The Family department is headed by Susan Jago. As well as being an accredited member of Resolution (formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association), Susan is on the Family Law Panel of The Law Society. Susan practices as a Collaborative Lawyer and is also an accredited Mediator, having qualified with the Family Mediator's Association.
Divorce and related Financial Settlements
The Family Law team handle the full range of financial settlements and recognise the importance of Pension Sharing within the split of family assets. The team oversee divorces and nullity proceedings of all types, including those with an international element.
Children
The team pride themselves on being very active in resolving all manner of disputes involving children, including private residence, contact and parental responsibility disputes. Sensitive to the emotional issues involved, they take all necessary steps to conclude disputes as amicably as possible.
Collaborative Law
Collaborative Law is the new Dispute Resolution model in which both parties to the dispute retain separate, specially trained lawyers, whose only job is to help them settle matters without Court proceedings. All participants agree to work together in good faith, to try to find solutions to the legitimate needs and entitlement of both parties.
Mediation
Mediation is an alternative to litigation for resolving disputes relating to relationship breakdowns. Susan Jago is a qualified Mediator. In mediation the parties to the breakdown meet together with Susan in an effort to resolve disputes amicably and without recourse to the Courts. In many cases, this is an effective way of resolving the dispute and reduces to a minimum the costs involved in resolving the issues resulting from the relationship breakdown. If mediation does not work, the parties may have to resort to litigation.
Domestic Violence
The Family Law team are able to efficiently and effectively make emergency applications to the Court for Orders necessary to protect those suffering domestic abuse. They are represented on the Domestic Violence Forum and are actively involved with the Women's Aid Movement.
Pre-nuptial/Cohabitation Agreements
Before getting married or setting up home together, couples often wish to make clear the financial and other arrangements that are to exist between them. Our team of specialist family lawyers can draw up appropriate agreements to reflect these arrangements. Such agreements help to reduce the likelihood of disputes in the future and are increasingly recognised by the courts in the event of relationship breakdown - Read More
