YOUR CHOICES MATTER NOW
When a marriage ends, the decisions you make now will shape the rest of your life
We've guided families in West Dunbartonshire through separation for over a decade — firmly when needed, calmly always. Start with a fixed-cost initial consultation; where matters are straightforward, a simplified divorce is £495 all-in. Legal aid may also be available
THE SITUATION YOU’RE IN
Separation is one of the hardest things most people will ever go through
It arrives with a hundred practical questions attached. Where will the children live? Who stays in the house? What happens to the pension, the business, the savings? Do I have to go to court?
Here's what we want every client to understand at the first meeting: most separations in Scotland are resolved by agreement, not by a judge. The right early advice usually prevents court, not causes it. But the ground rules you set in the first weeks — about money, the house, the children — tend to become the ground rules for everything that follows. Get advice before you agree to anything.
SEPARATION & DIVORCE
Helping you navigate what comes next
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The end of a marriage or relationship is one of the hardest things anyone goes through. On top of the emotional strain, there are decisions to make — about children, the family home, money and the future — that can feel overwhelming, and that will shape the years ahead.
You don’t have to face them alone. Our job is to give you clear, honest advice, protect what matters to you, and get you the best outcome the law allows — calmly where that’s possible, firmly where it’s needed.
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Every separation is different, and so is every client. Some want matters settled quickly and amicably. Others are up against a spouse who has behaved badly, hidden money, or refuses to be reasonable — and need someone who will fight their corner without flinching. We do both.
Where a fair agreement can be reached, we’ll reach it — it’s less costly and less stressful, particularly where children are involved. But where your spouse won’t play fair, we are firm, determined advocates. We will pursue everything you are entitled to — your proper share of the property, savings and pensions, and the right arrangements for your children — and we will not be pushed around in doing it.
What drives us is your best interests, not the clock. We won’t spin a case out to generate fees, and we won’t undersell you to close it quickly either. We fight hard where it counts, settle where it’s sensible, and always keep you fully informed of where you stand and what it’s costing.
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We can advise and act on all of the issues that arise on separation and divorce:
• Children — residence, contact, and what’s in their best interests
• The family home — who stays, who leaves, and how it’s dealt with
• Financial provision — a fair division of property, savings, pensions and debts
• Separation agreements — recording what’s been agreed, clearly and bindingly
• Divorce — the process itself, once matters are resolved
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Where children are involved, their welfare comes first — for the court, and for us. We help parents reach workable arrangements that put the children’s needs above the dispute, and we do it with sensitivity to how hard that can be. Protecting your relationship with your children is often what matters most, and we treat it that way.
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If your relationship has ended, or you think it might be about to, the earlier you get advice the more we can do to help. A first conversation is confidential and without pressure. Tell us what’s happening, and we’ll tell you exactly where you stand.
Speak to a solicitor — 01389 756785
WHAT WE DO
The services we provide
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Divorce and dissolution
Including the simplified ("DIY") divorce procedure at a fixed £495 all-in where there are no children under 16 and no financial matters in dispute
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Financial provision on separation and divorce
Fair sharing of matrimonial property under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985: the house, pensions, savings, businesses and debts
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Separation agreements (Minutes of Agreement)
Legally binding settlements without going to court
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Child residence and contact
Where the children live, and how they keep a full relationship with both parents
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Cohabitation claims
Unmarried couples have rights too, but strict time limits apply after separation
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Protective orders
Interdicts, exclusion orders and non-harassment orders where there is abuse or fear of it
THE NEXT STEPS
How we work
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In a fixed-cost initial consultation we map your situation — children, property, pensions, income — and tell you plainly what a fair outcome looks like and how to get there.
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Most cases resolve through solicitor-led negotiation ending in a binding Minute of Agreement. It's faster, cheaper and far less bruising than litigation — and because it's registered, it's enforceable.
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If the other side won't be reasonable — or where children's welfare or your safety demands it — we raise proceedings and represent you robustly in the Sheriff Court. You'll never be pushed into court to run up fees, and never held back from it when it's the right move.
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Contact disputes are won by the parent who stays child-focused and reasonable on paper. We'll keep you on that ground even when emotions run high — it's also, not coincidentally, the ground courts reward.
OUR COSTS
What it costs
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Simplified divorce
£495 all-in with eligibility confirmed upfront
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Initial consultation
Fixed cost, agreed upfront when you book
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Negotiated settlements and court work
Clear estimates at the outset and updated as the case develops
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Legal aid
May be available depending on your circumstances — we'll check at the first meeting
WHAT TO DO NOW
Essential steps to take right now
01
Don't move out, sign anything, or agree "informal" arrangements
Before taking advice — early concessions have a habit of becoming permanent.
02
Gather the paperwork
Mortgage statements, pension statements, payslips, bank statements. Financial clarity shortens everything.
03
Book an initial consultation
On 01389 756785. One hour now can save a year of conflict later.
FAQ’S
Question? We have answers
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A simplified divorce typically takes a few months. Where finances or children are in dispute, the divorce itself usually comes last — after everything else is agreed or decided.
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Divorce requires irretrievable breakdown, most commonly shown by one year's separation with consent, or two years without. Behaviour-based divorce is available sooner where justified.
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The starting point is fair sharing of all matrimonial property — normally an equal split, adjusted for factors like the children's housing needs and economic disadvantage. "Fair" is argued, not assumed. That's what we do.
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Both parents normally have parental rights and responsibilities. If contact can't be agreed, the court can order it — and courts start from the position that children benefit from both parents. Act early; long gaps in contact are harder to repair.
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Possibly, under the cohabitation provisions — but claims must generally be made within one year of separation. Don't wait.
CONTACT US TODAY
Separating? Get clear on your position before you agree to anything
Fixed-cost initial consultation
GET IN TOUCH
Let's talk about your case
A confidential first conversation, at no obligation. Tell us what's happened — we'll tell you exactly where you stand and what happens next.
CALL
HOURS
Monday-Thursday 9am - 5pm | Friday 9am - 4pm