Excellent experience start to finish – always very responsive to any queries and the turnaround on the property I was buying was very quick, even in the busy time leading up to stamp duty deadline. Jenny was always very helpful and went above and beyond to close on a short timescale.
Legal fees can be expensive; that is a fact that we cannot escape from. When you are faced with Court proceedings for the most personal of matters, such as arrangements for our children, the prospect of large legal fees can appear crippling, both emotionally and financially.
Historically, solicitors and legal executives have been the only people to turn to. However, over the past few years, the market has changed for many reasons with one the most seismic being the general withdrawal of legal aid, which has left many families without recourse to affordable legal representation. This has led people to either act for themselves or look for alternative representation that appears to be more economic.
Some of these alternative providers have acted for people in the Family Court under the McKenzie Friend provisions, and it is possible to instruct a professional McKenzie friend. While there may be examples of professional service, the exposure of one of these types of companies has been recently laid bare in the press and should be a warning to us all.
Fake reviews, tales of hearings that were not actually listed by the Court, and – most terrifying of all – Judgments held out to be from the Court that were made up and had no legal standing whatsoever. Numerous families across the country have been left with real dilemmas; some may even be facing imprisonment as a result of complying with fake Judgments.
We have had first-hand experience of clients who had attended final hearings only to find their representation did not attend. Fortunately for them, the Court was sympathetic and allowed them to find alternative representation.
In seeking a legal representative, particularly in family matters, we would recommend speaking to those who have used that person’s services. Online reviews are often relied upon, but nothing can compare to a personal recommendation. We would also suggest speaking directly to the lawyer you want to instruct. This should give you an idea of their style as an adviser and advocate so you have the confidence to instruct them.
A great deal of family lawyers are members of Resolution which means they agree to practice in a manner that is geared towards resolving disputes in a child centred way. This approach should help to support you and your separated family balance the arrangements reached, either though negotiation or Court proceedings.
As a firm, we have always been committed to delivering value to our clients as they access a regulated service and receive quality legal advice that is based on years of training and experience. Being in a position to provide such robust representation continues to be a real pleasure and is the cornerstone of everything we do.
If you find yourself facing any kind of family law issues, we urge you to take reliable, regulated and family law representation based on years of training and experience. Call 01457 860606 to arrange an initial consultation with our Family Law Team.
You can read more about Alison here.
