Saturday 24 March 2012

Separation and Divorce - How Much Does Divorce Cost?

As well as being very emotional, a divorce will also have a financial challenge that comes with it. The division of financial assets as well as the payment of spousal maintenance and child support will probably need to be sorted out, and you'll find that there are also various other expenses associated with getting divorced.

How Much Will A Divorce Cost?
Apart from the fees which the majority of solicitors will probably demand to deal with a divorce process in England and Wales, there are numerous standard court costs which you'll have to cover too.

Divorce court costs - These will include the £340 cost for filing your petition for divorce, along with the £40 you will have to pay once you get your Decree Absolute. Other costs may well apply dependant upon your circumstances; for instance, applying for a Consent Order when you and your wife or husband have already arrived at an arrangement concerning your financial situation and would like a 'clean-break' divorce is going to cost a further £45.

Solicitor Costs - Just how much a divorce solicitor will cost will depend on two things; their fees and also the complexity of the case. Different firms will charge different fees for their time, and precisely how much time they will have to spend on your case will depend on various factors, such as whether or not the divorce is going to be contested as well as if there will be any children involved. Solicitors fees for a pretty straightforward divorce case might be a few hundred pounds, although a much more complex or drawn out divorce process could cost thousands of pounds.

Divorce & Legal Aid
In some situations, it might be possible to receive Legal Aid to help you cover the expense of your divorce. Legal Aid is not available to everybody, however it's just one option you could look at when wondering about the best way to pay for your divorce process.

For anyone attempting to cope with the cost of a divorce or Family Law problem, our Divorce Solicitors in Bristol can offer a variety of options for handling your problem, whilst making sure the monetary burden is kept to a minimum.

UK Family Law - Cohabitation And What It Really Means For Your Partner And You

Within England there exists a growing trend among couples to live with each other despite the fact that they are not married or joined as a result of a civil union. Often this can be simply because an official partnership is likely, but it might also be because they really feel they do not need to be joined by law in order to prove their commitment to one another. No matter what the reason, adults living together must know that they don't have the exact same legal rights as those who are in a lawful union.

Although people that live together could have heard the term 'common law marriage' and think that it applies to them, they would be mistaken. Family Law throughout England doesn't recognise common law marriage, meaning that cohabiting couples have got significantly fewer rights than husbands and wives and civil partners, should anything were to go wrong with the relationship, or perhaps one of them were to die.

Cohabitation and Property
Due to the fact moving in with each other is basically an emotional decision, a lot of couples do not entirely appreciate the consequences and likely challenges that could be linked to cohabitation. There's a couple of ways in which pairs can look after their legal rights when acquiring a property, just in case the partnership fails to work out.

Exactly How Cohabitation Has An Effect On Finances
By means of being married as well as civil unions couples are given a specific degree of legal protection in regards to their financial situation in the event the union comes to an end. They can in most cases expect to collect their share of the shared assets, and may even be given maintenance on a continuing basis. That isn't the way it is with cohabiting partners.

Parental Rights & Cohabitation
Anytime a lawfully married couple have a baby they are both acknowledged as the mother and father of the child and therefore enjoy all of the accountability and legal rights which come with that. When it comes to cohabiting individuals, the daddy is going to have absolutely no legal rights to the baby except if he's there whenever the birth is officially documented, or the appropriate records and documents are provided that will establish he is the father.

Cohabitation Agreement
A growing number of partners are opting to work with our Divorce Solicitors in Bristol to set up some sort of cohabitation agreement in order to help avoid possible problems with property plus finances. Some partners may even opt to do this right after they have broken up, however when this happens the agreement is just like a regular separation agreement.

There has been a review of the particular laws and regulations regarding the break down of partnerships involving cohabiting couples and it is more than likely that we're going to see some sort of improvement in a lot of these laws and regulations some time soon.

UK Divorce Law - Matters Our Divorce Solicitors Can Help With

Every time there is a family dispute of any sort, it can affect every person involved; and when these disputes are serious situations such as separation, divorce, and custody of the children, most individuals aren't equipped to face these problems alone.

At this stage, you have to have the competent and experienced assistance of Family Law Solicitors. Our Family Solicitors Bristol office will help lessen the stress of family problems, and make sure that you're completely aware of all of your various options.

Our Bristol Family Solicitors can assist you with a variety of Family Law issues, such as:

Divorce Cases
Going through a divorce process could be an emotionally demanding prospect. Our group of Bristol Family Solicitors could support and guide you through the process, giving the legal representation you need, as well as helping to make certain that any stress is kept to the absolute minimum.

Separation
Whether you're married or just cohabiting, there are various points partners should be aware of when they choose to break up. Qualified and experienced attorneys, such as those located at our Family Solicitors Bristol office, will provide the necessary support if you are seeking an official separation.

Spousal Maintenance
Attempting to manage on a reduced income after you and your spouse have separated can be difficult. Our Bristol Family Law Solicitors can provide guidance and important information on the most effective approach to receive the necessary financial support you need.

Child Custody
Among the most delicate and emotionally charged aspects associated with a large number of divorce cases is Child Custody, and this is one matter where you need to receive the best guidance available. Our specialist Bristol Family Law Solicitors can assist you to arrive at a solution that is in the best interests of you and your children.

Child Support Arrangements
Simply because one partner is absent from the home doesn't mean your kids should be affected due to the decrease in your household income. Our Family Solicitors Bristol office will help to ensure you get the economic help you're entitled to as part of any kind of divorce or separation.

International Divorce
The experienced team of international Divorce Solicitors from our Divorce Solicitors Bristol office will help you straighten out all of the intricacies and regional problems that accompany any divorce case where differing countries of origin, overseas employment and foreign assets might be an issue.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
An increasing number of married couples who are eager to steer clear of long and costly court cases are looking at Alternative Dispute Resolution. This consists of procedures like Mediation or Collaborative Family Law which are generally a much more amicable approach to achieving a settlement. Our Bristol Divorce Solicitors are trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution and can offer advice on whether this approach is suitable for your situation.

Cohabitation
There's normally a lot of confusion about the legal rights of both sides if a couple who have been living together choose to go their own ways. Unlike partners who're husband and wife or are in a civil partnership, cohabiting couples don't have the same legal rights and legal protection. Our Family Solicitors Bristol office can advise you about the most effective way to secure your future if there is a breakdown in your relationship.

Protection From Domestic Violence
For various reasons not all romantic relationships work out. This can leave some individuals feeling unhappy, disappointed, and in some cases resentful. In case you're the victim of any type of violence, or perhaps sense danger at all, our Family Law Solicitors Bristol office can provide advice and support, and help make certain you get the protection you require.

Prenups
Some people may have significant possessions which they're bringing with them into the marital relationship or civil partnership. In order to safeguard these possessions in the case of a separation or divorce our Bristol Family Law Solicitors can provide help and advice in relation to a prenuptial agreement.

Separation and Divorce - Divorce Information You Ought To Know

If you think that getting a divorce is going to be the only solution to your marriage problems there are some details you'll need to be aware of before you begin the divorce process. The following information describes some of the important issues to consider, but it is often a good idea to talk with a professional before you make any final decisions. Our Divorce Solicitors in Bristol will be able to answer all your important questions and help guide you through the process.

Grounds For Divorce
In England and Wales, you will only be able to get a divorce, if you can show the court that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. Assuming you have been lawfully married for at least 12 months, you would petition the court for a divorce, based upon one of the following reasons:

  • Infidelity
  • Unreasonable behaviour
  • Desertion
  • Separation for 2 years
  • Separation for 5 years

How Long Does It Take?
There's no fixed time limit for the parties to reach a binding agreement that pleases them both. Just as each relationship differs, so does every divorce, and the additional complications of matters involving finances and any children, as well as the married couple's disposition towards the entire process, is going to have an impact on how long it's going to take to finalise a divorce. In the best case scenario it may take a couple of months, but more complex circumstances might take several years to resolve.

The Cost
There will be standard court costs which will have to be paid to process your divorce, but you'll also have the costs associated with hiring a Divorce Lawyer. These will vary from firm to firm, and will be influenced by the complexity and duration of the divorce process. The most affordable solicitor will not always be the most suitable one, and you should make sure you are satisfied with your chosen representation, and also that your Divorce Solicitor has made you aware of their fees and what the potential costs will be.

Alternatives To Divorce
Whatever the motivation, Separation is an alternative option to divorce, and where a husband and wife only need to be living separately to be regarded as ‘separated'. You can formalise this separation, rather than getting divorced, and even when this may not be desirable, there will probably be specific matters which need to be defined in some form of separation agreement.

Should you be looking at getting a divorce or trying to resolve a Family Law matter, our Divorce Solicitors Bristol office can offer you a choice of solutions and try to work within whatever financial budget you've got.