The Saturday morning handover at the school gates, or on the concourse at Lewisham station, is where a lot of the borough's family law is lived. Arrangements for children after separation are the biggest part of the work of family law solicitors in Lewisham, in a borough with more young families than most, and the first lesson is that court is the last resort: before a parent can apply for a child arrangements order they must normally attend a mediation information and assessment meeting, and many Lewisham parents settle in mediation, with a solicitor turning the agreement into a consent order. Relocation is a common flashpoint, whether to Kent for space or back to a home country for family.
Where the court is needed, Lewisham's cases are heard at the family courts serving south-east London, with Cafcass advising on the children's welfare. Domestic abuse cases move faster: non-molestation and occupation orders can be obtained within days, legal aid is available for the applicant, and the borough's support services know which firms do this work well. Care proceedings brought by Lewisham Council's children's services come with legal aid for parents regardless of means, and a solicitor should be instructed as soon as a pre-proceedings letter arrives.
Unmarried couples are numerous in Brockley, Forest Hill and New Cross, and separation teaches them that the law gives cohabitants far fewer rights than spouses: the home is divided according to who owns what on paper, not according to fairness. A declaration of trust at the time of purchase, or a cohabitation agreement, prevents the worst of it. Prenuptial agreements, grandparents' contact applications and arrangements for the children of overseas marriages complete the list.
Most firms offer a free or fixed-fee first appointment; contested cases are charged hourly.
Family firms serving Lewisham are listed below, verified first. See what family law covers and the general family law solicitors guide; the divorce solicitors in Lewisham page covers the divorce and the finances.
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