Family Law Department

Our family law team is one of the most respected and experienced in East Kent and recognised as a leading family team by The Legal 500.

It is made up of the Matrimonial Team that specialise in matrimonial and relationship advice and the Care Team that specialises in Public Law Children advice. Both teams deal with Private Law children advice and injunction advice.

The phone number for our Family Department in Margate is 01843 234000. We also have specialists based in Canterbury. Our team can help you with a range of family issues including:

Matrimonial / Relationship Advice

Relationship breakdown

• Divorce and separation
• Alternatives to court - other approaches can significantly reduce the time and cost involved
• Collaborative - this involves both parties committing to resolving their conflicts without resorting to court proceedings and often leads to a more positive outcome
• Resolution Together - a ‘one lawyer, two clients’ approach allows one lawyer to work with and jointly advise couples
• Financial issues including maintenance, property and pensions

Relationship planning

• Pre and post-nuptial agreements
• Co-habiting couples

Private Law Children Advice

• Where a child lives and who they spend time with
• Parental Responsibility (legal rights and responsibilities as a parent)
• Prohibited Steps Orders
• Specific Issue Orders
• Special Guardianship Orders

Public Law Children Advice

• Care Proceedings (Care Order and Supervision Order Applications)
• Emergency Protection Order Applications
• Children in Need
• Child Protection Conferences
• Pre Proceedings Meeting (receipt of a “Letter Before Proceedings”)
• Placement Order Applications
• Adoption Order Applications
• Secure Accommodation Order Applications
• Deprivation of Liberty Applications
• Recovery Order Applications
• Contact with a child in Care

Personal protection

• Non-Molestation Orders
• Occupation Orders
• Forced Marriage Protection Orders