Personal & Family FOR YOU & YOUR. Family Law. Law. Achieving the best result possible for you.

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1 Personal & Family FOR YOU & YOUR Family Law Achieving the best result possible for you Law

2 FAMILY LAW We strive to achieve the best possible result for you We are one of the largest, most experienced and well respected family law teams in the North. We offer an effective, discreet, professional, sensitive and cost effective service, resulting in the best deal possible for you. We have enormous expertise in all areas of law at Sintons, so can access experts on any legal issues which can arise during your case with no delay, keeping your costs to a minimum. It is important that you have complete confidence in your lawyer. We are sure that once you meet us you will like what we have to offer. Feel free to come in to see us for a coffee and a no obligation meeting. We would really like to help you. An excellent Legal 500 team

3 DI VORCE Top 10 Do s and Don ts Coming to a decision to file for divorce is rarely easy, especially where children are concerned. Here are our ten do s and don ts for those looking to extricate themselves from an unhappy marriage or relationship. 1. Be Prepared Work out what your income is, then work out what you and your partner s financial needs are, and those of any children. Prepare a list of your assets, a schedule of your debts and obtain valuations of any pensions that you and your spouse have. 2. Listen to your Lawyer If you are paying for good advice listen! Take it on board even if you do not accept it. Your lawyer is under a duty to advise you but will then represent you in accordance with your wishes (within reason!). You must feel that your lawyer is on your side. Don t take legal advice from friends everyone s divorce is completely different. 3. Negotiate and Compromise You will save yourself stress and costs by coming to an agreement with your ex-partner. Avoid becoming entrenched in your position - keep an open mind. 4. Keep an eye on the Costs Don t spend hundreds of pounds arguing over minor items. Ask for monthly statements of costs from your lawyer so you can budget as you go along. We can offer a fixed fee, as well as regular updates on costs, to help you manage your outgoings. 5. Use the Experts Use mediation for children issues, consult counsellors and therapists if you need it to cope with your divorce and a good divorce lawyer for financial issues. Don t act for yourself even experienced divorce lawyers hire other divorce lawyers to represent them. 6. The Children Don t discuss the details of the divorce with your children. Don t question them about the activities of your ex or use them to pass on messages. Above all don t ask them to choose between you. Don t pay maintenance late but do ensure that if you have agreed contact that you stick to the arrangements. Ask yourself how your children will remember their parents divorce. Will they admire the way you ve conducted it or will they be scarred for life?

4 Clients praised the personalised nature of the service provided Legal Be Realistic Very often the best that can be done in divorce and financial settlements is to limit financial damage. Two households cannot exist at the same level of financial comfort as one unless you are wealthy to start with. The cloth must be cut according to your means. 8. Helping Yourself Be very careful indeed about investigating for yourself the financial dealings of your spouse. There may be criminal penalties if you attempt to read their messages or hack into their computer. Even if your spouse leaves financial documents lying around, the divorce legal rules are very strict as to what you can do. You must take legal advice before taking any action which may incriminate you. 9. Be Patient It takes a little while to be extricated from a marriage or a long relationship. If you have been married for 30 years, it is unrealistic to expect that you will be divorced within two or three months. It may take you or your spouse a long time to accept the breakdown of the marriageor relationship especially if there are children involved. 10. Divorce with Dignity Above all, keep a cool head. Tempting though it may be, do not cause any damage to the property of your spouse or their new partner, or send abusive messages. Your actions may come back to haunt you! Excellent legal knowledge and judgement with an ability to advise in a straightforward and sensitive manner Legal Personal & Family Business Defendant Litigation Healthcare Sintons LLP, The Cube, Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6DB.

5 Involving other specialists Reaching financial settlements often means dealing with complex situations involving business assets, property, pensions, trusts and employment issues. As a full service, multi-skilled legal practice, we draw on the expertise of other specialists in the firm including wealth management, commercial and property lawyers. We also work closely with accountancy firms and financial advisors to provide specific advice tailored to our clients circumstances. DIVORCE & SEPARATION Finances COHABITATION Children issues PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS Civil Partnerships Excellent reputation for fighting hard in defence of her clients interests Chambers Legal Directory Divorce and Separation All legal procedures involved. Finances Advising on financial settlements through negotiation or court proceedings if necessary. Cohabitation Living together agreements and resolving disputes on separation. Collaborative Law Working with you and your spouse to achieve a speedy financial settlement. Children Issues Including contact, residence & parental responsibility. Pre-nuptial and Post-nuptial Agreements Helping couples arrange their financial affairs prior to and post marriage. Civil Partnerships Pre-Registration Agreements and Dissolution, including all related financial negotiations. Personal & Family Business Defendant Litigation Healthcare Sintons LLP, The Cube, Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6DB.

6 Personal & Family CONTACT THE TEAM Katharine Lowthian Partner Tel: MEMBERSHIPS Tim Gray Partner Tel: Steve Freeman Partner Tel: Jo Whitfield Associate Tel: Julie Gallon Senior Legal Assistant Tel: Sintons is a leading provider of legal services. Through our shared values of knowledge, integrity and pragmatism, our people deliver results of real quality and enduring commercial benefit. Personal & Family Business Defendant Litigation sintons-llp Sintons LLP, The Cube, Barrack Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6DB. Sintons LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.