Family Law – Separation and Divorce

It is difficult to bring a marriage or civil partnership to an end. There will be an inevitable sense of loss and sadness at the breakdown of the relationship. In addition, there are all sorts of practical consequences that will impact your life and those of any children.

Frank Buttimer & Company understand that this is a difficult time for you and your family and take every measure to handle your case in a sensitive manner.

The aim of our firm is to make things as amicable as possible for all concerned, including children. This may include preparing legally binding agreements which set out how you intend to resolve issues such as child contact and access, financial issues, property and possessions or dealing with debts or even separation arrangements.

We can also assist you if you are proposing to separate from a same-sex partner and wish to formalise the legal aspects of your relationship in a way that is similar to marriage or civil partnership. We can also assist with cohabitants’ rights in common law relationships or civil partnerships where they have not formalised their relationship via marriage or civil partnership.

Following the announcement of the Marriage Act 2015, couples already in a civil partnership can apply to marry or remain as they are. If you marry, your civil partnership is automatically dissolved.

A cohabiting couple is a couple that lives together in an intimate and committed relationship, who are not married to each other and not in a civil partnership. Cohabiting couples can be opposite-sex or same-sex.

Fighting cases through contested hearings if necessary, we will provide advice on all aspects of family law in order to convert your intentions into enforceable legal rights.