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Welcome to the Family Department here at Michael Taylor & Co. Solicitors. 

Meet the Team! 

Jane Strachan – Solicitor LLB (Hons)

Jane has been with the firm for over 20 years and has 40 years’ experience as a Matrimonial Solicitor specialising in Divorce and Financial Proceedings. Jane is also Head of the Matrimonial Department. 

Outside of work Jane has two dogs Kevin and Brian at home and enjoys socialising with friends at weekends. 

Deborah Kingsley – Legal Executive 

Debbie has also been with the firm for over 25 years and specialises in Children Act Proceedings. Debbie likes to spend her weekends with family and her beloved dogs Roscoe and Ronnie. 

Kimberley Gilbert – Matrimonial Assistant 

Kim joined the Matrimonial team in 2021 working for both Jane and Debbie but has over 20 years of experience working in law firms. 

Kim also likes to spend family time at weekends with her family and rescue dog Tarley. 

What do I do if I think I want to end my marriage? 

Do not worry! This is going to be a very difficult time for you and you will have a million questions. The first step is to pick up the phone and call us. Kim can book an Initial Consultation for you to see Jane. This is an appointment for you to come in and tell Jane about what is happening and for her to advise you on your options. Jane will be able to provide expert legal advice on what you can do and you are the one who makes the decision. There is absolutely no obligation to instruct us straight away and you can leave the office with the knowledge of where you stand and know that we are always available if you wish to come back to us. 

We can offer advice for a wide variety of matrimonial matters: 

· Divorce under the new law which came into effect in April 2022. This is known as the no fault divorce as you do not have to give grounds for divorce anymore. 

· Financial Proceedings: These proceedings usually run along the application for divorce and it is to finalise all of your joint matrimonial assets including (but not limited to) the family home, any other capital assets, savings and pensions. 

· Separation Agreement: A Separation Agreement is a document drafted to set out your agreement with each as an unmarried couple and also a married couple as to what assets you have agreed to split and how they are to be divided. This gives each other the security whilst of knowing the agreement is set out in black and white prior to any decision being made whether you wish to divorce or not. Both of you need to be in agreement to this as the document will be required to be signed by both of you. 

· Cohabitation Agreement: A Cohabitation Agreement is a document which sets out your financial obligations to each other when two people move into a home together. For example: If one partner is moving into the other partner’s home that they have lived in for some time, they may wish to protect their assets in case of any separation in the future. Both of you need to be in agreement to this as the document will be required to be signed by both of you. 

· Pre-nuptial Agreement: A Pre-nuptial Agreement is an agreement set out in a document that confirms you are both in agreement prior to marriage that you have set out what you both retain should the marriage come to an end. As it stands, a court would start any financial proceedings as a 50/50 split of all assets. With a pre-nuptial agreement you can both walk away from the marriage with the assets you had prior to the marriage. Both of you need to be in agreement to this as the document will be required to be signed by both of you. 

What can I do if I am having trouble communicating with my ex-partner about contact with my children? 

Contact us and we can book you in to see Debbie. Debbie has a vast amount of legal experience in relation to Contact Proceedings. 

If you are struggling with an ex-partner over the contact of your children Debbie will be able to provide you with the legal advice specifically for your situation. 

What does Debbie offer: 

· Children Act Proceedings: We can begin with sending a letter to your ex-partner confirming you have sought legal advice and whether a reasonable amount of contact with the children can be agreed. Should this be unsuccessful then Debbie can then guide you through the court process of obtaining a court order for contact. 

· Non-Molestation Orders: If you have an ex-partner who has been or is violent, threatening, emotionally abusive etc you may be entitled to apply for a Non-Molestation Order from the court. This will give you the legal advantage of knowing this person is not allowed near you, your home, place of work etc as this order contains a power of arrest. 

· Special Guardianship Orders: If you have fostered or taken on a child and looking after them, Social Services may advise you obtain a Special Guardianship Order. Debbie provides expert legal advice in relation to these orders so you have more knowledge in relation to the contents of them. 

· Change of Name Deed: We offer a service which provides you with a legally binding document of a change of name, whether you wish to change your name back to your maiden name, a gender change, you wish to change your surname. There are many reasons for wanting to change a name. 

We can also change a child’s name as long as both biological parents consent to this, or if there is one parent on the birth certificate we need just the one consent. 

For £100.00 plus VAT we offer one appointment which is all that is required. The Change of Name Deed will be witnessed and signed that day and it is yours to take away with you. We also offer 3 certified copies as part of the cost for you to send to companies where you wish your name to be changed i.e. passport office, driving licence, GP etc.