My Family Court Roadmap
Challenging Allegations, Cafcass Reports and Decisions in Family Court
Understand Your Options and Know What to Do Next
You don't have to face this alone
My Family Court Roadmap
Understand Your Options and Know What to Do Next
You don't have to face this alone
Your Court application matters. Make sure it is properly prepared.
Six options. Pick the one that matches your situation. If you are not sure, book a short call and we will choose it together.
Use this if you are trying to reach an agreement but keep hitting obstacles
Use this to help you prepare a clear, properly evidenced response and ensure that your account is properly presented to the court
Use this to help you understand your property rights, prepare your case and navigate the TOLATA process
Pick from the list, or book a short call if you are not sure which one you need.
Plain-English drafting, in the form the court expects, based on what you have agreed.
You stay in charge. I guide you through court approval where the document needs it.
"Simon prepared all of my court documents to an exceptionally high standard, attended every hearing with me, and provided invaluable guidance and reassurance during what was an incredibly difficult and emotional time."
McKenzie Friend client
"Looking back over the last four years, finding Simon was one of the best decisions I made during an incredibly difficult period of my life."
Family Court client
"From the moment I started working with him, I found him to be extremely helpful, knowledgeable and, importantly, genuinely focused on helping me rather than simply making money."
Long-term client, 2022–2026
A 30-minute call to match your situation to the right help.
If you are unsure about any aspect of your case and want to discuss your situation with me,
then use this service to book a 30 minute call.
71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ
07900 414121
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Family Court proceedings involving children can become extremely difficult when allegations are made, relationships break down or professionals form opinions about your family.
You may find yourself accused of domestic abuse, violence or controlling behaviour. You may disagree with a Cafcass recommendation or believe that a Section 7 report contains mistakes, omissions or an unfair assessment of your situation.
Perhaps your children are refusing to see you, you believe the other parent is influencing them against you, or you feel that your relationship with your children is gradually being lost.
These situations can be upsetting, frustrating and difficult to navigate, particularly when you do not understand how to challenge what is being said about you.
A handshake, conversation or informal agreement will not give you the certainty you expect.
Choose which stage you need help with and we can prepare your case in a clear, professional format, without unnecessary jargon and without paying for work you don't need.
Before making an application to the Family Court, it is important to understand your situation, what you may be entitled to and what steps you should take.
You may be trying to reach an agreement with your former partner, or you may have reached the point where court proceedings are necessary.
Choose what you need
A Section 7 report can have a significant influence on the court's decision about your children.
The report may include recommendations about where children should live, how much time they should spend with each parent and whether there are safeguarding concerns.
But what happens if you disagree with the report?
Perhaps important information has been overlooked, your concerns have not been properly investigated, or the recommendations do not reflect the reality of your family situation.
You should not assume that a report cannot be challenged. The court makes the final decision, and you can raise concerns about the evidence, reasoning and recommendations.
Allegations made during children proceedings can have a significant impact on your relationship with your children and the way your case progresses.
You may find that contact has been restricted, that safeguarding concerns have been raised or that the court is being asked to investigate allegations before deciding the arrangements for your children.
It is important to understand how to respond properly. Simply denying an allegation is unlikely to be enough. You need to consider the evidence, identify inconsistencies and prepare a clear account of what happened.
The First Appointment is usually the first court hearing in financial remedy proceedings. Its purpose is to identify the financial issues, establish what information is still required and decide what further steps are necessary before the case can progress.
You will need to understand your financial disclosure and identify any areas where further information or clarification is required.
Use this to ensure you understand the issues, identify the information still required and are properly prepared for the First Appointment.
The Financial Dispute Resolution hearing is an important opportunity to try to settle your financial case without proceeding to a Final Hearing.
The judge will consider the available financial information, listen to the parties' positions and give an indication of the likely outcome if the case proceeded to a Final Hearing. The aim is to help the parties reach an agreement.
Preparation is essential. You need to understand the value of the assets, the arguments being made by both parties and what settlement options may be available.
Use this to help you negotiate from an informed position and work towards a fair financial settlement
A Final Hearing is where the court makes a decision about how the matrimonial finances should be divided when the parties cannot reach an agreement.
This is the stage where the judge hears the evidence, considers the arguments and decides what financial orders should be made.
It can be daunting, particularly if you are representing yourself or have limited experience of court proceedings.
Use this to help you present your case clearly, understand the issues and approach the Final Hearing as confidently and effectively as possible
Not every property dispute is dealt with through divorce financial remedy proceedings.
The Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA) provides a legal route for resolving disputes about the ownership of property, beneficial interests and the sale or occupation of property.
These disputes can arise between unmarried couples, former partners, family members or other joint property owners. You may believe you own a share of a property but your name is not on the deeds. Alternatively, you may be a legal owner but disagree with the other party about the respective shares or whether the property should be sold.
You are not handing the whole case to a solicitor and paying for every minute of their time. You choose the help you need, I show you whats required or failing all else, I prepare it for you, and you then decide what happens next.
Testimonials
After representing myself through my own case, I spent over twenty-five years in the Family Courts helping people with divorce, financial orders, child arrangements, and the documents that make agreements stick. I qualified as a Barrister in 2010.
I am not here to scare you into a retainer. If you need a document, I will prepare that document. If you need the whole process explained first, I will send you there instead.