Amy Walpole is renowned for offering a wealth of expertise and outstanding service to clients seeking advice  on all areas of family law, with a particular focus on the financial issues that arise when relationships break down. Much of our work involves the negotiation and settlement of financial cases, some with an international perspective and further complicated by tax or trust issues. Our team commands a leading reputation in Norwich. 

Our specialised focus on family law means that our experienced team can advise effectively and concisely on all aspects of family law to include:-

• Adoption
• Children Act Proceedings – Contact, Residence, Specific Issue, Parental Responsibility, Prohibited Steps
• Children Disputes
• Divorce & Separation
• Dissolution
• Jurisdiction
• Financial Orders on Divorce and Dissolution
• Distribution of Assets on Divorce or Dissolution
• Pre-Nuptial / Post-Nuptial Agreements
• Cohabitation
• Civil Partnerships
• Domestic Violence
• Separation Agreements
• Change of Name Deed
• Child Maintenance
• Pensions on Divorce or Dissolution

Amy is a member of Resolution which is an organisation of specialist family lawyers committed to a constructive approach to the practice of family law. As a result of our commitment to the Resolution code of practice the overwhelming majority of our cases achieve a settlement by constructive negotiation.

Amy is also trained as a Collaborative lawyer, Collaborative law, a new development in the UK which is client led and focuses upon building a structured settlement around a client's needs. For many this process can help relieve the stress and anxiety associated with the divorce process.

The family team is supported by other areas of the firm including Trust Planning, Property, Corporate and Employment. The ability to draw upon their expertise enables us to offer an outstanding service under one roof in a time of importance. We also have a good relationship with local professionals such as Independent Financial advisors, Accountants, estate agents & surveyors, pension experts, wealth managers and mediators should it be necessary to ascertain an expert opinion.

Children disputes

Helping parents whose relationship has ended to achieve sound, practical solutions in disputes over their children is vital.

Parents have to try and agree workable arrangements with the best interests of their children at the forefront of the decision-making process. Sometimes, specific child-related issues, such as residence or contact, may sometimes have to be settled in court. Throughout, we aim to provide a service and solutions that are compassionate, appropriate and child-focused.

We advise on specific disputes such as frequency of contact, the practicalities of where and with which parent the children will live and which school they should go to, as well as on jurisdictional issues, such as wrangles over the children's country of residence.

Civil partnerships

Civil partnerships enable same-sex couples to benefit from the same legal rights as married couples.

In December 2005, a law was introduced to recognise the legal rights or both men and women, and their responsibilities involved in entering into a civil partnership, and on the implications of ending it.

We are able to advise clients if they are UK based or elsewhere in the world should they be considering registering their civil partnership or dissolving their civil partnership.

Jurisdiction

We find that many of our clients live or work in more than one jurisdiction and that we are consulted by clients from all over the world and are able to offer immediate advice on UK jurisdiction. We also have the ability to consult other professionals to help guide divorcing and separating clients on the most favourable choice of jurisdiction in which to begin the court process.

The size of a financial settlement will be affected by the country in which divorce proceedings are filed. It is for this reason, ‘forum shopping' - looking for the best place to file proceedings can be of great importance to a client.

The right choice of country for a client can have a significant impact on the size of a divorce settlement and issues such as the range of assets eligible for inclusion in the divorce settlement, extent of financialdisclosure requirements or the rules regarding maintenance payments.

Divorce & separation

We are able to provide extensive advice on all the implications of divorce, nullity, separation and the financial consequences which arise as part of a marital breakdown.

We take pragmatic steps to try to keep ill feeling to a minimum and reach constructive settlements. However, we know that some cases are bound to be contentious, and Amy is skilled at handling family litigation.

Although many of our clients are based in the UK or have UK interests, we also advise international clients and have links with family law firms in other countries to co-ordinate international advice where necessary.

The resolution of complex financial claims are an integral element of divorcing or separating couples which, can often be overlooked by clients and create severe financial implications for them in the future.

Amy strives to combine effective negotiation outside the courtroom and tough litigation skills within it, in order to deliver efficient financial solutions to all client's and ensure that their reasonable needs are met.

The team has a strong reputation for high-value financial work in divorce claims (as referred to in the Legal 500). They have experience in dealing with freezing injunctions to prevent the disposal of assets, appeals and financial provision following overseas divorces.

We are able to offer comprehensive legal advice coupled with the support of this firm's private client, commercial, property and employment teams. Many clients have benefitted from this in house advice from other departments as often one or both parties to the marriage have an interest in a business/partnership or may have trust funds or assets which, if disposed could incur a tax liabilities.

• Matrimonial Advice Form