Family Law

Clear, practical legal advice to get the best outcome for your family faster

Family and relationship issues, such as divorce and separation, tend to bring up lots of questions that can really play on your mind, causing you a great deal of stress and confusion. Having your legal position and options clearly explained can make things much easier, putting you on the path to a positive outcome.

At Pearson Hards, we cut through the legal complexities, telling you what you need to know so you can make sense of your situation and be confident of making the right decisions about what happens next. Whether you need urgent help or more general advice, our experienced family law specialists are here for you.

We know that most people don’t like the thought of going to court, especially when dealing with private family issues. Fortunately, thanks to our strong experience with alternative dispute resolution, court proceedings are rarely necessary. Our family lawyers can almost always find the right outcome for you and your loved ones through negotiation, mediation and other non-confrontational approaches, saving you time, money and unnecessary stress.

That said we also have a huge amount of family court experience if matters are not capable of settling, so whatever approach is needed, we can make sure you have the very best representation and empathetic personal support, every step of the way.

You will be given a dedicated and experienced lawyer who will handle your case for you from start to finish. We know how important it is for you to be able to contact them when you need to, particularly when urgent or unexpected matters arise, so we will do our best to be available for you whenever you need.

Book a fixed fee no obligation consultation with our family lawyers

We offer every new family law client a fixed fee no obligation initial consultation for £160+VAT.

To find out more or to book your initial consultation, please call now on 020 8949 9500 or you can request a call back at a time to suit you.

How we can help you with family law

Our family law solicitors provide considered advice on all family and relationship matters, including:

  • Defended and undefended divorce
  • No Fault Divorce
  • Separation
  • Annulment
  • Cohabitee disputes & agreements
  • Private Children Act proceedings
  • Parental responsibility
  • Parental relocation
  • Child Maintenance
  • Paternity Disputes
  • Grandparents’ rights
  • Civil Partnerships
  • Pre and post-nuptial agreements
  • Pre and post-civil partnership agreements
  • Domestic violence
  • Matrimonial finance matters
  • Pension & Asset splitting

How we help you avoid unnecessary conflict in family disputes

When dealing with legal issues involving your family, keeping any conflict to a minimum is likely to be one of your top priorities. This is especially true where you have children, who can often suffer long-term emotional damage from any acrimonious breakdown in their parents’ relationship.

Our family law experts are members of Resolution, a group of lawyers committed to dealing with family disputes in a constructive and non-confrontational way. As such, we always aim to find alternatives to court proceedings wherever possible. This not only helps to reduce the potential for conflict, but it can also allow you to resolve matters much faster and with significantly lower legal fees.

Using mediation for family dispute resolution

Because your best interests and those of your family are most important, we place a strong focus on mediation and other conciliatory channels. Mediation is usually the best way to reach an amicable solution and we have extensive expertise in this area.

Mediation involves you and your spouse or partner having a series of meetings with a trained mediator to try to reach an agreement on how to deal with any issues you are facing. The mediator will make sure both parties have a chance to speak and respond to each other in an open, positive way, while working to keep the process productive and defusing any potential for conflict.

Key advantages of using mediation instead of family court proceedings include allowing you to:

  • Resolve family disputes faster
  • Save on legal fees
  • Maintain a more positive relationship with your former partner
  • Keep the matter between you
  • Stay in control of important decisions about your future and that of your loved ones

Mediation usually lasts for around three to five sessions and any agreement you make can be formalised by applying to a family court for a Consent Order where required, giving you security for the future. Our family team are here to help and support you through the mediation process if this is the route that you look to choose.

Dealing with family court proceedings

While most family law issues can be resolved outside of a court with the right approach, court proceedings may sometimes be necessary to make sure you get the right outcome for you and your loved ones.

If it becomes necessary to take matters to court, we will be with you every step of the way. Our family law solicitors have strong court experience and litigation skills to ensure your case is constructed and presented effectively, as well as being able to provide the emotional support you need for what we recognise can be an intimidating and stressful process.

Our Family Law team regularly represent clients in family court as well as working closely with some of the country’s leading specialist family law barristers, so you can be confident of having the strongest possible advocacy when working with us.

Why Pearson Hards are the right choice for family law

We pride ourselves on being approachable, honest and supportive, delivering the kind of legal expertise and exceptional client service you would expect from the leading London law firms, but without the London price tag.

Our Family Law team is headed by Emma Rothstein, a highly experienced family lawyer with particular expertise in divorce proceedings, financial settlements, arrangements for children, co-habitation and both pre- and post-nuptial agreements.  She is supported by Elena Mitejko, who qualified as a Family lawyer in 2022.

Emma is a Resolution accredited specialist in complex financial and property matters for both high income households with substantial assets and medium to low income households.

Our family law pricing is competitive and we will always keep you appraised of any costs you are likely to incur, while making sure those costs stay proportional to your needs and the desired outcome.

Whether you need urgent advice on an imminent issue, are looking for an experienced family law expert to guide you through a pressured time in your relationship, or want a child law specialist to help you make the right decisions for your family, you can rely on Pearson Hards.

Speak to our family lawyers in New Malden, Surrey now

For realistic advice from highly experienced, specialist family lawyers committed to achieving the goals that matter to you, please speak to us in complete confidence today.

To find out more or to book your initial no obligation consultation, you can call now on 020 8949 9500 or request a call back at a time to suit you.