It’s that time of year when people look back on the 12 months just past and, more importantly, make plans for the New Year to come. As the best family lawyer Manchester has to offer we’re always happy to offer advice to people who want to make a change in their life, no matter what the nature of the change they have in mind is. Being a family lawyer Manchester means specialising in dealing with the kind of the kind of difficult family situations which people often put off confronting for fear of the stress and anxiety they might cause. The good news is that if you work with a family lawyer Manchester at Higgins Miller than you’ll enjoy empathetic support as well as expert legal guidance.
As a family lawyer Manchester we specialise in a range of areas covered by family law including the following:
Divorce – we can advise on all aspects of a divorce, from the formal process of filing a petition through to being granted a decree absolute. As a family lawyer Manchester we can also help our clients, wherever possible, to work toward an amicable agreement on issues such as the care of any children involved, any maintenance payments to be made and which spouse will continue to live in the family home. Our aim is always to guide our clients toward an agreement, thus avoiding any appearances in court, but if the details of the divorce are contested we’ll work hard to ensure that the party we represent is treated fairly. We’ll take the same diligent and thorough approach when dealing with the dissolution of a civil partnership.
Children disputes – as a family lawyer Manchester we understand that dealing with the care of any children involved is often the most stressful aspect of a relationship breaking down. We’re used to dealing with children disputes of this kind and will work to resolve matters as calmly as possible, with the welfare of the child or children always being placed at the centre of the process.
Separation agreement – when a couple splits up – whether they are married, civil partners or simply cohabiting – the process of reaching a financial settlement can often be complex and stressful. We help our clients to work through the process of drawing up a separation agreement which represents a fair financial settlement for both parties. Our understanding of concepts such as full disclosure mean that we can ensure our clients understand exactly what they are dealing with in terms of the assets and debts involved in a relationship, and our non-confrontational approach often works to take the bitterness and anger from the process. We know from our experience as a family lawyer Manchester that anyone thinking of ending a relationship should start working on a separation agreement as soon as possible with an expert lawyer, in order to reach a resolution which is fair and binding.
Prenuptial agreement – whether you want to draw up a prenuptial agreement before getting married, or are being asked to agree to one by your future spouse, you should seek the expert advice of a family lawyer Manchester. In simple terms, an agreement of this kind sets out how assets will be divided in the event of a couple divorcing, or a civil partnership ending. Although prenuptial agreements are not yet legally binding, the details set out in one are much more likely to influence any court dealing with a post-divorce dispute if the agreement has been drafted by experts such as those at Higgins Miller. For an unmarried couple wishing to set out what will happen with their joint assets in the event of a split the equivalent of a prenuptial agreement is a cohabitation agreement.
One thing which often dissuades people from seeking the legal advice they need is a concern about how much the process will cost. As a family lawyer Manchester we fully understand that concern, and it is just one of the reasons why we always try to ensure that the cases we handle can be resolved, when possible, without clients having to appear in court. In addition to this we are proud to say that we are one of the few law firms in the UK which still handles family law work which is covered by Legal Aid. The access to Legal Aid has been cut drastically in recent years, but it is still applicable in some family law cases, and our experts will be happy to work on cases of this kind. Our website contains details of the kind of evidence which the Legal Aid Society will need in order to verify your financial situation and a list of websites setting out who is or isn’t eligible for legal aid payments.
If you want to speak to a family lawyer in Manchester about changes you’d like to make please call us on 0161 429 7251 or email us at [email protected]. We’ve recently passed our Cyber Essential accreditation, something which demonstrates our forward-thinking attitude and determination to remain ahead of the competition. The first 20-minute appraisal is provided free of charge, and we’ll give you the first appointment for a fixed fee, so you don’t have to worry about how much our advice is going to cost. If you want to explore our wider charging system then please take a look here.