Family Law Dublin

Hanahoe & Hanahoe’ s team of family law solicitors have over 40 years’ experience advising clients on Divorces, Judicial Separations and other family law matters. We are an award-winning law firm with offices in both Dublin and Naas and advice clients form across the Leinster on family law matters.

Our family law solicitors understand that the breakdown of a marriage is an incredibly stressful and difficult time for our clients. Our clients, therefore, need clear, unambiguous and pro-active advice from experienced Family Law lawyers. Our Family Law team have the depth of knowledge and expertise to immediately advise our clients, on their rights and obligations arising out of the breakdown of their marriage.

WHY CHOOSE HANAHOE AND HANAHOE SOLICITORS?

1. We are an award-winning Law Firm having twice been named Leinster Law Firm of the Year at the Irish Law Awards).
2. You can be assured that case will be dealt with by a specialised Family Law Solicitor.
3. You will always be kept up to date with proceedings.
4.  You will receive clear, unambiguous advice, free of legal jargon.
5. We are competitively priced for the service we provide.
6. We do not just attend the Family Law Courts in Naas and Dublin. We attend Family Law Courts all around Leinster

Divorce Solicitors Dublin

A decree of divorce dissolves the marriage contract. It also gives each party the right to remarry and terminates each party’s succession (inheritance) rights.  When granting a decree of divorce, the Court may also make orders in relation to custody of and access to the children, the payment of maintenance and lump sums, the financial division of assets, the transfer of property, pension rights and other matters. When a decree of divorce is granted, it cannot be reversed, except in exceptional circumstances. Given the significance of the orders that can be made in the family law divorce proceeding, it is essential that you get advice from an experienced family law solicitor.

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA IN IRELAND FOR OBTAINING A DIVORCE

 A divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage, which must be obtained by a Court Order. In order for a Court to grant a divorce, it must be satisfied that the following criteria have been met:

1. That both spouses have been living separate and apart for a period of at least two out of the last three years. This requirement used to be four out of the last five years, but it was reduced under The Family Law Act, 2019. You can still be classed as living separate and apart while living under the same roof if you can show to the Court that you are not living together as a couple in an intimate and committed relationship.
2. There is no prospect of reconciliation.
3. And that the appropriate financial provisions have been put in place by the Court for the spouses and any existing family members.

CONTESTED AND UNCONTESTED DIVORCES

The main issues in any Divorce are, Custody of and access to the children, Maintenance, financial division of assets and property and pensions.  An uncontested divorce is where all matters have been agreed by the parties and an Order for Divorce can be made by the family law courts on consent.  Consent Divorces are relatively straight forward matters and can be dealt with a good family law solicitor in a couple of months. 

Contested divorces are where some or all of these issues have not been agreed. Contested divorces are much more complicated and can take considerably longer to resolve. While one can never be sure what will happen once you walk into a Family Law Court, a good divorce solicitor will be able to advise you on the like orders that will be made of custody, access, maintenance and the division of assets.

At Hanahoe and Hanahoe solicitors, our team of family lawyers give our clients considered and frank advise. We will go through in detail what is been sought and/or offered by the other side, what our clients should be offering or seeking and what Orders the Family law Court is likely to make. We understand that it is in all parties’ interest to agree matters where possible. If the matter cannot be agreed, we will fight tooth and nail to ensure, our client and their family get the best outcome possible 

THE DIVORCE PROCESS

Regardless of whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, your divorce solicitor will have to issue a Family Law Civil Bill and serve it on your spouse.

The Family Law Bill will include an Affidavit of Means and an Affidavit of Welfare. An Affidavit of Means is a list of all your assets, income details, debts and liabilities, pension information, and regular expenditure. This is a very important document which should be explained to you by your family law solicitor. It is essential that you are frank and forthright when swearing this Affidavit and that it is an accurate depiction of your finances.  Your Affidavit of Welfare contains information on any dependent children, living, access and maintenance arrangements.

If your spouse wishes to contest the divorce, he or she will need to attend their own divorce solicitor so they can file a Defence and Counterclaim.

If the matter is uncontested and you can negotiate a divorce agreement with your spouse, then you can apply to the Family Law Court for a date to have the divorce ruled. If you cannot negotiate an agreement the case will eventually proceed to a full hearing.

The vast majority of Dublin Divorce dealt with the Dublin Family Courts in Phoenix House, Smithfiled, Dublin 7. Occasionally in complex matters, where there are significant assets, you may issue the Family Law Divorce Proceedings in the High Court.

Separation Solicitors Dublin

The manner in which one can go about obtaining a legal separation can be distinguished into two broad categories: 

1. Mediation

If you and your spouse have mutually agreed upon the terms of your separation through discussion or by way of mediation, we can draw up a contractually binding agreement, known as the Separation Agreement or a Deed of Separation. It is important to note that agreements reached through mediation or mutual discussion are not legally binding, therefore having a solicitor incorporate the agreement into a legally binding contract is vital.

2. Judicial Separation

If you have been unable to mutually agree on the terms of your separation, we at Hanahoe & Hanahoe are equipped to represent your best interest in proceedings. Judicial separation is where the Dublin Family Law Court makes an Order declaring that you and your spouse are no longer legally obliged to live together. The Court, in this case, can then decide upon the terms of your separation, these terms can include custody and access arrangements for any dependent children, Orders relating to the family home, maintenance and any other assets which are held by you.

Our Family Law solicitors know that these separation proceedings can be distressing and we can assure you that with over 40 years’ experience we have a robust and rounded knowledge of judicial separation

Again, the vast majority of Dublin Judicial Separation dealt with the Dublin Family Courts in Phoenix House, Smithfiled, Dublin 7. Some Family Law Judicial Separation Proceedings are heard in the High Court, but these are generally complex matters, where the assets are very significant

At Hanahoe and Hanahoe solicitors we have a wealth of experience in drafting and negotiating Separation Agreements on behalf of our clients and advising clients on their enforcement and their effect.

Separation Agreements enable married couples to become separated without the necessity of going through the Dublin Family Law Courts. They are legally binding contracts entered into between parties setting out each party’s rights and obligations to the other. Once both party’s reach an agreement, a legally binding contract is drawn up, known as a Deed of Separation.

Separation Agreements generally provide that/for:

• both parts will live separate and apart.
• the occupation and ownership of the family home.
• arrangements with respect to the custody, access, maintenance and lump-sum payments.
• Succession Rights.
• Separation Agreements cannot make Pension Adjustment Orders.
• Once an agreement is reached it can be made a Rule of Court by an application to the Court. Parties cannot obtain a Judicial Separation once they have entered into a formal Deed of Separation, however, they are able to obtain a divorce at a later date, once they meet the