Parenting comes with a host of responsibilities, and at times, legal complexities. Whether you’re navigating a separation, ensuring your child’s future needs are met, or dealing with employment rights, understanding the legal landscape is essential.
Jefferies Solicitors offers trusted legal support for parents across Southend-on-Sea, Chelmsford and beyond, with a dedicated team ready to guide you through every step.
Family Law
Family law is one of the most common legal areas parents encounter. It includes:
- Children’s arrangements– Determining where a child lives and when they spend time with their parents and other Important people In their lives
- Parental Responsibility – Legal recognition of a parent’s duties, obligations and rights In respect of their child. This can also Include questions relating to Its termination.
- Divorce or Separation – Providing advice regarding how the law will deal with relationship breakdown, including the financial implications
- Child Maintenance – Financial support responsibilities between parents for the children.
- Adoption – this can relate to step-parent adoptions, adoption through care proceedings and other private adoptions
- Surrogacy – Legal processes to establish parental rights.
- Same sex families – how to navigate the legal landscape to support your family
- Domestic Abuse and Protective Orders – Safeguarding both adults, parents and children from harm, including Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders.
Our family law solicitors are highly experienced in helping individualsresolve these sensitive issues with care and discretion. If you’re facing any family law matters, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.
Child Protection and Safeguarding Law
Protecting a child’s welfare is paramount:
- Children’s Services Involvement – When local authorities intervene due tochild welfare concerns.
- Care Proceedings – Court processes where the state (Social Services) seeks to remove a child from the care of their parents
- Safeguarding Duties – Legal obligations of agencies when they consider a child is at risk of harm
Employment Law for Parents
Balancing work and parenting can lead to legal queries:
- Parental Leave – Rights for maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave.
- Flexible Working – Your right to request adaptable working hours.
- Protection from Discrimination – Safeguards if you face unfair treatment due to your parental status.
Jefferies’ lawyers can help you understand your workplace rights and challenge unfair treatment.
Wills and Trusts
Wills and Trusts provide peace of mind that parents have made suitable provision for their children:
- Wills – naming beneficiaries and appointing guardians or trustees ensures that children receive appropriate care and financial security.
- Trusts – Creating a trust can safeguard an Inheritance for a child to ensure the funds are used for their benefit. Trusts can also be established for children with complex needs, who may not be able to live Independently In the future to prevent financial exploitation.
Our experienced Private Client team can guide you through these processes and discuss the options that are available to you.
How Jefferies Solicitors Can Help
At Jefferies, we understand that family life can sometimes require expert legal support. Whether you need advice on custody, support with divorce, or protection from domestic abuse, our experienced family law solicitors are here to help. For Wills and Trusts, you can rely on our Private Client team. We’ve proudly supported families across Essex and are recognised as trusted solicitors in Southend.
If you’re a parent needing legal advice, don’t face it alone. Contact Jefferies – expert solicitors for parents offering clear, compassionate guidance every step of the way.