There are numerous laws that govern the various stages of family life. Some have their own area of law, such as estate planning, whereas others might come under a more general banner of family law.

Andrew & Andrew offer many legal services to our clients. One of these is acting as a family solicitors in Portsmouth. This covers a range of processes, some of which are covered below.

Divorce

Divorce is one of the most common reasons why someone will use a family solicitors in Portsmouth. It can be broken down into further segments. Some of the following will apply to you whereas others will not.

  • Division of assets – assets might include property, possessions or joint financial holdings such as pensions. It can be quite complex to assess value, future value and the less tangible worth of various aspects in order to make a fair division. This is why it is valuable to involve a solicitor;
  • Maintenance – this is financial support provided by one party to the other. It is a way of redressing any financial imbalance that results from a split;
  • Childcare – what used to be called ‘custody’ is now more commonly known as ‘residency’. This accurately reflects the idea that, while a child may commonly reside with one caregiver, both parents retain parental responsibility, in most cases;
  • Child support – this is obviously influenced by the above. In general, the person with whom the child resides receives support from the other party in order to help with their upkeep. Having parental responsibility for a child means, among other things, being liable for their financial support.

Each divorce process is unique and we do our best to support you on your way to a suitable resolution to your marriage or civil partnership.

Adoption

Not all family legal issues centre on divorce. Adoption is a positive step for families and can happen at any age while a child is under 18. If you go through an adoption agency, they will typically help you with the legal processes involved. As a family solicitors in Portsmouth, we can help you if you wish to take over parental responsibility for a child that is known to you, such as a step-child.