Emmersons' senior partner Jacqueline Emmerson is head of the family department and is a member of the Law Society's Specialist Family Law Panel.

She is also one of a limited number of solicitors in the area who deals with the complexity of care proceedings on behalf of parents and other relatives.

Dissolution

This is the name given to the process which legally ends a Civil Partnership. The procedure is almost identical to divorce proceedings. It enables you and your partner to arrange your financial affairs and to have them sanctioned by the court if necessary.

The grounds for dissolution are as follows:-

1. Unreasonable behaviour by your partner.
2. Desertion, where your partner has left you for a period of at least two years.
3. Two years separation from your partner and they consent to the dissolution.
4. Five years separation from your partner in which case their consent is not necessary.

Click here for what you should bring to
a first meeting