Claire Knight

After you have made the decision to divorce , you will be facing a whole new life involving your finances, living arrangements and your children. Your future will depend on the agreements you make with your spouse when you go your separate ways, which...

Whether your spouse has asked for a divorce or it’s you who has reached the decision to end your marriage, a divorce will inevitably be an emotional time for you and your children. You will likely be feeling overwhelmed about the upheaval that will come over the approaching months, and anxious about what the future holds for you and your family. You will naturally be looking for support from your friends and family, but also seeking practical, legal advice to makes the next steps into your new life as manageable as possible. Claire Knight, Solicitor in our Family Law team, here reviews the three initial considerations if you are facing a divorce, and how we can assist you moving forward.

Family Mediation is an entirely voluntary process and neither party can be forced to attend if they do not wish to. It is understandable that you may feel nervous or apprehensive about talking to a stranger about difficulties you are having in reaching agreement on certain matters following a divorce or separation. Claire Knight, Law Society accredited and Resolution trained Family Mediator, here explains how Family Mediation can help you reach an agreement and what happens if your former partner does refuse to attend.

We understand that if you are struggling to agree on arrangements for your children or your finances following a divorce or separation, you will be looking for support from those around you, such as your family and friends. Family Mediation can help you resolve and explore the options, and you may wish to have this support network around you during this time. In most cases, Family Mediation is just for the parties directly concerned, namely you and your former partner. Claire Knight, Law Society accredited and Resolution trained Family Mediator, explains more here about who can attend and how Family Mediation can help you.

The length of time Family Mediation can take will depend on your own situation and the particular arrangements you are looking to resolve. In our experience, individuals require between two and four sessions, lasting approximately one to two hours each, however there are no restrictions on how many sessions you can have. One of the many benefits of Family Mediation is that we will work to a timetable that is practical for you. Claire Knight, Resolution trained and Law Society accredited Family Mediator, explains here what can be discussed in Family Mediation and how long it may take to reach an agreement.

The cost of Family Mediation will depend on your own personal circumstances as that will determine how many sessions you need. There are three separate costs to consider; the first for the Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM), the second cost for the Mediation sessions themselves and the third cost for the preparatory work involved. Claire Knight, Resolution trained and Law Society accredited Family Mediator, explains more about the costs involved and why Mediation can be more cost effective than going to Court.

Family Mediation is a way to discuss and resolve arrangements regarding financial assets and children following the break down of a relationship with your former partner, or after a divorce. Making these arrangements after a relationship has ended will be incredibly difficult, as feelings can cloud your discussions.

The Family department are congratulating Associate Chartered Legal Executive, Claire Knight, after the successful completion of her Law Society Family Mediation Accreditation.

You do not have to wait two years to divorce if you can show the Court that your marriage has irretrievably broken down due to adultery or unreasonable behaviour, in which case you can divorce after one year. Claire Knight, Family Solicitor in our Southampton office, explains your position further if you find yourself in this situation, and advises what your next steps are.

2018 has begun and Christmas seems like a distant memory. For some however, their Christmas celebrations have been marked by family divisions or the break down of their relationship.

The importance of pre-nuptial agreements has been highlighted in a divorce case taken to the Court of Appeal this week, as well as raising many questions about how long a marriage should be before the ‘sharing principle’ of assets should apply. Claire Knight, Family Lawyer, here reviews the case and offers advice as to how couples should protect themselves and their assets when considering marriage.

A vegan couple in Milan have lost custody of their 14 month old after being taken to hospital by grandparents and found to be seriously malnourished, weighing 5kg.

Most couples will hit a bump at some point along the path of married life. For most, it can be easily overcome, sometimes with marriage counselling, sometimes without. When you feel like your marriage has more bumps than you can iron out, and you are tired of having the same conversations again and again, there is a point when it is easier to walk away than to keep fighting.

For the many couples who face a divorce or separation each year, the process is a stressful one, stretching them on both emotional and financial levels. When considering the latter, there are many areas that need to be confirmed, and it’s in these situations that a family financial order is normally implemented.

Almost a year after the launch of our Family Mediation service, we have trained another of our lawyers’, Claire Knight, to practice as a Resolution Mediator to meet the demand for the service from divorcing couples.

Making the decision to divorce or separate is a life-changing one for everyone involved, and while it’s the parents who ultimately make that choice, they’re not the only ones who suffer. Recent figures from family lawyers’ association, Resolution, show that some children not only perform worse at school, but also turn to drink and drugs in an attempt to block out what is happening at home.