The best advice at an emotionally difficult time
Our Family lawyers, based in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Shetland, but covering the whole of Scotland, have expertise in all areas of family law and will help you through a difficult time with sensitivity and objectivity.
Divorce and separation can have a huge impact on both yours and your family's lives and you will understandably want to know the financial and practical consequences of any decisions you are considering making.
When working with us, many people are surprised to hear there are more options available than they originally thought. The options available range from litigation and arbitration to negotiation, mediation and collaboration. We will discuss matters with you and decide upon the appropriate way of solving your problems. Whether it is in relation to the welfare of your children and the status of the matrimonial home, the impact on a business that's jointly or individually owned, or your financial situation, we will help you through a difficult time and allow you to progress with your life.
For more information on our family law services in Scotland, please phone our accredited Family Law specialists, or complete our simple online form here, for an initial discussion or to request a call back.
Our Family Law Team is recognised in the UK's leading independent legal directories, Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession and The Legal 500, where our Team is recognised as having "Recommended Lawyers" and "Leaders in the Field" in the area of Family Law.
Glasgow: 0141 227 9545
Edinburgh: 0131 247 2556
Inverness & Highlands: 01463 795 035
Shetland: 01595 695 583
Find out more about our Family Law services:
- Divorce & Separation
- Adoption services
- Child law & relocation
- Civil partnerships
- Co-habitation agreements (regulating the financial aspects of living arrangements outwith marriage)
- Domestic abuse
- Financial consequences of separation and divorce
- Mediation & collaboration
- Negotiating minutes of agreement and separation agreements
- Pre and postnuptial agreements to protect assets prior & during marriage
- The welfare of children, including custody issues, contact & residence issues
- Cohabitee rights under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006
- Cases in Sheriff Court & Court of Session
- Pension sharing
- Advice for businesses
How much will it cost?
We understand that the affordability of legal fees is an important issue and discuss costs with our clients from the outset. Every case is different and it is not always clear at the beginning what will require to be done, so as to give an accurate estimate of the final costs.
In most cases fees are based on the time spent on the case and the solicitor's hourly rate, which varies from firm to firm and also in relation to a solicitor's experience. We are not registered to provide advice under the legal aid scheme.
Give us a call and we will be able to give you a free initial chat about your case and possible future costs.
Packaged fees:
To try to remove some of that uncertainty we have designed a number of packages which, in certain circumstances, will let you know from the outset what the costs will be.
The areas where we offer packaged fees* include:
- Initial advice
- Simplified divorce
- Undefended divorce
- Minutes of agreement
- Mediation services
- Pre/Post nuptial agreements
- Co-habitation agreements
* Certain exclusions may apply. Your solicitor will be able to discuss and explain. Terms will be issued in writing.
Get in touch for an initial chat with our accredited Family law specialists
Thanks for your enquiry, someone from our team will be in touch shortly.
Meet our Family Law team
The Harper Macleod Family law team consists of four partners, three associates, two solicitors and additional support staff, covering the whole of Scotland.
The ethos of the department is to try to provide the client with the area of expertise that is most appropriate to their situation. In many cases, fees are charged on a time basis but the team also provide "packaged" fees and are happy to discuss the level of fees with every new client.
We are trained and qualified in a number of key family law areas: Jenny Smith, Karen Gibbons and Amanda Masson are accredited Family Law Specialists, Amanda Masson is an accredited Family Law Mediator and also accredited in Child Law. In addition, Amanda Masson, Jenny Smith, Karen Gibbons and Alexis Miller are all trained in collaborative law.
As one of the largest teams delivering personal legal services in Scotland, our experience and approachable lawyers can handle all types of enquiries. Offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Lerwick and Thurso ensure that we are on hand, no matter where you are, to discuss your wishes. Some of our local lawyers on hand are, Nadine Martin & Lynsey Brown (Glasgow), rising star Grant Hassan (Inverness & Highlands) and Jenni Gear (Shetland).
Chambers stated our Family team are recognised for its broad coverage of family matters, offering expertise in divorces, cohabitation claims and child relocation matters. A popular choice among clients for separations with bankruptcy issues. Offers trained collaborative lawyers and mediators, in addition to skilled litigators. Displays considerable capabilities in cross-border cases. Sources are impressed by the department's abilities, noting: "The team is highly efficient and exacting, with an intelligent, capable, friendly staff who maintain a healthy balance between efficiency and compassion."
The Legal 500 said , Harper Macleod LLP has significant experience in cases involving the relocation of children, financial provision, cohabitation, pre- and post-nuptial agreements. It also handles English law and cross-border mandates. The practice is led by the ‘highly knowledgeable’ Amanda Masson, who is a specialist in family and child law, as well as family mediation. Although experienced in non-contentious work, she also acts for clients in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts. Masson acted alongside ‘dedicated’ associate Claire Christie in a complex relocation case. Jenny Smith, who joined from Family Law Matters Scotland LLP, is dual Scots and English qualified, and has a particular interest in financial provision cases.
"The team is highly efficient and exacting, with an intelligent, capable, friendly staff who maintain a healthy balance between efficiency and compassion."
Chambers 2018
Harper Macleod LLP has significant experience in cases involving the relocation of children, financial provision, cohabitation, pre- and post-nuptial agreements. It also handles English law and cross-border mandates. The practice is led by the ‘highly knowledgeable’ Amanda Masson, who is a specialist in family and child law, as well as family mediation.
THE LEGAL 500 2018
Head of department Amanda Masson handles a broad spectrum of family law matters, including divorce, cohabitation agreements and child relocation cases. One source says: "She has a balanced, compassionate and insightful manner and considerable experience."
Chambers 2018
Jenny Smith advises clients on matrimonial finance matters, including financial provision and insolvency. One client comments: "Jenny has a warm personality, she is very approachable and she had a lot of empathy for me in what was a difficult and stressful situation."
Chambers 2018
I want to thank you for your help in getting me to this stage. Your great support and advice really kept me focused on the task in hand and I really appreciate that.
HM Client
Thank you so much for all your assistance with my case. It gave me great peace of mind to have legal counsel I knew I could rely on.
HM Client
The Brief magazine - guide to personal legal services
The Brief magazine is your guide to personal legal services at Harper Macleod. The magazine aims to keep you in touch with current legal issues that are important to you - the law seldom stays the same for long and we believe that it's important for everyone to be kept advised on the changes that can affect both you and your families.
You can view and download the current edition by clicking here.
We hope you find the magazine useful and informative, and please don't hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team should you have any issues you'd like to discuss further with us.
More from Harper Macleod
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