Best Child Custody Solicitors in Southampton

Family Mediation is where an independent third party helps you and your partner talk through matters arising from family breakdown. This can include helping you discuss whether you wish to separate and/or divorce and if so how you will go about this. There will also be discussions about finances, property, children and any other matters you need to resolve. Family Mediation is a voluntary process that both parties must want to engage with. It can help protect your parenting relationship moving forward and assist in ensuring you remain on good terms if possible. This can enable all parties to move forward constructively and cost-effectively. Find out more about our mediation services here.

There is no presumption that the children shall live with one parent over the other. The focus will be what is in the best interests for the child(ren). If you cannot agree the Court can be involved and decide. This is the last resort. The Court will encourage you to try and resolve issues in mediation. If where the child(ren) currently resides is placing him/her in immediate danger, then emergency applications can be made to the Court.

Parental Responsibility provides a parent with the rights and responsibilities to be involved, consulted and make welfare decisions for a child in relation to, for example, their education, health, religion and where a child should live.

There is no simple answer to this. The law gives no automatic rights to a partner in these circumstances, but, for example, if you have contributed towards the deposit on a purchase, or provided money for significant improvement to the house, you may have a claim. It is worth getting legal advice and having an agreement drawn up to reflect property ownership, contributions and your intentions.

Yes. Civil Partnerships can be dissolved as long as you have been registered in a Civil Partnership for more than a year. A change in the law in 2004 provides separating Civil Partners almost the same procedure as married couples. The main difference is that a Civil Partnership cannot be dissolved on the basis of adultery.