LGBTQIA Family Law

Gay and lesbian couples now have the same rights to marriage as heterosexual couples, but there are still a number of unique considerations for LGBTQIA families.

LGBTQIA couples and families have many of the same legal issues to deal with as heterosexual couples, as well as various matters unique to same-sex relationships. Getting sensitive advice from solicitors with experience of dealing with LGBTQIA family law makes sure that you’ll receive the level of support your family needs.

Timms has worked with and represented LGBTQIA families for many years, and members of our family law team have worked with local LGBTQIA organisations, providing training for their own staff and drop in clinics for their members. We have a high level of expertise in the area of LGBTQIA family law, meaning we can offer you peace of mind that you and your family are in safe hands.

Our LGBTQIA Family Law Services

Our family lawyers can assist you with all aspects of the law relating to you and your family.

We have particular experience in dealing with financial provision of separation, dissolution and divorce, children disputes including those between parents and donors, and in obtaining parental responsibility agreements and gender recognition certificates.

Divorce & Civil Partnership Dissolution

If your relationship has broken down, we can help you apply for a divorce or dissolution of civil partnership or respond to an application from your partner.

Our specialist divorce and civil partnership lawyers will help and support you with all aspects of ending your relationship, including dealing with your finances, dividing your assets and making arrangements for your children.

Have a look at our children’s arrangements and family finance pages for further information.

Pre-Nuptial Agreements

If you are getting married or entering into a civil partnership, you might want to consider a pre-nuptial agreement or a pre-registration agreement. These can specify what should happen to the assets belonging to the couple if you later separate and provide a legal framework for you. This can remove uncertainty and provide security if the relationship breaks down.

Cohabitation Agreements

If you are or are going to live together, a cohabitation or living together agreement can set out the terms of your cohabitation. This can include things such as what contributions each of you will make to the rent or mortgage, how bills will be divided and what rights both will have if the relationship breaks down. These can be especially useful if one owns a property into which the other is moving, because if the non-owner contributes to any property or to the family, they may be able to say they have are entitled to a share of the property.

Parenting Arrangements

LGBTQIA people can sometimes find themselves in complicated parenting situations, for example where they have children from a former heterosexual relationship but are now in a same-sex relationship. A formal parenting agreement can help give everyone certainty about their role, rights and responsibilities, allowing a more stable and positive environment for children to grow up in.

Adoption For Same-Sex Couples

Single LGBTQIA people and same-sex couples now have the same rights to adopt in the UK as single heterosexual people and couples. We can help guide you through all of the legalities of the adoption process, allowing you to expand your family and provide a home for a child who needs one.

LGBTQIA Family Mediation And Collaborative Law

In many cases, family legal issues can be best resolved with mediation, rather than going to court. A family mediator will guide the couple towards a mutually acceptable agreement on how to resolve the situation. This can be the fastest, least expensive and most amicable way resolve family disputes or potential disputes. Our family mediation service often deals with LGBTQIA families.

Another alternative to going to court is collaborative law, where each person has their own legal representative trained in collaborative law who will work with the other person and their lawyer to reach a solution that is best for them and their family.

How Can Timms Help?

If you would like to discuss any queries with one of our specialist family lawyers, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. You can call us on 0800 011 6666 or reach us by email at legal@timms-law.com.