Milton Keynes Family Solicitors

Ranked in Tier 1 for all family law matters

Our Expertise

Our expert Milton Keynes family solicitors deal with more than just divorce. They are part of a team who are ranked top for all family law matters by both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. Milton Keynes’ team includes Gemma Nicholls-Webber and Tom Burgess – an expert in fertility and surrogacy law.

From resolving the financial issues of relationship breakdown to making arrangements for children, Milton Keynes‘ family team offers specialist legal advice. We can guide you through the complexities of fertility law and donor conception, child maintenance, and school appeals. Our Milton Keynes solicitors can also guide you through civil partnerships, cohabitation agreements, and pre and post-nuptial agreements.

Our solicitors at Milton Keynes will be sensitive and discreet at all times. Gemma Nicholls-Webber and Tom Burgess will use their skills and knowledge to help you get your life back on track. Our approachable family law team offers advice and legal representation equal in quality to top UK law firms, without the high costs.

If you’re based in Buckinghamshire or the South Midlands, contact our family law team for advice.

FAQs

How are pensions dealt with during a divorce?

When the division of pensions is being considered, a pension scheme Cash Equivalent Value may be used as a starting point. The advice of a Pension Actuary may be needed to look at providing an income for both parties on retirement. Offsetting (where one party is compensated for the loss of pension rights by receiving other assets) or earmarking (a percentage of the pension is set aside for the ex-spouse to claim on retirement may) also be considered, which require a Court Order to be effective.

This is a complex area of law and requires careful consideration, so we ensure our clients obtain advice about the right options for them.

What is family mediation?

Rather than going to Court, mediation is a flexible way of resolving disputes, arising around separation or divorce, saving time and money. Our accredited and experienced mediators resolve issues through face-to-face meetings, helping couples arrive at a solution that suits them both.

Mediation enables couples to communicate directly with each other, rather than via solicitors or across a Court Room. Our mediators act as impartial third parties whose job it is to discuss options to help craft a solution to suit both parties and their family. Common topics include childcare, co-parenting plans and resolving the financial issues.

How are divorce costs calculated?

Some of the cases we deal with are very straightforward and for those we offer fixed fee services. For example if you want to deal with the paperwork yourself, a divorce paperwork checking service costs £250 plus VAT. For us to deal with all paperwork, a fixed fee of £600 plus VAT applies, provided both parties agree upon the basis the divorce paperwork is going to be presented to the Court.

If there is disagreement about who is going to file the divorce petition with the Court and upon what basis, we charge for the time spent this would not normally exceed £1,200 plus VAT.

Anyone filing a divorce petition has to pay a separate Court fee which is currently £550.

To learn more about how much it will cost to sort out financial issues, please READ MORE here.

How much will it cost to sort out the financial issues during divorce?

The cost of resolving financial issues between separating or divorcing couple depends upon how contentious those issues are between the parties. Both parties should prepare a Financial Consent Order which sets out how financial issues have been resolved, and if couples can agree matters between themselves then this will involve a fixed fee for dealing with paperwork plus the Court fee. Mediation can help to keep costs to a minimum, whilst resolving difference, but if agreement can’t be reached, going to Court can be a costly exercise,

To learn more about how much it will cost to sort out financial issues, please READ MORE here.

Do I have to pay child maintenance?

If you are separated from your child’s other parent you are required to have child maintenance which is calculated, in most cases, through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) which can seek information from the Inland Revenue. If you earn more than the maximum CMS threshold, the court can award top-up maintenance to the other parent. Calculating payments is not always straightforward, but you can use this calculator: https://www.cmoptions.org/en/calculator/

If you do not agree to the amount of maintenance, you can ask the CMS to re-consider and ultimately appeal the decision to an independent tribunal.

What is the purpose of a Cohabitation Agreement?

There is no such thing as Common Law husband and wife, even if you have lived together for many years. You only acquire the rights of a spouse if you marry or enter into a civil partnership. So if you separate, the only assets which you can claim against are those owned jointly, or that you have made a direct financial contribution to and about which you have agreements in place. If you are planning to cohabit, a Cohabitation Agreement outlines who will contribute towards what during the course of your relationship. This will also establish what rights you both have to each other’s assets and the future claims that you understand will or will not be made.

How do I appeal for a place for my child at school?

It is possible to appeal any decision relating to a school placement – this involves completing a written application, with evidence, where relevant. An appeal is successful if the admission criteria do not comply with the school admissions’ appeal code, if admission arrangements have not been properly followed or the decision to refuse your chid a place was not reasonable.

The appeal is initially made in writing and a hearing date is set. You must comply with the appeal process and timetable. Your appeal is heard by an independent tribunal where evidence will be given about the admission criteria and how it has been applied.

Our Process

Milton Keynes‘ team of family solicitors will help you, your family and particularly your children towards the best possible outcome. We can use alternative dispute resolution methods such as solicitor-led negotiation to avoid high court costs and delays. If going to court is the only option, our friendly Milton Keynes family solicitors are highly experienced and more than capable of supporting you throughout the court process.

With Freeths’ experts in property, tax, employment, trusts, and company law, we have a breadth of understanding. Our knowledge of wealth preservation is useful for preparing agreements for cohabitation and pre-nuptials. Give Tom Burgess or Gemma Nicholls-Webber in Milton Keynes a call to find out how we can help.

Why Choose our Milton Keynes Family Solicitors

We’re located just a short drive away from the city centre of Milton Keynes
Both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners rank our team of family solicitors in the top tier
By using alternative dispute resolution, we help you to avoid costly litigation fees
If court is the only option, we will offer you robust representation, support and clear advice
We offer a range of competitive fees, while still offering quality to rival top city firms

Gemma Nicholls-Webber and Tom Burgess – Experienced family lawyers based in Milton Keynes

Gemma is a Managing Associate in Freeths’ family law team and has specialised in financial matters and arrangements for children for over 10 years. She is recognised by The Legal 500 as a “Next Generation Lawyer” and is a member of Resolution. She can help with all aspects of family law including divorce.

Tom Burgess is a Senior Associate with extensive experience of contested court proceedings. He can help you reach an agreement quickly and cost-effectively by yourself or by negotiating on your behalf. Tom has an interest in the legal issues surrounding children born through surrogacy, donor conception or fertility treatment. He is also responsible for Freeths’ fixed fee divorce and financial settlement services.

Examples of family law cases by our Milton Keynes family solicitors

Assisted a woman to reach a financial settlement at mediation after direct discussions between her and her husband had broken down; avoiding the need for her to issue court proceedings.
Achieved a financial settlement on the basis of voluntary disclosure and agreed arrangements for a child, in a highly contested matter, without the need for court proceedings to be issued.
Completed an international financial settlement involving assets such as properties in England and Belgium and a substantial European Commission pension.
Obtained order in contested proceedings at Royal Courts of Justice for divorce to be dealt with in her client’s country of origin under Sharia law, so saving his overseas inheritance rights.

For further information about our Milton Keynes family solicitors, please contact Tom Burgess, Senior Associate, on 0345 404 1715 or submit a secure enquiry form.