Family Services

Ola Agbaje is a Partner and Head of the St. John Legal Family team. Ola is a Resolution Accredited Solicitor and Family specialist with vast experience of dealing with all aspects of family law.
We have experience of and deal with the full range of family-related issues from divorce and separation cases, consequential arrangements for children and finance as well as matters such as child abduction and domestic abuse.

How can St. John Legal Help you?

We will help you through the whole process. Where possible we achieve practical and pragmatic solutions as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. We deal with all cases sensitively but particularly those involving children and look at the wider picture. Financial issues and the related proceedings are often complex and if necessary we take more of a robust approach to ensure we protect your rights and put you in the best possible position.

Cohabitation

Where couples live together without getting married, they do not have the same rights as married couples and this can lead to them being in a vulnerable position when a relationship breaks down. The position is often compounded where children are involved. Cohabitation breakdown also often involves issues relating to property and trust law. St. John Legal is well placed to advise and help you with all such issues.
One method by which unmarried couples can avoid at least some issues arising in the event of a breakdown is if they enter into a binding cohabitation agreement before purchasing a property together. St. John Legal can prepare such agreements and advise parties in relation to the issues that may arise.

Financial provision

One of the most important issues of divorce is in respect of financial provision and arrangements. This is often an arduous and stressful process. It can sometimes involve complex analysis of extensive documentation and information. St. John Legal will manage that for you and its expertise is invaluable in protecting your position.

We encourage financial settlement whenever possible and utilise alternative’ dispute resolution processes such as mediation if appropriate. We are skilled negotiators and work with expert Counsel if required and justified by the circumstances of a case.

Children

In child law cases the interests of the children are the primary consideration. We always deal with these cases sensitively and encourage a conciliatory approach by all parties to achieve practical solutions whenever possible to ensure the minimum amount of distress.

In cases where agreed terms of settlement are not possible and it becomes necessary to resolve a dispute through a court process, we have significant experience of dealing with such proceedings.

How can St. John Legal help you?

Our team can help with any child-related issue or dispute, including where they should live or the scope of contact. This is known as a Child Arrangement Order.

We also advise on Prohibited Steps Orders where the Court is requested to make a change to the rights of a parent, parental responsibility and to stop a parent taking action. St. John Legal also advises on Specific Issue Orders by which the Court sanctions specific steps being taken as well as other issues.

We are experienced in dealing with complex family cases. Please give us a call in confidence to discuss any issue or concern you may have without obligation.