Family

Practice Areas

Family 
Overview

Separation, divorce and dealing with the issues associated with the breakdown of relationships and marriages can be distressing for everyone, especially children.

Our family lawyers take the time to listen to what matters to you. They approach things sensitively and offer constructive advice aimed at making sure the overall outcome works for you and your family.

We deal with all aspects of family law, including cases involving sensitive and complex issues and high profile individuals. We act for high net worth individuals from all walks of life and their partners. We work with international clients and regularly deal with cross-jurisdictional issues.

In addition to providing conventional legal advice, we offer no court process options, such as family mediation and collaborative law. We can also refer you to relevant external agencies and support services, including counselling organisations, discussion groups and parent information services.

Service Highlights

Please click on a service highlight to learn more about how we help with these matters. If you have any questions or would like to discuss further, you can contact us using the contact form below.

Marital agreements

We have significant experience of preparing and advising on marital agreements. This includes prenuptial, postnuptial and separation agreements, as well as cohabitation/living together agreements, for couples who do not intend to get married.
International child relocation/leave to remain

We have particular experience of dealing with international child relocation/leave to remove cases in which one parent wants to move abroad with the children following the breakdown of the couple’s relationship, and the other parent wants the children to stay where they are.
Cross-jurisdictional issues

We deal with cross-jurisdictional issues. For example, where there is a forum race between different countries to issue divorce proceedings. The forum is important because the court that deals with the divorce usually handles the financial aspects of the divorce too.
Family mediation

Family mediation is a voluntary process in which you and your former partner work with an impartial mediator. This typically involves attending a series of meetings aimed at helping you communicate better and reach your own informed decisions about how to separate. Any issues relating to children, finance and property matters, as well as any wider issues, are discussed. We can support you during this process by providing you with legal advice aimed at helping you negotiate effectively throughout the mediation process.
Collaborative law

Collaborative law is a voluntary method of dispute resolution carried out by our leading family lawyers, who have completed specialist training. All of the negotiations take place during a series of face-to-face settlement meetings that involve: you and your former partner; respective lawyers and other members of the collaborative team, including family consultants (from a family/therapeutic background). Everybody involved signs up to a participation agreement aimed at ultimately trying to resolve and settle all issues without needing to go to court or threaten court proceedings. In these circumstances, the lawyers are prohibited from representing either client in contested court proceedings should the process break down.

Service Areas

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Key contacts

Our Experts

Key contact

Maeve O’Higgins

Partner, Head of Family

Maeve joined Burlingtons, as a partner, in October 2017 to head up and grow the firm’s Family Law Department. Prior…
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