The importance of getting the right specialist legal advice
Choosing the right solicitor is essential when it comes to family and child law, due to the complexity of the law and potential emotional trauma involved in such issues requiring them. Our family law solicitors are specialists – they practice family law only – and are trained in assisting and riding expert legal advice surrounding your rights and the law relating to your case if you are a parent, grandparent or any family member.
Worried about divorce or relationship breakdown? Call us today. We offer a FREE initial phone call and FREE 1/2 hour appointment for all aspects of divorce and family law – face-to-face, on the phone or using Zoom
Meeting your solicitor for the first time
Meeting your solicitor for the first time can be a daunting prospect especially when family issues are up for discussion. It is essential that the solicitor you instruct is someone you are at ease with, especially when they will be advising you on matters relating to your personal life. The pointers below should help you prepare for your first meeting with your solicitor.
• Research your solicitor: for help choosing your solicitor, ask friends for recommendations and research lawyers and firm on the internet. You can tell a lot about a firm from their website and it should detail whether or not they offer alternative methods of dispute resolution such as collaborative law and mediation
• Prepare questions: you will get more out of your meeting if you are prepared so it is a good idea to have your questions written down. You should also provide your solicitors with a summary of your financial situation and any other important information
• Don’t hold back: don’t forget that your solicitor deals with such cases everyday so there is no reason to be embarrassed about any details. Make sure you provide a complete picture
• Bring someone you trust: if it helps, you can bring a friend for support during the meeting
• Concentrate on the practicalities: you are looking for a family lawyer with good listening skills and a personable nature, however first and foremost you want them to be professional. That means that they are not a source of emotional support and you should make sure that they focus on giving you legal advice. Remember that you are paying them and want them to cut to the chase most of the time!
When you visit a solicitor you should not feel pressured into jumping straight into the divorce process. You may simply wish to learn about the options available to you so that you can go away and think about your decision. Here at Bonallack & Bishop, your first 30 minute consultation is FREE of charge and carries no obligations meaning you can discuss through all your options under no pressure. You may even decide that you wish to work things out with your partner and it is not a lawyer’s place to attempt to persuade you otherwise.
Apart from divorce, the most frequent family law issues include:
• Child access or contact
• Parental responsibility including maintenance payments
• Removal from the country
• Child abduction issues
• Paternity disputes
• Change of name deeds
• Where children should live when parents separate or divorce
Ensuring that the impact of any family law dispute on you and your family is as small as possible is the first priority of specialist family law solicitors, all of whom are trained and experienced in dealing with all kinds of family and child law issues. They will often try to sort your disputes out without the need of a court application – an approach we support strongly. Useful tools in the resolution of family matters include family mediation and collaborative law.
The rights of children, quite properly, take priority in family law in England and Wales over the rights of the parents. The Children Act is crystal clear that Family Courts always have to treat the children’s interests as paramount.
Whatever your family problem, our highly experienced team will advise you of your best options and answer any concerns or questions that you have before deciding to proceed. Call them today.
Getting divorced? We have the answer – call our team now
Don’t suffer in silence – get in touch with our family lawyers today to find out how we can help reduce the stress that follows family breakdown.
Don’t delay – to safeguard your legal position, call our team now
- Just call us on FREEPHONE 0800 1404544 or one of our local office numbers;
SALISBURY (01722) 422300
FORDINGBRIDGE (01425) 652110
AMESBURY (01980) 622992
ANDOVER (01264) 364433
• Or fill in the contact form below to book a call back at a time convenient to you