Family Law
A specialist family solicitors’ firm with a strong internal ethos based upon a common understanding
with an emphasis on achieving solutions to client problems through pragmatism, speed and pro
activity..
Award Winning Family Law Solicitors in London, Marylebone, Paddington, United Kingdom
and Internationally, dealing with all matters marital or relationship breakdown.
At Anthony Louca Solicitors we deal with all matters relating to family law and marital or
relationship breakdown including, pre-nuptial agreements, separation, divorce and financial
settlements, all matters relating to children, international child abduction, custody disputes,
cohabitation, wardship, parental responsibility, adoption, residence and contact orders, grandparent
and stepparent applications and rights.
We are also specialists in forced marriages and abandoned
spouses cases. ALS follows the principles of Resolution
(www.resolution.org.uk), an association set up to encourage a
constructive approach to family disputes.
As the team leader of the Family Law Solicitors department, Mr F. Anthony Argyrou, is a specialist in
this area. He is an accredited specialist with Resolution.
Divorce and relationship breakdown and matters concerning children are all dealt with effectively and
sympathetically and with an understanding of our clients’ objectives.
Child Abduction
Anthony Louca Solicitors is listed with Reunite International
(www.reunite.org) on their Lawyers Listing page being a
specialist law firm with specialist family lawyers dealing with
international parental child abduction. This family law firm has
a dedicated department specialising in situations where
international child abduction has occurred. This is where there
has been unlawful movement of children across international
borders. This occurs when one parent removes their child from
the jurisdiction without the consent of the other parent or
having first obtained an order from the family court. Children
may be moved between jurisdictions by agreement between
their parents or as a result of legal proceedings.
Anthony Louca Solicitors is a panel member of the Lord Chancellor’s Department and is on the
Official Solicitors list of specialists in the area of International Child Abduction and Contact Unit who
are instructed in Hague and European Convention cases. The Convention of 25 October 1980 on the
Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction ( “the Hague Convention”) sets out the law and
procedure that should be followed to ensure the prompt return of children who have been unlawfully
removed or retained from one jurisdiction to another and retained outside the country where they are
habitually resident. The Hague Convention is implemented in England and Wales pursuant to the
Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985. Further, a person connected with a child under the age of
sixteen commits an offence if s/he takes or sends the child out of the United Kingdom without the
appropriate consent; section 1, Child Abduction Act 1984.
Our dedicated lawyers are able to make emergency applications (these are non means tested) for
Legal Aid Applicants where children are unlawfully brought to, or retained, in England from another
Hague Convention Country. Where children are removed from England to countries that are Non
Convention States or brought to England from Non Convention States, Legal Aid is available
provided the applicant can satisfy the Legal Aid means and merits test.
If the parent believes that there is an imminent risk of child abduction Anthony Louca Solicitors can
take emergency steps to prevent the removal of the child. Urgent legal advice should be sought.
Divorce and Dissolution
At Anthony Louca Solicitors we are committed to adopting and providing a conciliatory and constructive approach to Divorce and as members of resolution (www.resolution.org.uk) we will deal with your Divorce sensitively.
To obtain a Divorce you need to demonstrate to the Court that the marriage has broken down irretrievably and support this statement by relying on one of the five facts:-
- That your spouse has deserted you for 2 years
- That you and your spouse have lived apart for 2 years and the spouse consents to the Divorce
- That you and your spouse have lived apart for 5 years (you do not need spousal consent for Divorce on these grounds)
- That your spouse has committed adultery
- That your spouse has acted in such a way that you cannot reasonably be expected to continue to live with them
Our specialist Divorce Solicitors London in Marylebone can advise you on all
the options available
Financial Settlements on Divorce
Upon Divorce all disputes relating to matrimonial finance and ancillary relief must be resolved.
Many divorce settlements are resolved in front of a Judge using the Court process. The court process gives the couple the Courts assistance in structuring negotiations. Some divorce settlements are resolved with the assistance of a mediator.
Upon divorce a person does not automatically acquire an interest in their spouses’ assets. The law sets
out certain guidelines and criteria which are taken into account which depend on the circumstances
and ‘needs’ of each spouse when formulating a financial settlement. Of particular importance are the
section 25 factors found in the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and related case law.
The court will use its discretion when assessing the claims of each spouse and very often, especially in a long marriage the court will look at what each party has brought to the marriage, that is, their contribution.
The Family Court usually has the power to make spousal maintenance orders upon Divorce, for example, lump sum or periodical payments or orders regarding property and pensions but it is unlikely to make financial orders concerning children.
Our aim is always to achieve the best settlement we possible can for our client. Most divorce settlements comprise 3 main elements, periodical payments, capital orders (lump sum and or transfer of property) and long term security (pensions or life insurance cover).
In some cases all 3 elements are bound together in a one off settlement. This is known as a “clean break”.
In order to assess what may be a fair settlement, each spouses assets must be identified and valued. It is only when the assets have been ascertained and their values agreed that it is possible to reach a settlement.
Children and Child Custody
At Anthony Louca we can resolve disputes relating to the care of children through the Court or through other means.
We always try to encourage agreement to avoid possible distress to all children and their carers involved in child custody disputes. It is always our approach to encourage the best interests of the child and to ensure that these are met. All children matters, whether they involve custody or care proceedings or any dispute relating to children are dealt with sensitively and expertly.
The Court is empowered under the Children Act 1989. The main child arrangement orders that are
made by the Family Court are:-
- Residence orders – this determines where a child should live
- Contact orders – this determines when and how a person can see a child
- Prohibited steps orders – these orders prevent something from happening
- Specific issues orders – deals with a particular issue such as where the child should go to school or which religion it should follow, or changing the child’s name.
- Parental responsibility - that is the rights, duties and responsibilities associated with children and parenthood. It is automatic that mothers usually have parental responsibility as do fathers (provided they were married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth and the fathers name appears on the child’s birth certificate).
- International relocation – A parent cannot relocate to another country with the children without the consent of all holders of parental responsibility or with the permission of the Court. Application for leave to remove occurs when an ex-partner enters into a new relationship with someone from abroad and wants to take the child to live with them.
- Before applying for these orders, parents are generally required to attend a Mediation
Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM), unless specific exemptions (like domestic
violence) apply. New court procedures for 2026 also mandate the use of e-bundles as
standard practice for private law children cases.
Child Maintenance
If this is not dealt with by agreement between divorcing couples child maintenance is usually dealt
with by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).
Child support was normally
calculated upon a percentage of the non-resident parent’s net income. The
formula for calculation of child support is due to change so that it is based on
gross income. The new law encourages parents to enter into private maintenance
agreements with each othe
Cohabitation Disputes ( Solicitors )
When cohabitees separate, unlike married couples, the rules relating to resolving their difficulties are far from clear. When cohabitees separate they face the same painful experiences that a married couple face with the same issues. As well as advising divorcing couples we also provide advice to couples who are living together including same sex couples. Such couples must obtain advice in the event of their relationship breaking down as the Law relating to their situation is different from the Law relating to married couples.
We can advise cohabitees on all matters relating to children, finances and
division of assets
Injunctions/Domestic Violence
Domestic violence, neglect and abuse whether that abuse is of a child or abuse of an adult can all have serious and long lasting physical and physiological effects on families and loved ones who are close to the victim.
If you have been affected by any of these experiences or know someone who has been affected, we at Anthony Louca can help. Our specialist lawyers and children lawyers will assist you in understanding your options and will provide you with legal support.
Where you or your children have been subjected to violence or harassment from a family member or cohabitee urgent legal advice is necessary. Various Court orders are available to protect you from further violence. We are able to advise and if necessary obtain non-molestation orders or occupation orders.
Links:
Prenuptial Agreements
At Anthony Louca Solicitors the demand for prenuptial agreements have increased. Prenuptial agreements are agreements made and signed before a marriage takes place to specify the distribution of assets and finances in the event of marital break down. Prenuptial agreements are designed to protect assets owned by each individual before a marriage takes place.
A prenuptial agreement is a common sense precautionary measure. No one getting married likes to think that it might end in failure. However there are a number of relationships which will irretrievably break down.
Forced Marriages
At Anthony Louca Solicitors our specialist divorce lawyers can help where a party has entered into a
marriage by force. This is not the same as an arranged marriage. A forced marriage is a marriage
where duress has played a big part. It is a marriage conducted without the willing consent of both
parties. It is a marriage where one party has been put under unacceptable pressure. For example a
victim of forced marriage may have been told that if the marriage is not entered into they will bring
dishonour to the family or perhaps a person’s freedom has been threatened, for example you may be
told that your passport will be seized and not returned to you or that you will not be allowed to go
home unless you enter into a marriage with a certain individual.
A forced marriage is considered to be a violation of your human rights which are internationally recognised and cannot be justified on any grounds whether it be religious or cultural.
No major world faith condones such marriages. Very often victims of a forced
marriage require immediate action on their behalf to bring the victim home.
Advice can be given and communication is provided with the British High
Commission or other bodies in order to achieve the victims return to the UK
Abandoned Spouses
Abandonment occurs when an allegation is made that a spouse has been abandoned abroad without the necessary passport documents that they need to re enter the jurisdiction of England and Wales. The child usually remains in this jurisdiction, normally with the other spouse. There is then a claim that the spouse that has been abandoned abroad has in fact travelled abroad abandoning the child with the other spouse.
|
