We offer an individualised client- focused service at competitive rates, to help with your divorce or separation and any problems involving children. Belinda is a fully trained collaborative lawyer and will promote this preferred approach to relationship breakdown wherever possible. Don't forget if you are living with a partner and not married you can plan for your future with a Cohabitation Agreement - especially important if you have children.
You can also plan for your marriage with a Prenuptual Agreement. Belinda is a long-standing member of the national organisation for family lawyers, Resolution. Belinda Smith & Co applies the Resolution code of good practice which advocates a fair and conciliatory approach in all family cases.
You can also plan for your marriage with a Prenuptual Agreement. Belinda is a long-standing member of the national organisation for family lawyers, Resolution. Belinda Smith & Co applies the Resolution code of good practice which advocates a fair and conciliatory approach in all family cases.
Services
Marriage Breakdown
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If you have been married for more than a year, and you are sure your marriage has irretrievably broken down, you can start divorce proceedings at a Family Court (now regionally based). Within the next 12 months it is expected that long-awaited reforms to divorce law will be brought into force by Parliament.
Collaborative Law
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If you had the choice between sitting round a table with your partner, each of you having your solicitor present to advise and support you, and reaching solutions together about the challenges of your separation, or arguing your case in front of a court, which would it be?
For many couples the collaborative option has provided a less confrontational, and therefore a less painful, route to arriving at a fair outcome, than the traditional process of divorce or cohabitation split.It is especially effective where there are children who benefit so much more from their parents working together to prioritise their interests.
For many couples the collaborative option has provided a less confrontational, and therefore a less painful, route to arriving at a fair outcome, than the traditional process of divorce or cohabitation split.It is especially effective where there are children who benefit so much more from their parents working together to prioritise their interests.
Cohabitation
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Despite numerous attempts to persuade Parliament to make legal reforms, an unmarried couple who live together, even with children, do not have the rights or protection they would have from a marriage (or a civil partnership). This is certainly the case with cohabiting couples.
It may seem too business like to take precautions against future problems but having a Cohabitation Agreement in place can certainly provide peace of mind in a happy relationship.This is especially so if your home is only owned by one of you, or one of you invested more into your property than the other.
It may seem too business like to take precautions against future problems but having a Cohabitation Agreement in place can certainly provide peace of mind in a happy relationship.This is especially so if your home is only owned by one of you, or one of you invested more into your property than the other.
Prenuptial Agreements
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A recent Supreme Court case has paved the way for family courts to treat nuptial agreements (both pre and post marriage) as properly binding provided certain principles are followed. There may be good reasons for reaching a formal understanding with your fianc(e), for example if you have been married before, by way of a written agreement which will carry weight in any future division of assets, if the worst happens.
Civil Partnerships
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Civil partnerships share many features with marriage and gives similar rights, in respect of housing and pensions for example. A civil partner also requires parental rights over the other partner's child. They share many features with conventional marriages and give similar rights, in respect of housing and pensions for example.
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