Family
Our specialist Family Team offer a personalised and holistic service to meet all of your family’s legal needs. The team provides tailored support and guidance whatever your circumstances. We appreciate that as a family you will require legal assistance to guide you through making the best possible plan for the future of your family, but also sadly when things go wrong from time to time.
Our highly experienced family lawyers are all members of Resolution, a national group that believes in resolving family disputes in a constructive and non-confrontational manner. The team will ensure we fully understand your position in order to provide you with the best representation possible. Amongst other matters, the team provides expert advice in the following areas:
Divorce & Separation
We understand that going through a relationship breakdown is often a very difficult time for all involved. We provide clear, practical advice on the legal process involved along with support and guidance to help you to make the best possible plan for your future.
Financial Settlement
Getting divorced or dissolving a civil partnership does not automatically deal with any of the financial issues such as transferring properties, money, pensions or incomes. A financial settlement must be dealt with separately in addition to the divorce proceedings as simply getting divorced does not extinguish married couples’ financial claims against one another. Our family lawyers will give you clear, practical and personal advice on what an appropriate financial settlement would be in your circumstances.
Cohabitation Law
The law relating to unmarried couples can be very complex, particularly in relation to property. In some circumstances you may have an interest in property even if you are not the registered legal owner. If you are thinking of living together with your partner, or if you are already doing so, you may wish to consider speaking to us to ensure you have protected yourself in the event that the relationship breaks down. We can also offer you advice and assistance as to your legal rights if you separate.
Prenuptial/Postnuptial Agreements
A Prenuptial Agreement is effectively a contract entered into before you are married or enter into a civil partnership. If you are already married you can enter into a Postnuptial Agreement to achieve the same objective. Our specialist team can assist in drafting prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements.
Child Arrangement Orders
Unfortunately when a relationship breaks down children are often caught in the middle and itis not always easy to agree the arrangements for your children with your ex-partner. If you are unable to agree arrangements for your children (formally known as ‘residence’ and ‘contact’) then our family solicitors can assist by offering you helpful, constructive advice.
Our family lawyers work very closely with our other teams in order to ensure you receive a holistic service, drawing on expertise from across the firm, see below related services.
What our clients say
Simon and Ellie provided excellent support and professional advice, in what was a very difficult, uncertain and highly charged process. They were extremely responsive to any queries that I had, making time to speak to me in person, over the phone or via e-mail – communication of my choosing. In addition to what was always an honest opinion and view point, both Simon and Ellie assisted greatly in supporting me emotionally. I am very grateful for all their work.
I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your outstanding work throughout the divorce process and the financial agreement. Your professionalism, guidance, and support helped me through one of the most difficult periods of my life, and I am extremely grateful for the care and dedication you showed at every stage. Throughout the process, I have learnt a great deal about what is truly important, and I appreciate the clarity and reassurance you provided during what was an emotionally challenging time. Thank you again for everything you have done and I wish you all the very best.
I just want to say thank you so much for all your support and advice throughout this long process!! You’ve been amazing, always answered any questions or worries I had... Can’t believe we have finally got there, at long last! You’ve really helped me to move forward in my life and can now look forward to the future. I will definitely bear you in mind for the future if needed and will absolutely recommend your services to anyone!!
Wanted to say a big thank you for all your help! Just to make you aware that I have recommended you to a friend who is in a similar position, as I was hugely impressed with the way you dealt with the situation, I really felt like you understood the case, and wanted the best for my children which primarily was my concern!
Ellie Davies was my solicitor. I am beyond grateful for all Ellie has done for me. Professional, responsive, understanding, kind, very caring is a brief summary. When away Ellie ensured my case was handed over and nothing paused. Ellie kept me informed of the progress of my case. Any updates I had promptly with advisory action. I never came away from a meeting feeling hopeless, Ellie made me feel I always had someone on my side who understood the difficulty I had and was having. For this I consider Ellie my hero. Costings for her exceptional service I consider acceptable, she gives a 5-star representation. Thank you so much.
I am writing to thank your firm for the exemplary work they have conducted with regard to my divorce and subsequent sale of my property. Special mention to Alisdair Douglas, whose guidance, understanding and wise council has been of immeasurable help in somewhat testing circumstances, as well as the thoroughness and professionalism shown. I have no reservations recommending Leathes Prior to anyone seeking legal help.
Simon was very professional and so knowledgeable. Everyone I dealt with at Leathes Prior was professional and compassionate which took some of the stress of the situation off me. I wish I never had to go through the process but I’m so glad I chose your firm. I am thankful I picked Simon.
Leathes Prior’s team is helpful and professional. Resolution-accredited Alisdair Douglas and rising star Simon Willis excel in divorce, financial remedy and private Children Act matters.
Simon Willis was acting for me in the family court at Norwich Magistrates. I would like to give feedback that I was impressed with Simons professionalism throughout my journey which lasted just under a year all together. Simon was calm and collective and advised me appropriately throughout. When I was down Simon gave me hope. And he was right. Simon had quite an awkward task with my case from many obstacles being put in my way to get me access to my son. Simon stuck with it and gave 110% all the time. I was impressed with Simon's presentation skills within court and his overall professionalism. I would certainly recommend Simon Willis at Leathes Prior for any future family law cases.
Thank you Ellie for your support in working through this with me, you have always been clear and helpful and made this process very easy. I wouldn't hesitate in using Leathes Prior again for any other legal matters and would recommend to others.
That's absolutely brilliant, I'm so pleased. I really cannot thank you enough for your hard work, expertise and clear guidance in handling this matter.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for all the support I received from you all. I was really pleased that the Court granted mostly all that I requested for. The court order from this final hearing has made the year 2023 a very special year to me. My parental rights means the world to me and I was very pleased about the outcome of the hearing. Thank you all so much. I am very grateful indeed.
Thank you very much for all your hard work and patience throughout the stressful process. I feel very fortunate to have instructed you as my solicitor.
You've really been excellent Simon and I have to thank you for your dedication and ability to cut away the fluff and get to the matters of importance. I've really appreciated your skills and general self in my corner throughout. A wholehearted thank you.
I instructed Leathes Prior for my recent divorce. Luckily for me, I was assigned to Ellie who is an absolute gem. She's friendly, professional, replies promptly and handled my case with care, integrity and compassion. I'd highly recommend her to anyone needing expert advice delivered in a gentle way. Thanks Ellie.
Highly recommended. I can’t thank Ellie enough for her support. Family proceedings are incredibly stressful, but she brought calm, clarity and reassurance throughout. She is professional and thorough, and always takes the time to explain things properly, which made a huge difference to me. Beyond her professionalism, Ellie is incredibly approachable and genuinely kind, which makes a significant difference when dealing with sensitive matters. You never feel like just another case — she truly cares. I’m very grateful for her guidance and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.
Thank you to Ellie at Leathes Prior for all the help and support you have given me over the last few weeks. You have been extremely responsive to any queries I have had. You made the process of a postnuptial extremely clear and easy for me. I would not hesitate to use Ellie again and I would happily recommend her to anyone needing support in her specialist area! Thank you again for all of your help!!
After going through a family law case, I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with Leathes Prior. I would highly recommend Ellie Davies to anyone searching for a family law solicitor that is willing to go above and beyond. Ellie was committed to helping my family through a difficult time from the very first consultation. She listened attentively to my situation, asked thoughtful questions, and provided a clear and concise explanation of the legal process. Ellie was always honest, upfront, and available when I needed her. Her expertise, professionalism, and compassionate approach put my family and I at ease throughout a stressful time, ultimately leading to a positive outcome. I am grateful for her help and would not hesitate to work with Ellie again if necessary.
I have worked with Alisdair for two years to complete a divorce process. I found him to be very professional and efficient and he looked after my interests throughout. He was efficient throughout and I would recommend him to anyone needing such legal advice. I see him as very professional and almost a friend when I needed one. He is an excellent lawyer and one that shows Leathes Prior in the best light and is an excellent partner to your business.
Thank you again for the work you have carried out for me in my divorce. It has been very difficult for me due to the manner of the divorce but you have shown sympathy and kindness towards me and the situation I found myself in. Should somebody in the future need the services of a solicitor I will have no hesitation in recommending your practice.
May I take this opportunity to pass my sincere thanks and appreciation for the services Simon provided during my recent divorce process. The situation was long, complex and quite frankly distressing at times. Simon was extremely professional through the process, and I was always feeling that he was doing his very best for me. I always perceived the empathetic side of Simon, not being treated as only a client, but also taking into consideration the nature of my own trials and stresses, and those of our fractured family unit in the advice and direction that he gave. This really made the difference in my case (and my sanity) and probably the reason I have already referred two friends toward him. I would say that Simon is a true professional, a great communicator and a people person. He is surely a credit to Leathes Prior. Thanks Simon.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Simon, who is professional, co-operative, open to different approaches whilst providing solid, common sense advice. With Simon’s support I have been able to process some of the case myself which resulted in much more cost effective outcome. I felt confident that I could reach out to Simon for just the right amount of support, when needed, and I am now certain that I would not have been able to have this kind of lawyer – client relationship elsewhere. I am hoping that I will not be needing Simon’s advice in future, however my experience with Leathes Prior has been so positive, that I will most certainly use your firm for any further legal advice or work I may be needing in future.
I would just like to say that you have, over the past three years on this matter, looked after me exceptionally well. Thank you.
Leathes Prior’s Alisdair Douglas has a full grasp of what needs to be done. His team is easy to deal with, polite and courteous on all aspects of divorce, civil partnerships and Children Act matters.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all your hard and professionalism throughout the proceedings. I always felt you were looking out for my best interests. It was a pleasure doing business with you and the company and will use you again should I need to and will recommend to others.
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