Family Lawyer Services

Divorce

Going through divorce is an uncomfortable, stressful experience under the best of circumstances. Whether your divorce is amicable or less so and whether you have children or are experiencing financial, pension or property disputes, our team of experts are here to help guide you through this challenging time in your life.

Civil Partnership Dissolution

The process of Civil Partnership Dissolution is very similar to that of divorce. The dissolution process can be started after the first year of the Civil Partnership and – if this is the route you choose to go down – we can support and assist you every step of the way. Alongside the dissolution proceedings we will also assist you in considering the financial settlement in order to resolve all the financial claims.

Financial Settlement

When going through a separation, you and your partner may have assets such as property, savings, investments, and pensions which will need to be considered. We have a wealth of experience in working with separating couples, advising about suitable financial settlements and assisting in the legal proceedings. We are also experienced in working with third parties to obtain independent valuations if that’s required to achieve a fair financial settlement.

Child Arrangements

The impact felt by your children is often the biggest concern for parents who are going through the separation, divorce, or dissolution process. Just some of the challenging arrangements to establish are how often you’ll see them, where this will be, what happens in the holidays, and where they should go to school. We are extremely experienced in helping to achieve amicable agreements when it comes to child arrangements. We often suggest mediation or collaborative law if your case requires a little more structure to ensure the best possible outcome is reached for you and your children.

Marriage (Nuptial) Agreements

Prenuptial agreements have been steadily rising in popularity over the recent years, and they are an effective way to protect your assets when you enter into a marriage where one party has significantly more than the other. We are expert pre-nuptial lawyers in Bristol and, while no one wants to enter a marriage thinking about what could happen if it breaks down, a prenuptial agreement may save you significant legal fees in the future. If you are already married but would like to enter into a similar agreement with your spouse, we can also assist in creating post-nuptial agreements. If you want more information about whether such an agreement could be right for you, please get in touch with our experts.

Cohabitation Agreements

If you own a property and you’re starting to think about moving in with your partner, you may be interested in looking into a Living Together Agreement. This agreement formalises the agreements between the parties regarding property and finances. If you’re interested in finding out more about cohabitation agreements, get in touch with one of our experts and we can explain more.

Separation Deeds

Separation deeds are the first step to take if you are separating from your husband, wife, or civil partner but aren’t yet ready to start the with divorce proceedings or civil dissolution. Separation deeds essentially confirm that you have reached a financial agreement at the point of separation. This can be useful whether or not you intend to start the divorce or dissolution at some point. This step gives you some additional financial certainty as well as time to come to terms with the breakdown of your civil partnership or marriage.

Injunction Orders

Sometimes situations can turn bitter and nasty, and if you ever feel unsafe or harassed, you may apply for an injunction. Whether the threat has been verbal or if you have suffered physical violence, an injunction can give you peace of mind and help to make you feel safer again.

Mediation

If you would like to use a mediation service, we can provide you with support in the form of legal advice and guidance throughout the whole process. Mediation is a popular form of dispute resolution and you can simultaneously deal with financial settlements and child arrangements.

Collaborative Law

Collaborative family law is an approach to law which allows you to work with lawyers to come to an agreement during your divorce process without going to to court. The process is often quicker and less stressful than litigation. At Harbour Family Law we pride ourselves on our wealth of knowledge and experience in collaborative law and our proven track record in assisting separating couples in achieving amicable settlements.