Published 29th Oct 2015
Halloween is nearly upon us and it got the Raworths’ Family Law team thinking about the aspects of family cases which need not be frightening or scary with the right help. Whilst there is a general fear of lawyers in some circumstances, we are really not scary and can, in many situations, help to ensure horror stories do not happen……… below are some examples where we can help avoid any traps and tricks this Halloween.
1. Beware of “Do it yourself” divorce.
Whilst most people wish to keep the costs of separation to an absolute minimum, there are pitfalls of preparing your own divorce petition. If you do not complete the Petition document correctly it could mean 1) you are unable to claim the costs of the divorce against the other party 2) you end up paying more court fees when submitting your financial Consent Order and 3) you have not given the Court the basis to grant a divorce.
We offer a fixed fee service for divorce cases which can take the creeps out of the obtaining of a divorce and give you peace of mind.
2. No Financial Consent Order in place?
An ex partner crawling out from under a stone? Even if you have divorced if you have not entered into a Financial Consent Order setting out how the matrimonial finances are to be dealt with then your ex spouse could still try to make a financial claim against you in the future. A sobering thought if you have just received a huge win on the lottery or have started a dynamic business. It is crucial that you prepare a Consent Order to give that peace of mind and prevent any skeletons coming out of the cupboard.
3.Trick or Treat?
Children are the most important consideration on a separation. Making arrangements for their care following the breakdown of the relationship is one of the most important issues between you and your former partner. We can help you to find ways of agreeing matters that help you find a way forward to a brighter future for you and your children.
4. A new home together?
It is always worth getting tailored advice from a Family Solicitor when you are setting up home with your partner, be that a castle or a semi detached in Harrogate! If you are not married you should think carefully about how you own a property together. Depending on how you agree to own the property will dictate how the property would be divided if the relationship broke down and whether your shares would automatically pass to the other in the event of either of your deaths. We can explain the differences to you and speak to you about whether a Cohabitation Agreement would help you. Getting this advice at an early stage can avoid the horrors which could occur if the relationship breaks down.
5. Looking to marry?
Think very carefully about a Pre Nuptial Agreement to protect any pre marriage wealth.
We all expect our love to be eternal but sometimes life can throw us a curve ball. We can help you to prepare for the future and deal with the present by offering you tailored solutions and peace of mind from the things that go bump in the night. We can advise you about the pros and cons of Pre-Nuptial agreements so that you safeguard any assets you own prior to your intended marriage. This could be right for you to avoid it all being thrown into the matrimonial cauldron if you ever did separate.
For further information please contact Sarah Minors on 01423 5666666 or sarah.minors@raworths.co.uk.
For further information about the Family Unit please visit the website: http://www.raworths.co.uk/site/private_clients/family_children_divorce/
