancing process.
Timeframes & Costs
When looking for suitable legal support, there are often time constraints and deadlines that are important. This is one of, if not the, most important factor for our residential conveyancing clients. Once you have been assigned a residential conveyancing solicitor you will receive a clear timeline of what you should expect and what our residential property solicitor is working towards.
With our expertise in all conveyancing transactions, we are able to pre warn you of any potential obstacles that may arise, as well as planning ahead to combat these. We will give you an estimated completion date for your conveyancing transaction as early on as possible.
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Our Divorce & Family Law Specialists in Leicester
Our Other Services
Child Arrangements
From the thousands of families we’ve helped to reach child agreements, there is very little we haven’t seen and already dealt with. Our child-centric approach never loses sight of the long-term interests of you and your children. Choosing Shakespeare Martineau as your child custody solicitors provides you with the best chance of securing the right outcome in the fastest possible time frame.
Will Writing
We appreciate it can be difficult to envisage a time when you’re not there to provide for your family and preparing a will can be the last thing on your mind. Planning early, however, gives you and your family peace of mind so you can enjoy your time together in the present. With our expert guidance, clients find the process of preparing a will much less stressful than they may anticipate.
Wherever you are on your journey, our specialists are here to answer any questions you might have
If you’d like to speak to a member of our team, please fill out the enquiry form. We will aim to reply to your query within 2 hours
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