INTERNATIONAL FAMILY LAW

The specialist divorce and family lawyers at Cumberland Ellis, based in our Central London offices, have a wide range of experience, much of it international. Our clients come from all walks of life and praise our combination of practical advice, tenacity, expertise and above all our caring approach to this most sensitive area.

There are 5 points we want you to know:

1. We know what we are talking about. We are accredited experts in this complex area. You need the right advice from the start and throughout the changes that are happening. Our approachable team includes collaborative lawyers and an accredited mediator.
2. Divorce law is different in different countries. The eligibility for divorce and the outcome differs widely. So for example in Malta, there is no divorce. Within the EU, where you start the divorce automatically dictates the law that governs the financial settlement. In the rest of the world, it is a significant factor.
3. The law governing financial outcomes is different in different countries. For example, in England and Wales the starting point is whether it is fair to divide the assets equally. In Greece, the starting point for awards is 33% of the assets generated during the marriage.
4. Time is of the essence. This is of paramount importance within the EU because the first person to get a claim before the court can dictate which law will apply. This cannot be changed later. It is also important in the rest of the world.
5. Prevention is better than cure. It is sensible to ensure you have a pre-nuptial/civil partnership or cohabitation agreement and, where relevant, shareholders’/partnership agreements about business assets and carefully drafted trust settlements.