Rix & Kay is a leading regional law firm with offices in Brighton & Hove, Seaford, Sevenoaks and Uckfield. The firm has grown significantly over the last decade which bears testament to the strength of our client relationships and progressive attitude.

We serve individuals, organisations and businesses across the South East and further afield.

Rix & Kay is recognised in the latest editions of The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners in ten and eight practice areas respectively. This includes the Family Team.

Alan Foster, Partner and Head of the Family team is recognised as a ‘Leader in their field’.

Rix & Kay also hold the Lexcel accreditation. Lexcel is the quality mark for excellence in legal practice and client care, awarded by the Law Society of England and Wales.

Our clients say we are proactive, accessible, tenacious, personable and that we provide sound and pragmatic advice. 96%* say they would be prepared to recommend our services (*based on over 4,796 surveys since 2005). We hope you will become one too.

Family

The information contained in this document provides background information only. The document may be misleading if relied upon as an exhaustive list of the legal issues involved. If any matter referred to in this document is sought to be relied upon further information should be sought. Rix & Kay Solicitors is a limited liability partnership (registered in England and Wales with the number OC330614) and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (471132) and the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct 2011.

particularly renowned for dealing with complex financial matters including dealing with businesses in which one or both parties have an interest. We will consider every aspect of your case to ensure that your income, housing and pension needs are fully met. We will advise on all options when negotiating a financial settlement so that you can decide what best suits you.

Pensions on divorce

We will ensure that your pension and your partner’s pension are considered carefully. On occasions we may recommend obtaining external advice and reports to ensure the best outcome is achieved in your retirement.

Unmarried couples

More and more couples choose not to get married. We can advise on all aspects of your relationship breakdown including advice about your children, property and any other issues which may arise.

Wealth and Asset Management protection

Pre and post nuptial agreements are becoming more popular with couples who want to protect their assets upon marriage. We are able to advise you of the up to date position on how pre-nuptial agreements are being considered by the court and help with asset protection.

What are your options?

We provide the full range of alternative options to resolving disputes. We have trained Collaborative Lawyers and a Mediator. We pride ourselves on our expertise and we will ensure that you choose the best option for your particular circumstances.

Mediation - we have a trained Mediator who is able to mediate on any aspect of family law and who will travel to any of our offices to assist with your mediation. The Mediator is impartial and her role is to facilitate discussions that you may find difficult to have on your own. Her role is to help structure discussions which then

help you both find solutions on issues of money; children or any issue concerning your separation/divorce. Mediation provides a safe and professional environment for you to discuss important issues such as whether to separate or divorce; where you will live after separation, arrangements for your children; how to resolve your income, capital and pensions in a fair way to ensure that everyone is supported. Any agreement reached at mediation can then be turned into a legally binding agreement between you.

Collaborative law - the Collaborative process is a way of avoiding court proceedings. You will have a series of round table meetings with your partner and each of you will have a collaborative lawyer. Collaborative lawyers have been specifically trained in the collaborative approach and they will help you to achieve a solution to your separation which is fair for the whole family. You will be able to discuss any issue regarding your children, housing, capital or pensions. The purpose is to achieve an agreement without going to court.

Arbitration - an Arbitrator can make decisions in a similar way to a Judge and their decisions are legally binding. We are fortunate to have one of the first trained solicitor Arbitrators in the country. Family arbitration was developed to enable couples to reach a quicker, more efficient and flexible result than court proceedings allow. You and your partner appoint the Arbitrator who will deal with all stages of your case and who will make a decision after hearing your case. They can make decisions on financial and property matters arising from family relationships and arrangements for children.

Lawyer negotiation / going to court - some people choose this option as they have exhausted all the other options or it is simply not possible to reach an agreement. If we do issue court proceedings, the court sets down the time-table and we will work to this to get the best possible outcome for you. If no settlement is negotiated during the course of the proceedings ultimately a Judge will make a final decision based on what the Judge thinks is fair at the end of the case.

Rix & Kay has an outstanding reputation for dealing with high profile, complicated financial settlements together with an expertise in advising clients on complex and sensitive children cases. We resolve issues with discretion and sensitivity – ensuring that your interests and those of your children come first. We can help and advise you in all aspects of family law including:

Children

We can advise in relation to any aspect of law affecting your children. We understand that issues concerning children can be emotive and it is important that we give you considered advice based upon our years of experience. Where possible, we will encourage you to reach agreement without issuing court proceedings. However, we know this is not always possible to achieve. We can assist with any application to the court that may be necessary and which include issues as to with whom who a child lives; how often they should; specific issues regarding change of name, education, spend time with each parent, religion and whether a child should live in another country.

Cohabitation and separation agreements

We can draft documents to give you security of mind when you are deciding to enter into a new relationship and you want to protect your assets or when you leave a relationship. Couples may want to have the benefit of a written document setting out what has been agreed at the start or end of a relationship.

Divorce or civil partnership dissolution

In the event you feel that your marriage, civil partnership or relationship is coming to an end, we will explore the options open to you. We can guide you through every stage of your separation from issuing a divorce petition; through to obtaining your decree absolute or final order.

Financial settlements on separation and divorce

We specialise in advising clients on all aspects of their financial affairs including pensions and division of other assets and are

Sevenoaks01732 440855

Seaford01323 897766

Brighton & Hove01273 329797

Uckfield01825 761555

Family

Ashford01233 225660