New Enquiries – Your Questions Answered

At Family Law Partners we recognise that making initial contact with a law firm is often an incredibly difficult step to take. We want to ensure that you feel supported by our team from the outset of your enquiry until the conclusion of your case.

We have therefore set out below some of the most common questions asked at the initial enquiry stage. We hope that this provides you with the reassurance you need to take that initial step and make contact with our team.

Will my partner find out I’ve contacted you?

The information you provide to us is entirely confidential and will not be shared with any third party without your prior consent.  The other party involved in your case will not be notified that you have made contact with us.

There are also steps that can be taken to ensure that our communications remain private. For instance, it is important that you correspond with us from a secure email account that is password protected. If you are concerned that your partner might be able to access your emails, then we advise that you call us in the first instance.  It might also be that you want to consider removing your internet history, to ensure that your partner cannot see you have visited our website.

If your partner is home during the day, it might mean that the times you could speak with us are limited.  This is not a problem at all, please just let us know what time suits you and we will call you accordingly.

What information do I need to provide before my first meeting?

Prior to your initial consultation, we will give you access to ‘Engage’ – our free online tool which allows you, at your own pace, to establish the key details of your situation. Engage will prepare you for our first meeting and ensure that the advice you receive is specific to your needs and delivered without delay.

However, if you do not feel comfortable completing this form at this stage, then that is not a problem at all. We recognise that some people would feel more comfortable saving the details of their situation for the in-person discussion at the first consultation.

My partner controls the finances so I am not able to access any information relating to the family assets. Will you still be able to advise me in respect of my financial separation?

It might be that one party has always taken responsibility for the finances as part of the family dynamic. Alternatively, it might be that you are subject to the financial control of your partner and therefore are unable to access any information that might be relevant to your case.

Financial control is a recognised form of domestic abuse and actions of financial control can in some circumstances form part of a pattern of coercive and controlling behavior.

Our team of lawyers have specialist experience in dealing with circumstances of financial control and will be able to assist you in obtaining the relevant information. This information will not be required prior to your initial consultation and we will still be able to advise you in respect of your financial separation.

Do you offer legal aid?

Unfortunately, we do not offer legal aid. To establish whether you are entitled to legal aid, we suggest you contact: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid

However, there are other ways in which your case can be funded, some of which have been set out below.

I don’t have immediate access to available funds, how will I pay my legal fees?

We recognise that the issue of legal fees and case funding can be hugely stressful.

We can discuss the matter of funding within the initial meeting to ensure you understand the options available to you. We will work with you to help find a solution that works for your specific circumstances. However, it is important to be aware that the following options exist:

• Contributions to legal fees from the other party involved
• Private borrowing from friends or family members
• Commercial borrowing
• Litigation Loans
• Deferred payment of legal fees
• Legal Services payment Orders (LSPOS) –

Farhana Shazady (Director of our London Office) explores these funding options in further detail in her blog post: https://www.familylawpartners.co.uk/blog/how-can-i-fund-my-family-law-case/

How much will my case cost?

Our lawyers work as a team to ensure that your matter is handled proportionally from a cost perspective from the start.  This includes delegating work to members of the team who work at a lower hourly rate where appropriate. Where possible, we will negotiate matters outside of the courtroom, so that you can resolve your case without incurring the costs associated with litigation.

Following your initial consultation, we will provide you with a detailed cost estimate for your matter moving forwards. You will also be provided with updated cost estimates throughout your case to ensure there is full transparency as to your legal fees.

I don’t want to go to court – are there other options?

Yes! At Family Law Partners we believe that the courtroom should be a last resort and saved for those cases where alternative forms of dispute resolution are not possible. In our initial consultation, we can discuss which form of dispute resolution is most appropriate in your case.

The options include the following:

• Solicitor negotiations
• Mediation
• Collaborative Law process
• Arbitration

Are you able to take over my case from another solicitor?

Yes – we often take over cases from other solicitors and we can liaise with your previous solicitor directly in order to transfer your file over with minimum hassle to you.

How do I arrange a meeting with one of your lawyers?

To arrange a meeting with one of our family law specialists then please submit an enquiry on our website or call any one of our offices directly.

We will aim to respond to your enquiry within 24 hours so that we can discuss your individual circumstances further and arrange a formal consultation.

If there is anything we can do to make you feel more comfortable during your first consultation then please just let us know.