Divorce
DIVORCE LAWYERS NORTH LONDON – NORTH LONDON DIVORCE SOLICITORS
North London Divorce Services
Thinking of getting divorced or separated ? The options open to you…
Informal separation – this is can be achieved by using a separation agreement, provided the separation is fairly amicable and you and your spouse are prepared to negotiate finances, child custody matters and the like.
Legal separation – It is possible to get separated legally through the courts. This may be appropriate where you have been married for less than 12 months and intend to get divorced in the future or the breakdown of your relationship has been less than amicable and your spouse is proving difficult to deal with. Although you need not have been married for any particular length of time, you will have to fulfil particular grounds, which are very similar to those required for a divorce (see below).
Divorce – if you have been married for longer than 12 months and fulfil one of the grounds, you can get divorce. The grounds for divorce are where the respondent (the non-applicant) has committed adultery; the respondent has exhibited “unreasonable behaviour (such as domestic violence); the respondent has abandoned the petitioner (applicant) for five or more years, or petitioner and the respondent have been living separately for two or more years and mutually agree to a divorce.
Whilst getting divorced is a big event in anyone’s life, it does not necessarily have involve highly tense court battles and vast amounts of money. Uncontested divorces (where the respondent agrees to the divorce and there are no disputes over finances in the like) are relatively stress free, administrative in nature and quick (four to six months).
Topical divorce law issues: pre-nuptial agreements – are they valid ?
If you married fairly recently and used a pre-nuptial agreement, you will want to know whether or not they can be relied on in court. Whilst their legal status is still fairly dubious, the courts have indicated that pre-nuptial agreements can be relied on where:
- Both parties to the agreement have sought independent legal advice.
- There has been full and mutual financial disclosure.
- Big life events have not occurred since the agreement was signed, such as the birth of a child.
How North London Solicitors can help…
We can:
- Assist you with applications for divorce and legal separation
- Draft and negotiate separation agreements
- Use mediation to settle disputes (a type of negotiation procedure)
- Represent you at court proceedings
- Resolve disputes over child residence and contact
- Resolve disputes regarding finances and matrimonial property
To find out more about divorce solicitors in North London, please get in touch.