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Family law

In today’s modern world there is no such thing as an ‘average’ family or ‘normal’ relationship. You may be married, living together, or separated. Children, step-children or adopted children are perhaps living with you or living elsewhere. Grandparents or other family members could also be involved. Whatever your situation, relationships can sometimes break down and that’s when turning to a family solicitor can really help you to resolve difficulties quickly.

Whenever there are issues within relationships, it can be a stressful and emotional time but we are here to help make things easier. We’ll work hard to get to know you and understand your own unique situation so that we can help you resolve whatever issues you are facing, allowing you to start planning for a happier future.

Our family law solicitors have in-depth knowledge of all aspects of family law and provide sympathetic legal advice to ensure that the practical implications of any relationship break-up are dealt with properly. We can advise on financial and property matters but we never lose sight of the fact that although practical issues need to be resolved, feelings and emotions are just as important.

At Smith Roddam Solicitors we use plain English - not legal jargon. We’ll explain everything in a way that’s clear and easy to understand. We also offer a free, initial, over-the-phone advice and will explain the costs and timescales involved up front so you always know what to expect.

If children are involved, we know that your priority will be to ensure their welfare and we’ll provide complete support to help you do this. If situations arise where children may be at risk, we’ll work quickly to protect them. Our family law solicitors are experts in dealing with a wide range of disputes involving children. These include disagreements about who the children should live with and arrangements for other family members to see them, disputes over who the father is, or disagreements about who should be responsible for making important decisions in the children’s lives.

One way of resolving relationship difficulties is through mediation. Mediation is a recognised process where the people involved in a dispute can come together with a trained relationship expert who takes on the role of mediator and will help you reach an agreement. Smith Roddam Solicitors provides an expert mediation service that can often help avoid more lengthy or complex legal cases.

If you’re looking for confidential and friendly family law advice, contact us and speak to an experienced family law solicitor today.

Team members

Neil Thompson
Partner
Bishop Auckland
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Catherine Gatenby
Solicitor
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Expert legal advice you can rely on:


Family law

In today’s modern world there is no such thing as an ‘average’ family or ‘normal’ relationship. You may be married, living together, or separated. Children, step-children or adopted children are perhaps living with you or living elsewhere. Grandparents or other family members could also be involved. Whatever your situation, relationships can sometimes break down and that’s when turning to a family solicitor can really help you to resolve difficulties quickly.

Adoption

If you decide to adopt a child, either in the UK or from overseas, having expert legal advice is key. Smith Roddam Solicitors can support you in this highly complex legal area.

Arrangements for children

When a relationship breaks down and children are involved, your main concern will be to protect their wellbeing. So it’s good to know that at Smith Roddam Solicitors we make your children our number one priority too.

Change of name

If you decide to change your name, Smith Roddam Solicitors can help you to do this legally and properly.

Debt, care and benefits

Smith Roddam Solicitors’ lawyers know and understand what it feels like to be worried about matters connected to debt, care and benefits. We help you understand what the law is – and how to get the very best outcome whatever your life brings.

Dissolution

When a civil partnership or same sex marriage breaks down, you may decide it’s time to end the relationship and go your separate ways. Just as with divorce, there is a particular legal process for ending a civil partnership - often known as civil partnership dissolution.

Divorce

If you’re thinking about divorce, it’s good to get legal advice as soon as possible so that you know what your options are. From there, if you go on to decide to file for a divorce, it’s natural to have lots of questions about the process. You’ll want to know what impact divorce will have on your home, possessions and finances. And if you have children, you’ll want to know how to make the right decisions for them too.

Domestic violence

If you’re in a relationship that isn't working for you, either because you feel threatened or are with a violent or abusive partner, it can be difficult to know where to turn to for help - but it’s important not to suffer in silence. Asking for help is the first step to resolving the situation.

Financial arrangements

Deciding to end a relationship is never an easy decision. And whether you’re going through a separation or a divorce, it can be a stressful time. One of the more difficult aspects of any split is agreeing how to deal with financial matters.

Living together

More and more couples are choosing to live together and share their lives without getting married. And whilst emotionally, you may feel no different to a married couple; under the law, couples that live together without getting married do not share the same legal rights as those who marry. This can make things difficult if the relationship breaks down in the future particularly in regards to finance and property. And if children are involved, it’s important to protect their future too.

Prenuptial agreements

Planning a wedding is an exciting time - and also a time when you start thinking about your long-term future. You’re probably looking forward to a long and happy marriage but it’s also natural to wonder what unexpected twists and turns life might bring.

Separation

Making the decision to end a relationship and separate is rarely easy and sometimes you may need professional legal help to ensure the separation process is handled fairly. Whether you’re facing a marriage separation or are ending a relationship after living together, it’s likely that you’ll have lots of questions and concerns. You’ll want to know what will happen regarding your home, possessions and finances. And if children are involved, you’ll want to ensure that their wellbeing is the main priority.

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