Our family lawyers can help in a variety of situations, including: 

Unmarried Couples:

Living Together: There’s no such thing as a “common law marriage” in Northern Ireland. If you’re buying a property or cohabiting (living together unmarried), we can draft a cohabitation agreement to protect your assets if your relationship ends. These agreements are no longer enforceable if you marry or enter into a civil-partnership.

New Relationships: We can assist you in protecting your children’s inheritance rights by ensuring that you have the appropriate Wills drafted.

Relationship Breakdown:

Divorce, Separation, Ancillary Relief and Civil Partnership Dissolution: We’ll guide you through the legal process, securing a fair financial settlement while protecting your interests.

Non-Molestation Orders: You can bring an application for a non-molestation order against a spouse, partner of family member. If you feel you are at an immediate risk, you should contact the Police and us as soon as possible and we will advise on the merit of you application as well as making an application to the Court as soon as possible if required. A non-molestation order will prevent the spouse, partner of family member from contacting you and may also include other specific restrictions. You should contact the Police if you feel at immediate risk or harm from a spouse, partner of family member.

Civil Injunctions: If you are being intimated or harassed by a 3rd party not related or whom you are not in a relationship with, you may be able to apply for a civil injunction. A Civil Injunction will prevent the 3rd party from contact with you and may also include other specific restrictions that the 3rd party must abide by. You should contact the Police if you feel at immediate risk or harm from a 3rd party.

Children’s Matters:

Adoption: We’ll navigate the legal processes to secure legal parenthood and address other adoption.

Child Arrangements: Need help negotiating arrangements for child custody, schooling, and child maintenance payments? We can assist. We also help step-parents and grandparents secure visitation rights.

Residency Order: A Residency Order will determine where a child shall live. It will usually be made in favour of a parent but can be made in favour of anyone. A residence order gives parental responsibility to those who are named and do not already have Parental Responsibility.

Contact Orders: A contact Order will determine when and where Contact with a parent or family member will take place.

Prohibited Steps Orders: A Prohibited Steps Order is a court order which will prevent another party from taking a specific action in relation to a child. An example would be to prevent one parent from taking a child out of the country.

Care Orders: When the Trust has concerns about a child, they may bring an application to have responsibility of them.

Child Abduction or Relocation: If your former partner takes your child or wants to move abroad with them, we can help you navigate these situations.