Lots of families and couples are able to find lasting solutions without ever needing professional intervention or advice.  Many people do this around their kitchen table, face to face, or in a neutral environment.  If it is appropriate and safe, then we encourage this as it can result in long lasting agreements and better relationships.

Sometimes the decisions that you have reached might need to be converted into a legally binding document, for example, if you are divorcing and need to share equity in your house or your pensions.  Many of our team members are specialist family solicitors who can help you prepare the paperwork and documents you need, on an ad hoc basis.  By involving us earlier, we will be able to help you ‘reality check’ your proposals.  It might even be possible for us to act as the solicitor for both of  you, and for more information on this, see the Separate Together option.

The main disadvantage of this route, is that if you leave this until the end, usually a solicitor can only act for one person, and they have a duty to act in that person’s best interests.  This could mean that they give advice that leads to decisions being unravelled – we will always try and avoid this, unless it is technically or legally impossible to implement.   You can sign a disclaimer waiving your right to take legal advice and simply instruct us to implement the decisions that you have made together.