Separation Agreements Solicitors

When you and your spouse or partner make the decision to separate and live apart, obtaining an immediate divorce or dissolution may not be suitable for your situation. A deed of separation, best known as a separation agreement, can provide the measures you need to move forward in a less contentious way.

Our solicitor will listen to your situation and provide the practical guidance you need. We always personalise our advice to ensure it aligns with your and your family’s needs and requirements.

Goodsells Family Law is headed by Family Law specialist Donna Goodsell, who has worked for over two decades with various clients needing Family Law support.  We always ensure the advice and support we provide is of the highest quality.

Read more about Donna Goodsell’s Family Law expertise.

If you and your partner are putting provisions in place or are separating and need support, our solicitor at Goodsells Family Law can provide specialist advice and support. Contact us to find out how we can assist you.

For an initial consultation with our separation solicitor in London, please call 020 7622 2221, email enquiries@goodsellssolicitors.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form to request a call back.

Specialist separation advice for clients across London

During difficult times, you can rest assured you’ll receive clear, practical advice from a solicitor who cares.

Our solicitor can provide expert separation advice, including:

• Separation Agreement advice
• Dealing with property and financial arrangements in a Separation Agreement
• Arrangements for children in a Separation Agreement
• Divorce and civil partnership dissolution

At Goodsells Family Law, we fully understand how difficult it can be when a relationship breaks down and that your circumstances are unique and pressing. We provide expert legal advice with care and sensitivity and work hard to protect your interests and secure the outcomes you desire.

Our Separation Agreement lawyer aims to navigate clients towards less contentious out-of-court approaches, known as alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods. These methods include private negotiation, family mediation and collaborative law, which are often more cost-effective and quicker than court proceedings.

Separation Agreement advice

If you and your partner want to put provisions in place or are not yet ready to seek a divorce or dissolution, a divorce and civil partnership Separation Agreement can be a helpful alternative. To make a Separation Agreement, it’s important to seek legal advice from a professional.

Our solicitor has considerable knowledge in relation to Separation Agreements. We can advise you on what a Separation Agreement is, the benefits of having one and the options available to you.

We can advise you on the following:

• How any joint savings and investments will be divided
• Who will receive any jointly bought items such as cars, furniture, pets, etc.
• What will happen to any debts, loans and overdrafts
• Details of maintenance agreed: such as child maintenance and/or spousal maintenance
• Who will pay school fees etc.

Dealing with property and financial arrangements in a Separation Agreement

When a relationship ends, there are many decisions to be made, specifically concerning property and finances. To ensure your best interests are met, obtaining the assistance of a solicitor during this time is crucial.

Our Separation Agreement solicitor can provide the specialist assistance you need when dealing with property and finances, including advising on the options available to you, how to get spousal maintenance, the amount and frequency.

We can create a Separation Agreement that defines what happens to:

• The family home, whether one person will continue to live there or if the property will be sold
• Mortgage payments
• Rent payments
• Household bills
• Debt
• Assets, including savings, property, investments, personal belongings and how they will be shared
• Pets
• Other outgoings

Arrangements for children in a Separation Agreement

If you and your spouse or partner share children together, separation can be even more difficult to go through than without. For this reason, it is important to make a Separation Agreement that suits your child’s wellbeing and future but also one that is in both your best interests.

Our solicitor, Donna Goodsell has extensive knowledge, to provide our clients with complete confidence in our abilities. In addition, Donna has years of expertise in assisting all types of clients, ranging from those with straightforward matters to others whose circumstances are far more complex.

At Goodsells, our Separation Agreement solicitor will guide you towards more amicable alternative dispute resolution options, including mediation, private negotiation, family mediation and collaborative law.

Our Goodsells Family Law solicitor can help you and your ex make arrangements for your children, including:

• Who will live in the family home
• Who will be the primary carer for the child
• The type of contact the non-resident parent and, possibly, grandparents will have
• A parenting plan for how the children will be raised
• Child maintenance arrangements, including how much will be paid and the frequency of the payments

Divorce and civil partnership dissolution

When and if you decide it is the right time to obtain a divorce or civil partnership dissolution, our divorce and separation solicitor can assist you with the entire process from start to finish, including divorce financial settlements and arrangements for children.

Our divorce solicitor understands how challenging going through a divorce or a civil partnership can be and strives to provide clients with close personal support throughout the entire process.

Excellent value for money

At Goodsells Family Law, it’s important for us to deliver clients competitive and cost-effective legal fees for all Separation Agreement matters.

When you choose to work with our Family Law solicitor, we are always entirely transparent with our fees, making sure we keep them as cost-effective for our clients as possible.

Contact our Separation Agreement lawyer in Clapham, London

No matter the assistance you need with a Separation Agreement, Goodsells Family Law is here to help.

For an initial consultation with our Separation Agreement lawyer in London, please call 020 7622 2221, email enquiries@goodsellssolicitors.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form to request a call back.

Separation Agreement FAQs

What is a Separation Agreement?

A Separation Agreement is a document which outlines how a couple will share assets, family wealth and child responsibilities when their relationship has broken down.

Separation Agreements are appropriate for cohabiting, unmarried couples whose relationship has ended, as well as married and civil partnered couples who wish to separate but, aren't ready to commence divorce proceedings.

Are Separation Agreements enforceable by the courts?

While a Separation Agreement is a formal document, it is not enforceable or officially recognised in law. However, it can be a useful tool to help partners decide how family finances will be handled following separation and how childcare arrangements will work. It can also be a useful starting point for the court if a divorce or civil partnership dissolution is actioned at a later date.

What can a Separation Agreement not do?

Even when two parties have agreed the terms of a Separation Agreement, there is no legal obligation for either party to maintain that agreement. So if, for example, your former partner reneges upon an agreement to pay the mortgage, sadly, a court cannot order them to pay on the basis of the Separation Agreement, although other legal remedies will be available.

If you decide to get a divorce or civil partnership dissolution at a later date, a Separation Agreement cannot dictate to a divorce court how the divorce financial settlement and any child arrangements will work. The court will always seek to ensure that the financial arrangements are fair and equitable for both parties and that the welfare of any children is maintained.

Can a Separation Agreement be changed?

If you want to change the terms of a Separation Agreement, both parties have to agree to the altered terms. However, as with all Separation Agreements, there is no legal obligation to adhere to new arrangements even if both parties agree.

Do I need a Family Lawyer to draw up a Separation Agreement?

No, you do not necessarily need to consult a solicitor to draft a Separation Agreement. However, it is always a good idea to seek professional advice before signing a potentially binding agreement so that you fully understand your legal rights, especially when it comes to finances and children.

Our solicitor can help you to seek full financial disclosure and identify if there are any reasons why you should not sign the Agreement.

If you and your partner have both received independent legal advice prior to signing the Separation Agreement, a court is possibly more likely to agree with the terms if you decide to seek a divorce financial settlement and/or a child arrangements order at a later date.

Contact our Separation Agreement lawyer in Clapham, London

No matter the assistance you need with a Separation Agreement, Goodsells Family Law is here to help.

For an initial consultation with our divorce lawyer in London, please call 020 7622 2221, email enquiries@goodsellssolicitors.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form to request a call back.