When a marriage breaks down, the prospect of dealing with the divorce or separation process is understandably difficult for all parties. Many people worry that their divorce will quickly become even more complicated and traumatic where the emotional fallout of ending a long-term relationship is combined with lengthy legal proceedings and litigation.
At Sharp Family Law, our specialist divorce solicitors in Bristol strive to remove any conflict from divorces, which means you and your former partner are able to take a constructive approach to your separation. This collaborative approach will not only help to save you time and money, but it is also increases the chances of achieving a positive outcome that is in both of your interests, and is catered towards any children in the relationship.
No matter how complex the circumstances of your divorce may seem, our solicitors always focus on preserving important family relationships and keeping the process non-acrimonious. Our team achieve this by exploring a variety of approaches to reduce conflict, such as constructive negotiation, collaborative law and mediation.
We work hard to ensure that our legal advice and assistance is accessible for all of clients, however and wherever it may be needed.
Sharp Family Law accept work in person and electronically, by email or by filesharing on various platforms. We offer conferences in person, at our offices and by Skype for business, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and FaceTime or other video systems, or by telephone.
To arrange an initial meeting with one of divorce solicitors in Bristol, whether that is in person or electronically, please give us a call or use our simple enquiry form to request a call back.
Our divorce and separation services in Bristol
Divorce and separation
If you are looking to initiate divorce proceedings or you are responding to a divorce petition which has been served by your former partner, you need to be sure that you are making carefully informed decisions that are in the best interests of both you and your family. One such decision includes seeking out legal advice and guidance from our divorce specialists in Bristol.
Our team provide straightforward and concise legal guidance on every step related to the divorce process, which means you can be sure you will understand all of the decisions you need to make, as well as the potential legal issues that may occur.
Our divorce and separation solicitors in Bristol place a strong emphasis on non-confrontational methods of resolving divorces which, in turn, reduce the chances of having to go through costly and disruptive court proceedings.
Divorce and finance
Making arrangements for finances during a divorce can often be a point of contention for many couples, especially where there is disagreement about what each partner has contributed to the marriage.
That is why our divorce and finance solicitors in Bristol strive to approach these matters in a constructive and impartial manner, so we can make sure that you and your partner are able to reach a settlement that is fair and allows you to both move ahead to the next chapter in your lives.
We always look to achieve a financial settlement on your behalf outside of court, putting a range of non-confrontational methods to good use. Our team have a wide range of specific expertise with regards to divorce and finance, including divorce and property.
Children and parenting
No matter what the circumstances of your divorce may be, you will always want to be sure that your children’s wellbeing is taken care of, above all else. Our children and parenting solicitors in Bristol understand this and can offer tailored practical advice that ensures the agreements you make for your children are suitable and sustainable.
We have specialist expertise when it comes to child law and parenting arrangements, which means that you can be certain your children and the future of your family are taken care of.
The service we provide also includes working alongside a number of other experts in this field, including mental health counsellors and child specialists, who can help ensure the needs of your family are met.
Our main approaches to family law in Bristol
The collaborative process involves you and your former spouse working together, with the assistance of your legal representatives, to find a voluntary agreement out of court. This means that you and your former partner have the opportunity to discuss the various practical details related to your divorce in a non-confrontational environment.
Collaborative law replaced the emotionally charged setting of a divorce court, which often serves as a way of creating a divide between you and your former partner.
Collaborative law is governed by a Collaborative Agreement. This agreement is signed by both parties and their respective lawyers. Importantly, the agreement prevents those same lawyers from representing their clients in court, which means everyone will be committed to making the process a success.
Constructive Negotiation
Our Constructive Negotiation solicitors in Bristol can bring you and your former partner together to start round-the-table discussions which aim to help you reach an out-of-court settlement.
Constructive Negotiation works by prompting you and your former partner to have detailed conversations about your situation and the circumstances related to your divorce. This provides an opportunity to create a strategy that allows you to resolve your divorce in a non-acrimonious manner.
The Constructive Negotiation process helps you to better understand exactly what you want to get out of your divorce or separation, as well as allowing you to get a comprehensive understanding of what your former partner is also looking to achieve. This ultimately removes the potential for miscommunication and misunderstandings.
Family mediation
Family mediation is similar to the previous two approaches, but there are some important differences to be aware of. Mediation involves you and your former partner meeting to identify the issues preventing you from reaching an agreement, with the assistance of a neutral family mediator.
A family mediator will do nothing other than mediate the discussion. They are there to bring up certain topics and keep everybody on the same page, but they do not offer any specific legal advice or side with one party.
Court litigation
Our divorce and separation solicitors in Bristol always strive to resolve your divorce out of court. However, there may be certain situations where court litigation is the only logical step forward to achieve a positive outcome.
In these situations, we can work alongside you throughout the entire litigation process, offering robust representation to ensure that you achieve a positive outcome.
Get in touch with our divorce and separation solicitors in Bristol
To arrange an initial meeting with our divorce solicitors in Bristol, whether that be in person or electronically, please give us a call or use our simple online enquiry form to request a call back.