Divorce and Family
If you are facing separation, wanting to start divorce proceedings, experiencing domestic abuse or other family difficulties, Pinto Potts Solicitors can help guide you through these distressing times.
Equally, if you are in a happy committed relationship, and wish to discuss the legal implications of marriage, co-habitation or civil partnership, Pinto Potts can help.
For over 25 years our Family Law solicitors have been providing assistance to people just like you, with your Family Law needs.
We pride ourselves on handling each and every case with sensitivity and care, and providing one-to-one support. We will take time to listen to you, explain all your options and work hard to provide the best outcome possible for you.
We offer you expert and affordable solutions on all family law matters including:
- Out of hours appointments and home visits available
- Telephone answer phone available 24 hours a day/7 days a week
- Appointments at our local offices in Fleet and Aldershot
- We’re here to help you
Whether you would just like to speak to us for more advice, or you would like to instruct one of our Solicitors to help you with proceedings or Court representation, please call us at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.
Additionally you can use our easy “How Can We Help” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly and discretely by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.
More Information:
Why Pinto Potts? - The Family Law Experts
How can we help you?
At Pinto Potts we pride ourselves in offering a creative, sympathetic and supportive approach to the following:
- Divorce, Separation and dissolution of Civil Partnerships
- Children’s issues
- Financial issues - Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial agreements
- Living together or Cohabitation agreements
- Mediation
- Domestic Abuse & Injunctions
Our commitment to you
- Good, sound, expert advice
- Personal service, tailored to your needs
- One point of contact throughout your case
- 24 hour response to phone calls and emails
- Flexible, to accomodate your schedule
- FREE initial 30 minute consultation
- With you every step of the way
- We have your best interests at heart
- Our rates are transparent and competitive, with no surprises
If you would like to speak with a member of our Family Law team, please call us at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.
Additionally you can use our easy “How Can We Help” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly and discretely by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.
What clients are saying about us
We make a commitment to our Family Law clients to be with them every step of the way, and we stand by what we say every day, with every client. We’re here to help.
That is why we are particularly proud to share with you some of the many Thank You letters and emails we have received:
- “Sarah, it seems appropriate to just reiterate my heart felt gratitude to you for all your help and advice during my case regarding custody of my son, xxxxx.Even though the case came to fruition some time ago there is no doubt that I still battle with some of the very deep scars caused through my violent marriage – but, thanks to you, xxxxx and I are no free and therefore each day is brighter as they say! I am also very aware each day of how lucky I am to have been represented by you and Pinto Potts. In no uncertain terms you helped me to get my life back and ensured a very bright future for xxxxx. I cannot thank you enough for that.I can’t believe that I am currently sorting out xxxxx’s secondary school options already and attending football matches every weekend whilst driving him to every single activity club on this earth during the week! It would not be dramatic to say that this would not have been happening if I hadn’t obtained the Court Order with your expert help.Thank you so very much Sarah”.
- “Thank you so much (Sarah) for your prompt dealing with everything, when I first started I did not know how I would get through it all but you have made it very easy for me”.
- “Please accept my absolute praise for all the work that has been provided for me and very happy to have had you as my representative”.
- “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your thoroughness and efficiency and that of (your assistant)”.
- “I would like to say I was most impressed by the efficiency and courteous manner I received from yourself (Karin) and all your colleagues I had contact with. I should not hesitate to recommend your firm”.
- “I have never forgotten your support to me during my split with my ex-partner”.
- “Thank you very much for all you done to help us and should we need legal services in the future we shall most certainly go back to you”.
- “I am very happy with the work you have done for me and you have given me confidence that I can see this awful period of my life through to the end”.
- “A little note to say a HUGE THANK YOU for everything you have done for me, xxx and xxx (children) over the last 10 months.The last 10 months have been extremely stressful and traumatising for us as a family. With your help, support, advice and guidance the journey from separation last April, to Divorce at the end of December was a lot less daunting.I would like to praise you for the professional manner in which you dealt with my case, and also the speed in which you answered my queries, questions and concerns. You explained everything extremely well and in a way which was easily understood by me.I value and appreciate how you have guided me through the whole Divorce process, offering solutions to problems and difficulties that arose, particularly when we were drawing up the Consent Order.Sarah, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you so much for all that you have done. I know that this is your job, but I believe that you went above and beyond the all of duty. You have been there for me, xxx and xxx every step of the way and I know that the 10 month journey would have been a lot longer and far more difficult and painful without you.YOU HAVE BEEN AMAZING – THANK YOU”.
Meet the Family Law team
If you would like to speak with either Karin or Sarah, please feel free to call them at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.
Additionally you can use our easy “How Can We Help” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly and discretely by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.
Published Articles
Fleet Life – June 2013
Fleet Life – May 2013
Fleet Life – April 2013
Fleet Life – March 2013
FleetLife – February 2013
FleetLife – January 2013
FleetLife – December 2012
FleetLife – November 2012
FleetLife – October 2012
FleetLife – September 2012
Fleet Life – May 2012
Fleet Life – April 2012
Fleet Life – March 2012
Fleet Life – February 2012
Fleet Life – January 2012
If you would like to discuss any of these articles with Karin or Sarah, please feel free to call them at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.
Additionally you can use our easy “How Can We Help” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly and discretely by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.
FREE Family Law Surgery
For over 25 years Pinto Potts Solicitors have provided professional and friendly legal advice to the local community in Hampshire and Surrey.
Our community is important to us, and in these difficult times, we would like to lend a helping hand by hosting a specialist Family Law Surgery, offering advice on all family breakdown and child related issues.
Managing Partner David Pinto explains:
“Through our legal surgery initiative, Pinto Potts Solicitors is committed to ensuring that justice is accessible to all. We also feel that as a successful business ourselves, it is important that we return something back to the community.”
The specialist Family Law surgery is open every Tuesday:
- during the day, between 2-4pm
- in the evening, between 5-7pm
However with significant demand, we can offer additional sessions.
Just give us a call to arrange an appointment, and of course there is no charge.
If you would like to make an appointment to attend our FREE Family Law Surgery, please call us at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.
Additionally you can use our easy “How Can We Help” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly and discretely by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.
Anonymous Sample Cases
Complex financial & tax arrangements
We represented a husband who ran a very successful business with complex tax structures. An independent expert was appointed to report on the value of the business and the effects of the tax schemes. A great deal of time and collaboration with finance/accounting professionals was required, but eventually the parties settled on an overall financial agreement. However on the day of the final hearing, the husband suggested that he would try and seek a reconciliation…
Living together & Sharing property
We represented a co-owner of a property, opposing her ex-boyfriend’s quest to sell the property, where she continued to reside with their child. In this case the client won the right to remain in the property until the child was older. However this area of law remains vague. Many cohabitating individuals who share property assume that they are ‘common law husband and wife’. Unfortunately, there is no such legal status. They can only rely on property rights that may be determined at the outset or early stage of the relationship and do not take into account ‘fairness’. We advise that with cohabitation, if you hold a property jointly, that you commit your ownership to paper and review it on a regular basis to provide clarity and avoid future proceedings.
Mediation to resolve Child Issues
We took on a case where the relationship had ended, the mother had moved on emotionally and was in a new relationship. She wanted to take her two young children from Hampshire to live in the North of England. The father objected, seeing his whole world falling apart. It took a number of mediation sessions to explore their respective anxieties and the practical issues. They both felt that the children were not opening up to either of them, probably for fear of upsetting their parents and therefore agreed that the children would benefit from child consultation. Following one session, both parties were able to see beyond their own needs, focus on the children’s wishes and make the necessary arrangements to positively move on with their lives.
Long Separation, then Divorce
We represented a wife in a case of a 12 year separation. The couple had separated, divided their asset and moved on, but never completed a separation agreement. After 12 years they wanted a divorce. However, since the husband’s financial position had improved significantly over the period, relative to that of the wife, and the husband had a substantial pension, the verbal financial agreement reached all those years ago had to be revisited. We ensured that her client obtained an improved settlement. Although there are advantages and disadvantages, having a separation agreement drafted by solicitors makes legal sense.
No “Clean Break”, Vary Maintenance, Round-Table
We represented a husband whose ex-wife made an application to vary and extend the maintenance just before the financial order was about to finish. This was a case where there had been no clean break, and therefore there remained the possibility of ending up in court again. Fortunately for our client, the application was dismissed following financial disclosure and a round table meeting.
Post-Nuptial Agreement in Divorce, Complex Finances
We dealt with a lengthy contentious financial case dealing with pre-nuptial agreements from South Africa and a number of international properties. This involved obtaining expert advice from various parties in South Africa and obtaining international valuations. The matter was complex and contentious but after a number of hearings was resolved amicably.
High Court Case, International
We have dealt with a difficult High Court case involving a French mother seeking residence of her very young son. Again this had significant foreign elements to deal with as neither party was English. This involved a 5 day hearing in London involving high level Barrister and a number of expert advisers. The mother was successfully granted residence.
Domestic Abuse
We have dealt with a number of difficult and distressing contact cases involving levels of domestic violence against both the client and the children. This has necessitated in the children being represented by their own Solicitors due to the complexities of the cases and for expert evidence to be sought from psychiatrists and psychologists both locally and nationally.
Grandparents Rights
We have successfully represented grandparents seeking contact, and latterly residence, to their young granddaughter which involved a number of emergency applications to the local Courts to ensure the safety of the child.
Contentious, Complex Divorce
We have dealt with all issues for one client including contested divorce proceedings, financial issues and contact matters. All issues were resolved by negotiating a financial settlement with Solicitors acting for the other party. The contact matter was resolved with the assistance of the Court resulting in a shared residence order for the father and his son meaning their strong relationship and bond could continue.
Maintenance Order
We successfully acted for an unmarried mother who wanted to make a claim for additional maintenance for the benefit of her child (in addition to the CSA guidelines).
International Residence and International Finances
We have dealt with a number of divorce cases where the husband or the wife was based abroad (including Cyprus, the Netherlands, Italy, France, USA or Dubai). Although the basic principles remain the same, it does inevitably complicate matters and take longer to resolve. For example, we took on a case where the husband had moved to the USA with new girlfriend without resolving financial matters in his divorce. Our Family Law team analysed American pensions and investment plans on behalf of our client, in order to provide a complete understanding of the international financial disclosure.
This case also had a second phase, when after two years the husband stopped paying maintenance. Proceedings were needed to enforce the UK order in the USA.
Appeals
Cases sometimes do not finish with the final hearing. We represented one party who’s spouse had confirmed in court that she was not in a relationship, but within a few weeks of the hearing, she then purchased a home with her partner. We were able to appeal the order, take the matter back to court and renegotiate an improved deal for our client.
If you would like to speak to us about any of the cases noted above, please call us at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.
Additionally you can use our easy “How Can We Help” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly and discretely by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.
Fixed Fee Scheme
Pinto Potts Solicitors have always been committed to providing legal service to all. Until 2011 we continued to supply legal services to clients who were eligible for Legal Aid. Reluctantly, we had to cease providing this service when it became economically unviable to continue. It is important to note that the Government, in any event, is planning to end Legal Aid except in cases of domestic violence and where the Local Authority have become involved with the children.
If you would like to speak to us about the possibility of Fixed Fee Legal Advice, please call us at Freephone 0800 316 4434 or locally at 01252 361 200 or email us.
Additionally you can use our easy “How Can We Help” service. All you need to do is fill in the form on the right-hand side of the page with the relevant details and we will contact you promptly and discretely by your preferred method. We’re here to help you.
