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Divorce is difficult. We’re here to help you untangle the knots.
Our family law solicitors offer a range of legal services dealing with children’s matters.
We help make the financial side of getting a divorce as simple as possible, whilst retaining what you deserve.
Our international divorce lawyers regularly advise on cases involving complex international aspects.
The breakdown of a relationship can often be a difficult and emotional time. Our separation and divorce lawyers support and offer advice on pre-civil partnership agreements, post-civil partnership agreements, civil partnership dissolution, and finances when a civil partnership ends.
Our family law solicitors are experienced in providing support for families experiencing difficult changes in their lives, including breakdowns in relationships and changes to family life.
At Austin Kemp, we’re here to help. Find out more about the divorce process, and other key information with our vast resource section.
Our industry-first Divorce Report combines numerous data sources and internal research, to bring you this specialist report.
Our expert divorce lawyers have listed questions which are commonly asked by our clients, to which we have provided an answer.
Our legal videos break down the complexity and jargon within our profession.
Our Legal Brochures detail the process for each area of Family Law. Download your brochure and learn more about what is involved in this complicated legal topic.
Our Legal Experts have written insights to help you navigate divorce and family law.
Thoroughly excellent service provided via Wikivorce. Was slightly apprehensive of how it would all work, especially at a distance. However, they were swift, efficient, immensely polite, accurate, and gave regular updates. I would recommend them to anyone.
Can't fault my experience in any way. Brilliant advice / available at short notice for any questions and most importantly swiftly achieved the desired result. Found Austin Kemp after feeling HCB Solicitors were not acting in my best interests and I was correct on all fronts - even including having an appreciation for the fact Divorce is already emotional situation. Also, rather than have to query every suggested next step and be charged for the pleasure; As I'd done a little research of my own and was able to challenge their advice - however we pay Solicitors for their expertise and need to put our trust in them. Austin Kemp thankfully achieved that for me during our first conversation I was already reassured they understood what I wanted and how best to achieve it. Resulting in 7-8 months less work and no court appearances as I had been previously advised by HCB. I THANK YOU DEARLY AUSTIN KEMP. I can start my life again earlier and with a healthier bank balance because of you!!!
Amazing service. For the first time in nearly two years I feel less in a spiral and more in control.
Thoroughly professional, straightforward, timely and reasonably priced. I would recommend this firm to anyone. Thank you Emma and Austen Kemp for a great service.
Thank you so much. You were great. I wasted so much time and money with my previous solicitors and only regret I did not contact you earlier. I have dropped a line to Paul to thank him for referring me to you. I hope you enjoyed the red I sent you as a token of our appreciation.
Austin Kemp provides a pragmatic and honest approach to the individual's journey through Family Law issues. They demonstrate a willingness and capacity to respond to challenging and unpredictable circumstances. The professional, yet personal, service is naturally client centred, but with a realistic and informed view of children's needs. And it has been heartening to have such a caring team walk beside me in the long journey.
I cannot recommend highly enough Austin Kemp as a strong, commercially intelligent and the most effective negotiators. Their negotiation skills are second to none. I have seen firsthand the excellent results this team achieves for their clients.
Just want to say thanks so much for everything. You have been brilliant and very patient. I always felt comfortable calling when asking to clarify certain points of the divorce.
I can honestly say that I am more than satisfied with the management of my case and of my then state of mind. I highly recommend this firm. Thank you.
Amandeep Kooner was not prepared to be swayed from a path of professionalism to accommodate my anxiety and frustration. He would not succumb to taking instructions tit for tat response. He ensured at all times that the response he gave reflected a dignified client with a pleasant demeanour. In so doing he demonstrated his commitment to protect and secure my interests and dignity off which I am most grateful.
Although he has a dual approached role which is business and a duty of care, Amandeep Kooner showed concerns for the level of expenditure that I had already put out with no resolve. His team contained the work to the minimum and produced the maximum results. My case was quickly progressed without compromising compassion and understanding.
Very professional service! Explained everything they were doing for my case every step of the way and really helped me to understand how we would proceed. Thank you!
Intellectually bright, hardworking and extremely professional - Amandeep Kooner took my case at it most difficult as I had come to the end of my ability to remain calm and patient. Up until I instructed Austin Kemp, I had lost all hope that any solicitor could convince me in pursuing a non-retaliatory approach as I was losing ground to allegations and fabrications. Tough, hardworking and extremely professional.
And for what reasons would a judge change a residence order? We take a closer look…
A residence order was a court order which specified with whom the child should live.
Residence orders and contact orders have now been replaced with child arrangement orders. If you already have a residence order, there’s no need to re-apply.
The child arrangements order replaces both the old residence order and contact order (which detailed the contact that would take place with the non-resident parent).
For those who already have a residence order, there is no need to reapply for a child arrangements order.
There are many reasons to change a residence order. Maybe the children’s school is now closer to the non-resident parent and living there would shorten their daily commute. In addition, the children may want to live with the other parent for a variety of reasons, such as new siblings or a new partner.
Alternatively, the non-resident parent may be worried that the resident parent is no longer able to look after the children properly.
People have their own personal reasons to change a residence order.
However, before going to court to ask a judge to change a residence order, it’s usually best to discuss the child arrangements with the other parent, to see if you can come to an agreement between yourselves. A solicitor can advise and help you with this, especially if communication is difficult between you and the other parent.
Whatever your reasons to change a residence order, if you cannot reach an agreement between yourselves, attending mediation may help you to find a solution without going to court. Applying to a judge to change a residence order can be expensive and time-consuming.
If you both reach an agreement, it may be possible to make any changes legally binding, by asking your solicitor to draft a consent order for the court to approve. Unless the changes to a residence order are made legally binding, you will not be able to enforce the changes in the future.
If you and the other parent are unable to reach an agreement, you should speak to a solicitor about whether it may be possible to make an application to vary the existing residence order.
If you ask a judge to decide how to change a residence order, Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory & Support Service) will normally be asked to prepare a report, which will include the children’s desires. Cafcass will then make recommendations to the court.
If you are worried that the children are at risk of harm, it’s important to act quickly and seek advice from a solicitor. In this instance, it may be possible to file an urgent application to suspend contact, pending investigation.
The welfare and needs of the child will always be paramount when a judge is considering changing a residence order.
If you want to change a residence order and the other parent agrees, you can apply to make these changes into a legally binding consent order. If the other parent does not agree, you will have to apply to the court to ask a judge to decide how to change the residence order.
Whatever your reasons to change a residence order, it’s always best to seek legal advice before taking action.
A residence order is a court order which names the person with whom the child will live. You may want to apply for a court order of this kind following the breakdown of your relationship with the other parent.
A residence order, or more recently the child arrangements order, is not obligatory. Many parents are able to come to an arrangement about who the child will live with and the contact they will have with the other parent, between themselves. This is known as a ‘family-based arrangement’. If this is not possible, it may be necessary to apply for a court order.
Either parent, or anyone with parental responsibility, can apply for a residence order. Anyone else will need to get permission from the court before applying for one.
Grandparents would have to obtain permission from the courts before applying for a residence order.
It is highly recommended that you seek legal advice from an experienced family solicitor, such as Austin Kemp, before applying for a residence order.
Normally, you will need to attend a mediation information meeting before you can apply for a residence order. In some instances this may not be necessary, such as if there has been domestic abuse.
A residence order can be made for a specified amount of time. It will normally not last beyond a child’s 16th birthday. However, in exceptional circumstances, a residence order may be extended until the child reaches 18 years old.
As we touched on above, applying for a residence order is not necessary in all instances.
If you and the other parent are unable to come to an arrangement between yourselves, you could get help to reach an agreement. For example, you could both attend mediation, where an independent third party, known as a mediator, will aid discussions between you and the other parent, with the aim of reaching an agreement.
Alternatively, you could use collaborative law, where you, the other parent and your respective solicitors, meet to discuss child arrangements.
Our expert family law solicitors can help you with a range of legal issues relating to divorce, including:
For more information call our divorce solicitors on 0845 862 5001 or email mail@austinkemp.co.uk.
Our expert family law solicitors offer a nationwide service. We have client meeting office facilities available, in order to have face-to-face client meetings / conferences as and when required in:
Leeds Office: St Andrew House, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 5JW
Wakefield Office: Market Walk, Wakefield, WF1 1QR
Halifax Office: Old Lane, Halifax, HX3 5WP
Huddersfield Office: Northumberland Street Huddersfield, HD1 1RL
Coventry Office: Warwick Road, Coventry, CV1 2DY
Canary Wharf Office: 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LB
Please contact us for more details.
Find out how we can help you, call us on
0333 311 0925 or email us today.
We offer a free initial consulation for your peace of mind.