Family Law - Legal Advice - MKB Law Solicitors

Need trusted legal advice on Family Law and Divorce?

MKB Law is a leading Family Law solicitor based in Belfast. Our team is highly experienced in all aspects of family law namely divorce, separation and child contact. The decision to engage a family lawyer is one not taken lightly, and our team will provide you with only the highest standard of legal advice.

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Why choose MKB Law?

Family Law Experts

We have vast knowledge and experience in all aspects of matrimonial law, child contact and domestic violence matters.

Specialist Sector Accreditation

Our team are all members of the Children Order Panel, a select group of lawyers, and accredited by the Law Society of NI.

Discretion Assured

Clients can be assured of complete confidentiality and discretion throughout their family law matter.

Client Feedback

Clients describe MKB Law as instrumental in helping them through some of the most challenging times in their lives.

How we can help you

Our lawyers offer a complete service for clients concerning all family law matters:

Divorce & Separation

There are five grounds for divorce in Northern Ireland, these are divided into fault and non-fault grounds. If you are going through a separation, divorce or civil partnership dissolution, please seek legal advice as soon as possible.

Financial Settlements

Many factors are considered in financial settlements, including length of the marriage and contributions made by each spouses. A solicitor will ensure such arrangements are recognised by the court to prevent any future disputes.

Child Contact

There are two types of cases involving children: Private Law (part of a divorce or separation) and Public Law (brought by local authorities). Legal issues relating to children, such as child custody and contact, require sensitive handling.

Need trusted and sensitive legal advice on family law?

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Meet the experts

Find out more about our professional and approachable family law team:

Anne Marie Kelly

Anne Marie is a Director and head of the Family Law department at MKB Law. Anne Marie’s caseload covers a broad spectrum, from divorce settlements to Children Order Proceedings.

Anne Marie is a member of the Children Order Panel, NI Guardian Ad Litem Agency, an Advanced Solicitor Advocate and accredited Mediator.

Karen Edwards

Karen specialises in children’s order and matrimonial law, and represents clients in private and public law proceedings, wardship, child abduction and Hague Convention matters.

Karen also provides advice in relation to separation and divorce, contact matters, domestic violence, financial settlements, child and spousal maintenance.

Áine Toner

Áine specialises in matrimonial law; she has considerable experience in advising high net worth individuals in relation to divorce and the financial repercussions following relationship breakdown.

Áine also provides advice and representation in relation to civil partnerships, prenuptial agreements and family law cases.

What our clients say

“I switched to MKB Law as I was not getting anywhere with my previous solicitor and am very glad I did. My case was assigned to Áine Toner who, from our first meeting, got straight to the point and eased the stress and anxiety my case was causing me. It has been a very long and difficult road but thanks to Áine’s knowledge and professionalism, I got the result that I so desperately needed.”

Mr R

“I had contacted several solicitors in Belfast before deciding to use MKB Law simply because Karen took the time to listen, and gave sound and realistic advice. Karen was responsive and professional in all aspects of my case. I am very happy that contact with my daughter has increased and our relationship has flourished because of everyone’s hard work and dedication.”

Mr W

“Thank you to Anne Marie for her help and support during my case. Anne Marie was always honest with me and kept my expectations realistic. She steadily and sensitively guided me through everything. While it will take time to get over this, it helps to have secured a fair and generous settlement which will give myself and my children financial security in the years to come.”

Ms T

Have questions about family law?

What are the different grounds for divorce?

In Northern Ireland, there are five grounds for divorce: Non-Fault Grounds – two years’ separation (when the other spouse consents to the divorce) or five years’ separation (when the other spouse does not give their consent) and Fault Grounds – unreasonable behaviour, adultery or desertion.

You may find yourself in a position of not meeting any of these grounds however you will be sure of the fact that your marriage has irretrievably broken down either through a breakdown of communication or a combination of other factors.

What financial settlement will I receive after divorce?

When it comes to establishing the extent of the financial settlement that a spouse will receive, there is no set formula used by the courts. Instead, broad discretion is afforded to judges in deciding what is fair. A range of factors are considered, including the length of the marriage and the contributions made by each of the spouses. Our solicitors will act on your behalf to ensure that these arrangements are recognised by the court to prevent any disputes arising in the future.

What should I do if I want to get custody of my child?

If an agreement cannot be reached as to where a child will live and what contact the other patent will have, an Application may be made to the Family Proceedings Court for one or more of the following: A Residence Order (seeking to familarise who the child will live with), Contact Order (defining the duration and frequency of contact for the non-residential parent) or A Specific Issue Order (when and where the child can be taken on holiday or what surname the child should be known as are two examples).

What should I do if I need help with Care Order Proceedings?

Care Proceeding Cases, where a local Authority is seeking an Order from the Family Court to promote the welfare of a child, are complex and challenging. Our team can represent you if the local authority either threatens Proceedings for a Care Order or a Supervision Order or have already removed the children on foot of an Emergency Protection Order.

What should I do if I’m in an abusive relationship?

A person can apply for a Non Molestation Order to prevent another individual from “molesting them”. This includes the use of violence, violent threats, pestering, harassment, intimidation. A person may apply to a Court for an Occupation Order to declare, confer or regulate occupation rights in the family home (it does not affect ownership of the home). An Exclusion Order is a further instrument of safety and is granted where the abuse is so serious the perpetrator must be kept out of the matrimonial home until there is a full Hearing.

We can assist victims of domestic violence to make sure that they have access to the Civil and Criminal Law to afford them the maximum protection.

What is a Pre-Nuptial Agreement and how do I make one?

We can advise couples who are contemplating marriage as to how they can enter in to a written formal agreement which sets out a plan of what will happen to their assets in the event of a divorce. Certain minimum safeguards should be met: provision must be made for children, both parties should have taken independent legal advice, the agreement must not be profoundly unjust and full financial Disclosure must have been made.

The Agreement must have been drawn up at least 21 days prior to the marriage.

What are the costs of a family law case?

We aim to be as transparent as possible with our fees and feel that our divorce and family law cost framework is a fair reflection of the work carried out by our expert team. The table below details our cost structure for divorce and child contact/residence services:

OUR SERVICE	OUR FEE	VAT	COURT FEE	TOTAL
Fixed Fee Divorce/Judicial Separation High Court	£1,250.00	£250.00	£751.00	£2,251.00
Fixed Fee Divorce/Judicial Separation County Court	£900.00	£180.00	£686.00	£1,766.00
Contested Divorce	£2,000.00	£400.00		£2,400.00
Drafting Matrimonial Agreement	£1,000.00	£200.00		£1,200.00
Pre-Nuptial Agreement	£2,000.00	£400.00		£2,400.00
Residence/Contact Agreement	£1,000.00	£200.00		£1,200.00
Parental Responsibility Agreement	£750.00	£150.00		£900.00

The individual circumstances or complexity of your case may exclude you from the fixed fee framework outlined above, and may include additional fees. This will be discussed at your first consultation. Please note that in a High Court Divorce case, Counsel will be instructed and a fee will apply.