Family Law Solicitors in Brighton, East Sussex

Our Expert Family Solicitors are here to help with all aspects of Family Law.

Our department of family solicitors in Brighton is made up of a highly experienced team of family lawyers who are well-regarded specialists in their field, able to offer divorce, mediation and collaborative law as an alternative to Court.

Contact our Family Law Team

The Family Department has achieved rankings in both the leading Law Directories Chambers UK and Legal 500.  Testimonials include “The Family Team at Dean Wilson is led by Julian Hunt who brings experience and compassion to his cases. Julian always puts the clients first and this is part of the ethos of the entire Family Department.  The quality of work is of a London standard but at much lower cost to the client.”

What Our Family Law Solicitors Do

We care about our clients and will support you through the most difficult of times. Listening carefully to establish what you want to achieve, our family solicitors will reduce your stress by dealing with your case quickly, clearly and with care, keeping you informed at all times. Our Family Law Team adopts a proactive approach and will always seek to find an early and practical solution for you.

Equipped to deal with complex and contentious issues in a calm, focused and robust way, we strive to adopt an approach which will be of most benefit to you. Our focus will be on negotiation rather than confrontation.

We often receive recommendations from our peers, barristers and other local professionals, and our experience, expertise and commitment to client service is recognised by Resolution and Chambers UK.

Please call our Family Law Team for a no-obligation chat; it won’t cost you a penny to find out how we can help. We will arrange an early meeting, where we can talk through your options and give you a clear idea of timeframes and costs.

Our family lawyers and solicitors in Brighton deal with all aspects of family breakdown:

Separation and Divorce

Our Family Law Team appreciate that the breakdown of a relationship can be one of the most stressful experiences you can go through. Our team will look to manage this difficult period for you in a sensitive manner and provide clear advice which is specific to your circumstances.

We will look at all the issues arising from the breakdown of the relationship and if you are married we will discuss the divorce process with you whether you are initiating the divorce or responding to it. Our advice is based on years of experience of helping people pick up the pieces of their lives in a way that is appropriate for their family and the most legally beneficial for them.

For further information please download our fact sheet.

Download the Divorce factsheet View online

Financial Disputes

Our focus throughout will be in achieving a fair negotiated financial settlement for you. Only as a measure of last resort should a Judge be required to impose a financial decision upon you as the delay in resolving matters and the costs will be considerable.
We recommend that you take early legal advice to ensure your position is protected and you have an understanding as to what your rights and entitlements may be. A fundamental principle to any negotiation is that there be full and frank disclosure. We can assist you in preparing your financial disclosure and, vitally, ensure that your spouse reciprocates.

Our aim is for an agreement to be reached either through negotiation between yourselves, use of Mediation or the Collaborative process or negotiation between solicitors either outside or within the Court process.

Our Family Law Team look out for your best interests at all times and will endeavour to achieve an outcome that is fair to you having regard to all the circumstances. Our Family Team’s experience enable us to provide clear and comprehensive guidance to assist your decision making. Our Family Team regularly deal with complex financial disputes which involve the home, maintenance, businesses, Trust assets, inheritances and pensions.

For further information please download our fact sheet.

Download the Resolving the Finances factsheet View online

Download the Form E Guidance Notes factsheet View online

Download the Alternatives to Court Dispute factsheet View online

Court and its Alternatives

The Court process has its place and can be necessary where there has been a breakdown of all communication and/or there are issues of non-disclosure or other complex financial issues that need to be determined. In these situations, our experienced family team will guide you through the process and provide you with robust representation whilst always seeking to negotiate an appropriate settlement.

For many, their matter will be much better resolved outside of the Court arena, and we will encourage you and your partner to find a way of settling your affairs which is both amicable and saves time, mental anguish and a significant amount of money. This can be achieved by constructive dialogue with your partner’s lawyer, to include round-table meetings where appropriate, or through resolution by way of Mediation or the Collaborative approach. Many of our clients have drawn considerable benefit from separating with dignity and in a way which is much less traumatic for any child involved.

Julian Hunt can offer both Mediation and the Collaborative process, and his ability to achieve a resolution for his clients has been recognised in Chambers UK 2016. If you would like to find out more about Mediation or the Collaborative process please contact the Family Team and we will be happy to tell you all about it.

Download the Resolving the Finances factsheet View online

Download the Alternatives to Court Dispute factsheet View online

Download the Court Procedure factsheet View online

The Children

Our guiding principle is that whatever else may be at stake the interests of the children must come first and we pride ourselves in putting children at the forefront of our minds at all times.

We will work with you in protecting your children, whether that is to keep them safe or in ensuring that the children benefit from spending time with both their parents free from conflict.

It is all too easy for children to become unwilling pawns in a warring relationship or for their feelings to be suppressed or ignored. We will do everything we can to reduce the impact on your children and, where necessary, we can help you find additional help from organisations that specialise in supporting families in troubled times.

Whilst our primary focus will always be to encourage you to reach a negotiated resolution, either from Mediation or the Collaborative process, our Family Law Team have considerable experience in securing Orders within the Court process, to include complex areas such as children’s relocation.

Download the Children factsheet View online

Download the Alternatives to Court Dispute factsheet View online

Separation Agreements

A Separation Agreement is a written agreement entered into by a couple who wish to stop living together, setting out what they intend to happen to their money, property and other practical issues consequent to their separation.  Separation Agreements are usually entered into by parties who are separating but do not want to divorce or dissolve their Civil Partnership at that time, perhaps for religious or practical reasons.

Separation Agreements are contractual agreements between separating parties dealing with:-

  • The agreement to live apart
  • The obligations to maintain one another and any children of the family
  • The distribution of the assets
  • The arrangements for the children of the family
  • Debt indemnity

A Separation Agreement is a bespoke document drawn up for the two of you for your particular circumstances, so it can cover almost anything you want it to.

A Separation Agreement can be negotiated using Mediation, Collaborative Law or otherwise by using solicitors to talk to each other on your instructions.  We will find the process most suitable for you.

For more information, please call us for a no obligation chat; it will not cost you a penny to find out how we can help.  We will arrange an early meeting, or we can talk through your options and give you a clear idea of timeframes and costs.

Download the Separation Agreements Fact Sheet View online

Pre-Nuptial and Cohabitation Agreements

No one goes into a marriage or embarks on a relationship expecting it to fail but, sadly, statistics show that relationship breakdown is an all too common experience. Disputes over who is entitled to what following a relationship breakdown can become extremely acrimonious and add an unnecessary additional trauma to overcome. Many disputes can be prevented entirely by careful planning and taking legal advice at the outset of the relationship. We can work with you in preparing an Agreement which details what should happen during a relationship and in the event of divorce, separation and bereavement.

If you prefer not to leave things to chance, please contact the Family Team so that we can help you with this sensible future planning.

Download the Cohabitation Agreements Fact Sheet View online

Our Pre-Nuptial Agreement Services View online

You have been an absolute diamond. Not only are you excellent at what you do and the advice you give, you are professional but with such an understanding and empathetic quality that I doubt most solicitors hold and has been so welcomed in my situation.

Could I just express heartfelt gratitude and thanks to everyone at Dean Wilson who was, at any stage, involved in our case.

Without exception, whenever I called or emailed, whoever I spoke to went out of their way to help sort me out – very special mention to Georgina.

Response levels were phenomenal, and whilst the manner was always professional, we both always felt as if everyone had emotional energy invested, and was feeling the pain with us. That meant a very great deal – and it is something that we will always remember – the truly “personal touch” in a professional organisation. Doesn’t happen every day!

Frequently Asked Family Law FAQ’s:

Why do I need a family solicitor?

Our family solicitors are experts and can help you deal with any and all aspects of a family breakdown, in all its complexities. We know these are often highly emotive situations, but we will be your calm and focused advocates in your legal matters. See more family law FAQ’s here.

What options do I have if I want to leave my partner?

If you are thinking of leaving your partner, you can come and talk to our family law experts about your separation options. We can assess your needs and obligations and support you through mediation, the collaborative process or court proceedings. We can also help you with child arrangements. See more family law FAQ’s here.

What are litigation loans?

Litigation loans from professional, regulated lenders can provide a solution to funding legal costs in circumstances where funds are not readily available to the borrower, but where the debt plus interest will be able to be recovered from the settlement awarded at the conclusion of proceedings. Read more on litigation loans here.

How do I apply for a litigation loan?

An application will be submitted on your behalf by your solicitor to the litigation loan company. The lender will consider the amount requested, the stage you are at with your proceedings, the value of the assets in your case, your likelihood of success, and your ability to repay the loan. Once the lender has approved the application, you will need to seek independent legal advice on the terms of loan i.e. not from the solicitor representing you in the divorce proceedings, to ensure that you fully understand the documentation and your obligations. Read more on litigation loans here.


Awards & Accreditations

    family lawyers in brighton award Award-winning family law solicitors

Brighton’s Family Law Solicitors:

Christina BournSenior Legal Assistant & Paralegal

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For all other business enquiries please contact us at
enquiries@deanwilson.co.uk or 01273 249 200.

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