The firm of Lloyd Platt & Company specialises in matrimonial and divorce work of all kinds, including:
Adoption
Much has been talked about in the media about adoption which is both confusing and upsetting. This firm deals with adoption matters so that the process is simple and speedy to avoid unnecessary distress for all the parties involved and more particularly the child. We work carefully with the services concerned in collating the necessary information for such smooth transition .
Children’s Matters
This firm deals with a substantive number of children’s issues from simple contact to complex child care cases and residence disputes. There are a substantive number of cases that have regularly been referred to this firm when the father’s contact has been unreasonably withheld and orders, including penal orders, have been obtained to protect their relationship with the children.
Lloyd Platt & Company also works closely with the Equal Parenting Council in relation to their new innovative policies and with the issue of shared residence. We work with specialist children’s Counsel and are well known within the Courts all over England and Wales for our methodical and sensible approach to these issues.
This firm deals with issues involving children in both England and Wales and involving an International element and including where and with whom the children should live, when and how often they should see their non resident parents or extended members of the family and where and how they should be educated.
Where relevant, the parties are referred to mediation, therapy or Relate. The firm’s approach is to find an appropriate solution for all of the family..
Civil Partnerships – Same Sex Couples
Civil Partnerships – Same Sex Couples
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 is due to come into effect in December 2005.
Same sex couples will have the option of registering a Civil Partnership. In order to dissolve such a partnership, there will be a wide range of legal measures brought in, modelling those available to heterosexual couples under the current divorce laws. It is imperative that same sex couples fully understand the significance of the registration of their Civil Partnership and available financial consequences of so doing.
The firm assists in drafting pre-registration agreements.
Co-habitation
The media have invented a term “Common Law Husband and Wife” which does not exist in English Law. If you live together in England and Wales, your relationship is one of cohabitee. On the breakdown of such a relationship there is a complex web of laws covering this area of law. The firm specialises in advising parties on cohabitation agreements so that these difficulties can be avoided. We also advise on settlements of such disputes or in taking matters to Court and cutting through the complex regulations.
This firm was responsible for ground breaking law in relation to the rights of co-habitees where there are children involved. In particular, in relation to the appropriate housing that can be obtained during the child’s minority or the amounts of carer allowance.
The firm assists in drafting co-habitation agreements
Divorce
Divorce in England and Wales is now a complex minefield. During the last five years there have been a huge number of cases dealing with various aspects of the divorce process. This firm’s expertise enables us to deal with:-
- Advice on the jurisdiction and country most appropriate to deal with the case and conflict of law.
- The issue of the divorce proceedings themselves.
- The issues involved within the matter both in relation to children and financial settlements.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence can be perpetrated on both men and women alike. Not only do the recipients have to deal with the physical side of the abuse but often this is accompanied by verbal abuse which can be equally distressing and undermining. This practice prides itself in having a list of therapists who can assist in overcoming such difficulties and in the case of the perpetrator to address the conduct by way of anger management courses. Since the practice invokes a holistic approach to matrimonial work, the recipients of domestic violence have to rebuild their confidence and often we can refer to those who are qualified to help and deal with the legal factors to provide safety and protection.
Financial Settlements on Divorce
This firm's speciality is unravelling both simple and highly complex financial disputes between parties. Whether the case is small or involved high worth cases, our approach is one of finding early resolution. Because of the expertise of the various members of the firm in reading Accountancy Reports, understanding share transactions, off shore trusts and accounts and movement of monies and complex business transactions, companies and tax schemes, we are adept at such cases.
We are not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services to clients because we are members of the Law Society. We can provide these investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide.
Pre-nuptial Agreements
In view of recent case law moving towards the binding nature of pre-nuptial agreements, the firm specialises in drawing up and tailoring such agreements to the parties' needs. These agreements set out clearly what will happen on the breakdown of any marriage.
Whilst these agreements are not totally enforceable in England , the Courts may well take notice of the content in deciding how assets will be dealt with on divorce. In the case of second or third marriages where there are no changes of circumstances the pre-nuptial agreements will mostly be binding.
Please Note: Since our offices are based in the United Kingdom, the service providing electronic services by solicitors of England and Wales is regulated by the Law Society. The Society rules can be accessed by clicking onto www.guide.lawsociety.org.uk.
