Family Law Group

When life takes an unexpected turn and family relationships break down, the decisions you face can feel completely overwhelming. At Birch & Co, our family law group is on hand to give you clarity, honest advice, and specialist legal support, so that whatever comes next, you are not facing it alone.

Separation, divorce, and disputes about money or children are not simply legal problems. They touch every part of your life. You need a family law team that understands the impact the issue may have on you and your family and does all it can to resolve it as swiftly and cost-effectively as possible.

Reach out to Birch & Co’s specialist and supportive team today. Call us on 0191 284 5030 or complete a Free Online Enquiry now to get a bespoke fixed price estimate.

“Not in any way intimidating. Their positive attitude takes the stress out of situations.” (Ms Scott)

What Our Family Law Group Does

Our family law group handles the full range of matters that arise when relationships end or families face difficult circumstances. Divorce and judicial separation, financial settlements, arrangements for children, cohabitation disputes, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and applications for injunctions all fall within our expertise. We act for clients across Newcastle, the Northeast, and nationally, and we are easy to reach. Our Gosforth office has free parking, and a single call to our team is often all it takes to get some initial clarity on where you stand.

If you are going through a divorce or are at the point of considering separation, we can help you understand your legal position early, before decisions are made that are difficult to reverse later.

Divorce And Financial Settlements

Since the introduction of no-fault divorce, ending a marriage has become less confrontational than it once was. Couples can now apply jointly without one party needing to attribute blame to the other, which reduces conflict at an already painful time. However, obtaining the divorce itself is only part of the process. Financial arrangements need to be resolved separately, and this is almost always where the real complexity lies.

Courts in England and Wales have considerable discretion when dividing assets. The law requires outcomes to be fair, guided by the factors in section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. The welfare of any children is the first consideration, but the court will also weigh up the assets and earning capacity of each party, their needs, and the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage. The Law Commission has recently highlighted the unpredictability of the current financial remedies system, and government reform remains on the horizon. Until that reform arrives, outcomes are heavily fact-specific and personalised legal advice is essential.

We can help you understand how your specific assets are likely to be approached and work with you to reach an agreement that protects your financial future.

Pensions And Property

Two of the most significant financial considerations in any divorce are the family home and pension provision. Pensions are frequently the largest single asset in a marriage, yet they are often overlooked during settlement negotiations, sometimes with serious long-term consequences. Our family law group advises on pension sharing orders and the range of approaches available, so that you are not left at a financial disadvantage years down the line.

Children And Parenting Arrangements

For many clients, arrangements for children are the most pressing concern when a relationship ends. The law places the welfare of the child above everything else, and the courts focus on what outcome genuinely serves the child rather than the preferences of either parent.

Most families are able to resolve arrangements without court involvement, through direct negotiation or with the help of a mediator. Where agreement cannot be reached, applications for child arrangements orders may become necessary. We can guide you through that process in a way that keeps conflict to a minimum and, where circumstances allow, preserves a workable relationship between both parents going forward.

We also regularly advise grandparents on applications for contact where those important family relationships have broken down.

Cohabiting Couples

Cohabitation is now the fastest-growing family type in England and Wales, and it is also one of the most legally misunderstood. There is no such thing as common law marriage in English law. Couples who live together without marrying have very limited legal rights if the relationship ends, regardless of how long they have lived together or how intertwined their finances have become.

Government reform to cohabitation law has been discussed for years, but legislation has not yet been passed. Until it is, formal legal arrangements are the only reliable protection. We can help you put a cohabitation agreement in place at the start of a relationship or partway through it or advise you on the options available if a relationship has already broken down.

Pre-Nuptial And Post-Nuptial Agreements

Pre-nuptial agreements are not automatically binding in England and Wales, but courts have shown increasing willingness to uphold them where they were entered into freely, with full financial disclosure, and without pressure. For anyone entering a marriage with significant assets, a business interest, or family wealth to protect, a well-drafted pre-nuptial agreement remains one of the most effective tools available.

Our family law group drafts pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements that are built to withstand scrutiny and reflect your specific circumstances.

Getting Help

The earlier you take advice on your family law matter, the more options remain open to you. Our family law group takes a pragmatic, supportive approach that is firmly focused on protecting your position throughout.