Family Law Solicitors & Divorce Lawyers in St. Albans

Family Law Solicitors, St Albans

There might be challenging times in your life when a family law solicitor can help:

• Have you decided your marriage or relationship is over?
• Do you want to understand the options to resolve arrangements for your children?
• Do you need a pre nuptial or post nuptial agreement to protect assets?
• Are you moving in with your partner and need a cohabitation agreement?

Choosing the right family lawyer for your circumstances is crucial.  Rayden Solicitors are family law specialists, providing tailored, practical solutions in all areas of family law including those with an international element – divorce, relationship breakdown, child arrangements and financial settlements.

We one of the largest specialist family law firms in the country, with offices in St Albans, Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Beaconsfield, Birmingham, Bishop’s Stortford, Epping, Hampstead and London Bridge. However, we pride ourselves on the ability to represent clients to the highest standards irrespective of their geographic location. Our flexible and accessible approach and paramount client focus means that we are able to meet with you at a time and location to suit you. In addition, the large team of experts that you will have at your disposal makes us exceptionally cost effective.

The Best Outcome for You | Family Law Solicitors, St Albans

We understand that you may be contacting us in difficult and emotionally challenging circumstances and we are committed to obtaining the best result for you and your family so our expertise and tough negotiating skills are coupled with sensitivity.  Our approach is always strong, kind and highly efficient. We will work with you to deliver the best outcome − it’s a team effort.

For us, a good resolution of a family matter means one where clients can move on without worry about the future.  Whether you are a newly engaged couple starting your journey towards family life, co habitees who perhaps have already started a family, or parents who are separating or already separated, we want to make sure that the process is as pain free as possible, and in the case of divorce and separation, the emotional wounds inflicted by the process are minimized.  In particular where children are involved, we endeavour to help separated parents achieve an agreement than means they can continue to communicate and focus on their new roles.

Divorce | Family Law Solicitors, St Albans

If divorce is the likely outcome, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will end up in a huge court fight spending thousands of pounds. A good divorce doesn’t mean you get a bad deal.  Likewise, a contested divorce doesn’t always mean you get a better deal.

Divorce can be tough and unhappy and the reality is that some couples who separate cannot reach an agreement without the assistance of a court process.  It may be that a business valuation is needed, or there are question marks about one party’s financial disclosure (undisclosed assets), or other financial complications.  There are, however, a good choice of dispute resolution alternatives which many separating couples use effectively to avoid court altogether:

• Direct discussions and agreement reached between the couple. We call this “kitchen table negotiations”.  Each party will usually take legal advice on whether the agreement they have reached is fair and may ask the lawyers to make the agreement legally binding.
• Mediation – this will involve discussions between the parties with the assistance of a trained mediator who facilitates. Mediation is a voluntary process; it needs goodwill and trust on both sides. The Mediator will not give legal advice and you may need a lawyer in the background to give you independent legal advice on the parameters of settlement.
• Collaborative law – in this process all parties and their solicitors meet together in the same room in a non- confrontational way, agreeing not to go to court. The parties set the agenda and have their lawyers involved in negotiations.
• Solicitor negotiations this process is popular and very often successful. Negotiations are by letter (where offers are exchanged) or can be at round table meetings
• Arbitration is a good alternative to the court process as it involves an expert private judge and takes place in a timetable set by the parties.

At Rayden Solicitors St Albans, we have qualified Arbitrators

At Rayden Solicitors we have qualified Arbitrators, both for children matters and financial matters, we also have qualified Collaborative lawyers and a qualified Mediator who is also one of our Partners.  So we are able to offer the full range of dispute resolution options if you need them. Our Legal Directors in our St Albans office, Che Meakins and Lehna Gardiner, are a qualified Mediator and a qualified Collaborative Lawyer respectively.  They can be contacted via email at [email protected] and [email protected] or on 01727 734260.

Whichever process is right for you, these are our top tips to avoid unnecessary acrimony:

• Encourage communication and transparency in relation to the family finances. Listen to the other argument and have empathy.
• Focus on the children. It may seem trite but try to see the interests of the children at the forefront of the discussions about outcome and appreciate you may each have different viewpoints.
• Don’t undermine each other’s roles in the family dynamic
• Try not to let the grief of the separation cloud your judgment. Remember that timing is crucial- it may take your ex partner longer than you to be able to focus on the future rather than the past.

• Divorce & Separation
• Children Issues
• Pre/post Nups
• Domestic Violence
• Child Abduction
• Grandparents Rights