Pinniger Finch & Co Solicitors

Family Law

It is a sad fact of life that not all marriages are successful.  At Pinniger Finch, we provide a legal service with that personal touch to help you through what can be a difficult time.  We are one of the few firms in the West Country who still continue to do Legal Aid work through the Legal Services Commission.

We handle a variety of famly matters, including:

  • divorce
  • financial settlements
  • separation and private children matters in connection with Family Law Act proceedings
  • public care proceedings involving children
The court will only grant you a divorce if a judge agrees that your marriage is at an end. The legal term for this is ‘irretrievably broken down’.

In order to show that your marriage has ‘irretrievably broken down’, you must show one of the following:

  • Adultery by your husband or wife
  • Unreasonable behaviour by your husband or wife
  • Desertion for a period of at least two years
  • Two years' separation, if you both agree to the divorce (i.e. with consent)
  • Five years' separation, if there is no agreement to the divorce

After a divorce is finalised, a couple are likely to have many outstanding financial , family and personal issues that they must deal with before they are able to continue with their lives as unmarried individuals.

In particular, a couple may have legal issues concerning their:

  • Home
  • Maintenance
  • Capital
  • Children
If there are children under 18, the court must be satisfied that proper arrangements are being made for their welfare. In most cases, this is achieved by negotiation and agreement between the parties.