We can advise, assist and represent you in contested and uncontested divorce proceedings whether you are the Petitioner or the Respondent in your divorce. We will also be able to tell you if your shariah compliant marriage is recognised in England & Wales and whether you even need to obtain an English divorce to end your relationship

You can anul your marriage if it was not legally valid to begin with (i.e. void marriages) or it was defective (i.e. voidable marriages). Examples of these include; if you are closely related, one or both of you were under 16 at the time of marriage, if your marriage has not been consummated or if the other person had a sexually transmitted disease when you got married. We can ascertain in our initial consultation whether annulling your marriage is an option for you.

Sometimes for cultural or religious reasons, you may not want a divorce, but would like the Court to acknowledge that you have legally separated from your spouse so that you can live apart. This will also allow you to seek financial relief from the marriage without the label of a divorce. If you would like to know more, please get in touch.

The breakdown of your marriage can often leave you feeling financially helpless. You may be entitled to more than half of the assets of your marriage if you are the primary carer of the children or if you have given up your career prospects to be the home maker. Why not book an initial consultation with us to assess what your share of the marital assets is likely to be following your divorce.

The family courts can offer protection to victims on the same day they apply for an injunction. This injunction comes with a power of arrest so the police can act quickly to protect you if you need help. We work fast and efficiently to get you the Order you need to safeguard you and any children involved. The Court can also consider an injunctive Order to remove the other person from the family home so that you can carry on living there with the children so you do not have to worry about rehousing yourself.

If your marriage is not recognised in English Law, you will be considered a ‘co-habiting couple’ and the divorce law rules under the Marriage Act will not apply to you. This means that your rights will differ considerably to married couples. You will need evidence of financial contribution and promises made during the course of the relationship to establish whether you have a right to an asset in your partner’s name. Book an initial consultation with us to see where you stand.

As the biological parent of a child, you have certain rights and parental responsibility which the other parent may or may not share with you. Your rights for your child include decisions about their upbringing, schooling, where they live, any changes in their name, their religious orientation and how much time they get to spend with both parents. If you cannot agree on these issues concerning your child, the Court has the power to help. At Goldsmiths Solicitors we will direct you throughout the process to make it simple and hassle free for you.

– Mediation is where you focus on working together to come to a decision about children and/or financial matters. Often after a separation parties can find it difficult to communicate without getting an independent person involved such as a mediator. Family mediation must be appropriate and suitable for all those involved. If suitable, it is a far better and cost-effective approach than getting separate legal representation.

A pre nuptial agreement is signed before a marriage, as it sets out what should happen in the event your marriage does not work out. A post nuptial agreement is a similar type of document, but is signed after the marriage. In recent years both pre and post nuptial agreements are being given more weight and consideration by the Family Courts in England & Wales. Here at Goldsmiths Solicitors we can advise and prepare your agreement well in advance of your impending marriage ceremony or alternatively if you were too occupied with wedding celebrations we can now help with a post nuptial agreement. Get in touch.