The importance of future planning for new parents
Estate planning is essential to protect your family and give you peace of mind in this unpredictable world.
READ MOREDealing with a family issue is often a time of stress and emotional upheaval.
From your first contact with us, we handle your case sympathetically and with care. We listen and understand what you want to achieve, so that we can provide practical and reliable legal advice to resolve your problems and get the best possible outcome for you and your family.
We are leading divorce and family lawyers who specialise in complex financial cases (including cross-border and international cases). We cover all aspects of child and family law and wealth protection. We provide responsive, pragmatic and insightful advice to clients living in Scotland and elsewhere.
We use collaborative approaches wherever possible to minimise conflict and cost. However, we will protect your interests robustly in court when necessary.
Our aim is to help you move forward in a way that achieves your key objectives, whilst minimising the impact on your family, particularly children.
How we can help
Choosing the right family lawyer can make the difference between getting an outcome that you are happy with, or realising too late that you made the wrong decision.
Choices made at this difficult time can have lasting repercussions for you and your family, so it is important your lawyer is someone you can trust and with whom you feel comfortable.
Our experts are approachable and down-to-earth, with varied life experiences and interests. What we all have in common is a passion for problem-solving approaches that minimise the impact of disputes on families, and particularly on any children who are involved.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
Divorce and separation
If you are separating, the wellbeing of your children is likely to be your most urgent concern.
It can be difficult to agree care arrangements, especially in the immediate aftermath of a split. You may be worried about having enough time with your children, or about how they are cared for by the other parent. You may also disagree over expenses such as school fees.
We can provide sympathetic, expert advice on child-related disputes, drawing on tools such as mediation to help you work out sustainable arrangements and put your children’s needs first.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
Often the financial situation of a family is complex. We have helped many families disentangle their finances. Whatever your current arrangements, we fight your corner to achieve the best financial outcome for you.
The process involves gathering and analysing financial information. In some cases, we commission expert reports (for example to discern the value of a company).
We make sure that inherited, gifted and premarital assets are carefully considered and treated in accordance with the relevant legal principles. We give relevant recognition to the financial impact of decisions made during the relationship.
There are various ways to achieve an optimal outcome for you, including selling or transferring property, arranging payments and sharing pensions.
Using a range of options outlined below, we can help you arrive at an arrangement that lets you move forward with confidence.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
You may be able to divorce in Scotland if you are:
- Scottish but living abroad
- a foreign national living in Scotland, or
- your spouse is resident in Scotland
Divorcing in Scotland can be cheaper and easier than proceeding overseas, especially if you don’t speak the language.
If you have a choice, we can also advise on whether Scotland is the best option for your circumstances. This may still be possible even if proceedings have been raised in a foreign court. We give expert advice in international cases including high-conflict situations where foreign proceedings are used to undermine claims to fair financial provision.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
If you are in the public eye (or even if you are not) family disputes may lead to adverse media attention.
The widespread use of social media means anyone can face an invasion of privacy or reputational damage. Our team regularly deals with situations where commentary has escalated conflict and caused distress and embarrassment.
Working with BTO’s Reputation Protection team and media experts, we manage unwanted press and social media attention to safeguard your privacy and reputation.
Some activities may breach the criminal law and if so, our Criminal Defence experts can advise on your options.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
Separation doesn’t automatically mean going to court. Most couples have access to a range of options and our team has experts accredited in all forms of family dispute resolution processes.
- Arbitration: We are experts in Arbitration in family cases, offering the option of appointing a private judge by agreement – a quicker, private way to resolve issues out of court when you can’t agree.
- Collaboration: Our Collaborative lawyers are specially trained in this approach. They will guide you through a separation in a respectful and supportive way, with you and your children’s needs and objectives central to the process.
- Mediation: Our in-house family lawyer mediators are experts in guiding couples and families to find private, tailored solutions.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
Wealth planning and protection for the future
If you are purchasing a property with your partner and are unmarried, the options for retaining your investment in any future separation are more limited than you might expect.
A cohabitation agreement can set out how you will deal with the ownership shares and investments in your property. It can also cover other aspects of your financial arrangements, giving you more control and choice if your relationship breaks down, rather than going to court where the outcome can be unpredictable.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
Many people take significant wealth into a new marriage/civil partnership. While thinking about separation isn’t romantic, it makes sense to protect your assets just in case the worst happens.
A prenuptial or post nuptial agreement can preserve your wealth on separation while providing clarity and certainty for both partners. Not only does this reduce the potential for conflict, but it is also far more cost-effective compared to resolving a dispute over these assets later.
We provide expert advice on all kinds of protective agreements, for people in Scotland, the UK and abroad.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
International families
We understand the complexities facing parties with international connections seeking to both separate and agree arrangements for the care of their children.
A variety of issues, including living arrangements and schooling, can be exacerbated by international issues and concerns.
We are well versed in international child law and can guide you through any cross jurisdictional or overseas disputes in relation the care of your children following separation.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
The number of parents seeking to relocate with their children, has increased significantly.
In Scotland, any parent seeking to relocate in the UK or abroad must have the consent of the “left behind” parent. If they refuse, the dispute can become contentious and complicated for both parties.
Whether you are the parent seeking to move, or the “left behind” parent seeking to prevent your children from moving, we can help. Our experts can help you navigate this particularly emotive and complex legal issue of relocation.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
If a child has been removed from the UK, or brought to the UK from another country by their parent without the other parent’s consent, this may result in the child having been abducted.
Such issues need to be dealt with urgently and efficiently. We have expert knowledge in dealing with international child abduction cases involving countries who are signatories to the Hague Child Abduction Convention.
We have experience in:
- returning children to their home jurisdiction, or
- objecting to a child’s return if it puts the child at grave risk of harm, or force them to live in intolerable circumstances
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
Family Creation
Please see Fertility, Surrogacy & Adoption for more about our services in relation to fertility law and donor conception, surrogacy, co-parenting arrangements and adoption.
Our fees
Every case is different, but we understand that costs are always a concern.
We will always discuss fees with you at the outset and regularly throughout your case. We provide monthly invoices including an itemised breakdown of our charges, so you have complete transparency on costs as the work is done.
Where possible, we will provide cost estimates or fixed or capped fee arrangements at different stages in your case. We can also advise you on funding options depending on your individual circumstances. However, please note we do not offer legal aid.
See Resources to download our Initial Consultation fixed fee and Fertility fixed fee fliers. Or, for Fixed Fees for undefended Divorce, please contact us for details.
Edinburgh: 0131 222 2959 | Glasgow: 0141 225 4848 | Contact us
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