The Family Practice is a family law solicitors in Dublin that was set up with a simple mission. To help good people achieve good outcomes in Divorces where assets are involved.
We were established by law partners, Jeremy Ring and Catriona O’Rourke, who between them have more than 32 years of experience as solicitors, in the Irish courts’ system and in family law in Ireland.
Catriona has a wide experience of the theory and practical application of Family and Divorce Law, with a deep knowledge of the court system, the judges, the case law, and everything else involved in ensuring optimal resolution of divorces for our clients.
Jeremy has over 16 years of experience working as a lawyer on the frontlines of the court system and has been a court advocate appearing in Irish courts and tribunals of all descriptions for the duration of that time. He has also tutored students in the Law Society on the court system.
Combined with this family law experience and knowledge, we bring a human element and empathy to dealing with Divorces. We know the Divorce process can be a tough time for clients and set out to make it better.
Whether you are looking to protect your wealth or secure your financial position for the future, our family law solicitors can help you.
We really want to deliver Good Divorce Outcomes for Good People in the case of a marriage breakdown. We understand that a divorce or marriage breakdown can be a traumatic and difficult time. This level of stress and emotions can affect decision-making, particularly when there are children involved. We see it as our duty to ensure the confidentiality and sensitivity of this matter are respected throughout the duration of the case and beyond for any of our family law clients.
In doing this, we look to resolve problems sensitively, yet firmly, through constructive, respectful communication with all parties involved in the divorce process
Our family law solicitors will always treat all parties involved with respect and compassion – while maintaining a firm stance and not losing sight of the goal which is to fight for the very best outcome for our clients along every step in your case. We ensure the benefits of any steps taken throughout the divorce process are balanced against your own financial or emotional costs – and that you are always aware of your options.
While we will always be your champion, that requires honesty. Part of our job is to advise you if your ambitions for this divorce settlement are unrealistic. But please be under no illusions, when you work with us, we have only one goal, to get you the best divorce outcome.
We’ve helped many clients negotiate family law issues. So we understand what you’re going through and can guide you through the process, giving you the advice you can trust.
We have 15 years of experience as Family Law Solicitors in Dublin and know the family law court process and players very well. We bring this combination of knowledge and real-world practical and tactical experience to bear for family law clients, guiding them through the process.
If your case does have to go to family court, we will be by your side every step of the way. We have experience in taking cases all the way to the High Court if needed, so you can trust that we have the expertise needed to get the best outcome for you and your family.
We are always working on your case, even if sometimes you can’t see it, so don’t see the value of the work. So, we promise to keep you informed at all stages as to exactly where we are in getting your case to the finishing line, and moving on to the next chapter of your life.
Our divorce solicitors firm in Dublin is located at The Ormond Building, 31-36 Ormond Quay Upper, just a short walk from O’Connell St. So if you’re looking for a Dublin Family Law Solicitors that specializes in assets, we will be a great fit.
But first, it’s important to know why you need a family law solicitor when there are assets involved.
If you have a property, a pension, or other assets in Ireland and are divorcing, you need a family law solicitor. The reason is simple. People think that divorces are all about the family home, but in fact, other assets, for example, a pension, can be even more valuable. The family courts in Ireland know this and want to ensure equity, so any divorce agreement must be court-approved. We are experts in this process. Securing the best future for you is our priority.
It is always helpful to have a solicitor assist you with your case in the Family Court. If you are entitled to Legal Aid, then we would always suggest a person utilise the services of a specialist Family Law solicitor in Dublin. If you do not qualify for legal aid then the more pertinent question is whether you will get value for paying the necessarily high fees of a solicitor. This of course depends on what is at stake. We would be of the view that any orders made in relation to your children are worth paying money for. We specialize in Divorces and judicial separations where there is property and pensions involved. We would be very firm in our opinion that in these circumstances that a solicitor is essential. We are aware from almost 2 decades of experience doing these cases that there is a lot of complexity involved, not to mention that these cases impact your financial position for the rest of your life. Where there are no such assets then people can process divorces/separations themselves. It can be quite stressful and difficult but we appreciate that it can be hard to justify solicitors’ fees when there is no property or pension at stake.
In the Dublin District Court, solicitors advocate on behalf of their clients in relation to Domestic Violence/Custody/Access/Guardianship and Maintenance. In a Divorce case, the solicitor fights on the client’s behalf to achieve the best financial settlement available depending on the circumstances of each case. A good, experienced specialized Family Law solicitor will tailor that financial settlement to the client’s “wish list” i.e. the priorities outlined by the client. They will tailor this settlement with the benefit of their practical knowledge and experience of innumerable cases and situations. In a very nuts and bolts analysis, the solicitor prepares all the required documentation to achieve the divorce. In addition, they will ensure through careful examination that the full financial position of the marriage is before the court and that no money is hidden from the courts’ view. Each case usually involves engaging a specialist barrister to advocate on the client’s behalf. The solicitor importantly also acts as a 3rd party in the sometimes difficult negotiations between spouses. This has been likened to being our client’s sword and shield.
In general, it is thought that a Family Law solicitor in a divorce case in Ireland would cost anything ranging from €10,000 to €20,000 depending on the complexity of the case. We completely understand the difficulty the general public has in comprehending how these fees are justified. We will attempt to justify it by simply stating that family law doesn’t exist in a vacuum apart from other areas of law. We draw on the same pool of talent for Solicitors/ Legal Executives, etc., like all other areas of law and Irish society. The reality is that a newly qualified solicitor can earn €70,000 because of the location of Dublin being the European home of the majority of some of the world’s biggest companies. As well as the fact that Dublin is an expensive place to run a business in. Solicitors are not exempt from electricity, etc. Very simply put, family law is competing with solicitors who are being paid by government/huge companies who can easily afford to pay €450-€550 per hour. These solicitors’ firms can hence easily pay solicitors these top wages. Therefore, it is in those circumstances that these solicitors’ fees can appear high to the customers.
We at the Family Practice recognise these high costs of family law solicitors in Dublin and have attempted to manage these costs by identifying each and every piece of work needed to complete your case and putting a price on this work. This led to us developing a costs calculator – which provided the customer with an estimate of their potential legal costs based on knowing certain aspects of their case. The key is that we only get paid for precisely what work we do. If you or your spouse don’t have a pension, then this removes a lot of the technical boring legal work required and therefore reduces the price. Similarly, if you or your partner is not self-employed then the work involved in investigating the financial position is greatly reduced. If you want to find out more please check out our costs page. Some solicitors understandably require payment upfront of their fees as they feel that they will have to pay staff, outgoings, etc., all while the case is ongoing, and don’t wish to take any risk in not being paid.
We were conscious that, at such a difficult time in clients’ lives, people find it hard to pay huge fees all at once. So we have developed a stage payment system, which means that we only ask for payment in advance as we reach certain milestones in a client’s case.
Family Law focuses mostly on domestic issues involving family and relationships such as marriage, adoption, divorce, and child custody, and the possession of assets related to these areas, among others.
While at the Family Practice, we focus mostly on helping people through divorces where assets are involved, the field of Family Law covers a wide range of areas. The main topics it covers are:
It is important when we have our initial meeting that we develop a good understanding of your situation and how we can help as effectively as possible. We will of course have a number of questions for you in order to develop this understanding but many clients often wonder what they should ask us so that they know they can trust us to do the best job possible for them. If you are meeting with us, or any other family law solicitors, we recommend that you ask the following questions.
– Will you be handling my case personally or passing it off to someone else at your firm?
– What kind of experience do you have dealing with assets and handling financial settlements?
– How well do you know the local family court judges?
– How much will you charge me?
– What would you determine to be a success in my case?
There are many reasons you could possibly need a Family Lawyer. A wide variety of potential scenarios that involve disputes and settlements with regard to Family Relationships may require you to hire one. Mediation and negotiation should play a large role in the overall process but not all solicitors will specialize in this area. Certainly, if there is an ongoing disagreement that will require court involvement and finances are on the table, then it is highly recommended to hire a local family law solicitor.
You should certainly hire a Family Law Solicitor if you have a property, a pension, or other assets and are divorcing, Often, personal assets like pensions aren’t taken into account as much as shared assets like the family home, which can be even more valuable. Your local court will know this and want to ensure equity, so any divorce agreement must be court-approved. We are expert family law solicitors in Dublin and can help you with this process. Securing the best future for you is our priority.
Additionally, if you have been trying to do a DIY Divorce and have run into problems such as your partner not responding or the DIY Company can’t help you. You should engage a local family law solicitor as you need to apply for judgment in default.
The courts in Ireland deal with all kinds of applications ranging from applications to restore a driving license to applications for late openings in Public houses. It also deals with disputes concerning neighbours disputes, personal injury compensation cases to ultimately the most serious of cases such as murder. Family Law is focused on the discreet subset of applications and disputes surrounding relationships and family and children. These can range from applications for guardianship of a child, applications for maintenance for a spouse or a child, and domestic violence applications. It also focuses on disputes or rulings on the division of property and assets following a marriage breakdown in Divorce and judicial separation. Effectively the purpose of family law is to regulate and decide disputes involving cases where relationships are involved.
The cases that involve relationships and children are generally the most common. This is the common thread that binds these cases. In many ways legally they are very similar to a solicitor to any other cases that come before the court. They are based on the adversarial model in the same way as every other court case. What this means is that it is a bit like a boxing match where both parties come to the fight (armed with their lawyer) and fight their corner to the very best of their ability and the judge rules on if they are playing within the rules and ultimately decides who wins. Where it differs substantially is that family law cases are heard in private. So any member of the public can walk into court and observe the proceedings in every other court in the country (bar certain exceptions). In a family law case, the public waits outside while the legal people and parties to the case are only allowed into the courtroom. The other main difference is that in family law cases, there isn’t a formal winner. For instance, in a Divorce case, a judge makes orders as to the division of assets. It is a matter of opinion who has come out in a better position from this division. The types of cases are establishing the parentage of a child, maintenance for spouse or child, deciding on guardianship or custody of a child, deciding on whether a requirement for a parent to sign a passport application form can be ignored, deciding on the division of assets in a divorce or judicial separation, granting barring orders or safety orders, deciding on whether children should be returned to this country if taken without parental consent, adoption cases.
Additionally, if you have been trying to do a DIY Divorce and have run into problems such as your partner not responding or the DIY Company can’t help you. You should engage a local family law solicitor as you need to apply for judgment in default.
Family law solicitors deal with any cases that come within the general umbrella of family law. The most common type of applications are applications for spousal maintenance or maintenance for children, applications for guardianship, Applications for custody and access to children, and applications for domestic violence orders such as barring orders or safety orders In addition also the more common application is where one or other of the spouses wish to end a marriage. Less common work includes work surrounding the establishment of the paternity of a child, work involving the return of a child which has been removed from the jurisdiction, work involving adoption or surrogacy, prenuptial agreements.
Additionally, if you have been trying to do a DIY Divorce and have run into problems such as your partner not responding or the DIY Company can’t help you.
You should engage a local family law solicitor as you need to apply for judgment in default.
As the range and amount of laws that have been enacted in the last 15 years has increased dramatically, it is becoming more difficult for a solicitor to keep abreast of every aspect of law. It is for this reason that increasingly solicitors specialise in specific areas of law be that conveyancing(buying and selling houses) or criminal law or in this case family law. It could be said that the need to engage a specialist family law solicitor is even more acute than in other areas of law for two reasons. The first is that as every lawyer will tell you, the practice of law and the theory of law are two very different things. One can only accumulate this practical knowledge from actually doing the cases in court as in family law unlike other court cases one cannot observe cases as only the parties themselves are allowed to be present for cases. In addition family lawyers in general have had to develop good interpersonal skills from being familiar with the huge emotional turmoil being experienced by their clients. A solicitor who engages in the legal work of buying a property would not be required to exhibit similar empathy and understanding with their clients. It’s purely a transactional matter. As to whether you should represent yourself in family law proceedings I have discussed this here.
In the same way as when one engages any service provider be that electrician, mechanic, or solicitor a personal recommendation from someone you trust is almost always the safest method. Be careful that this personal recommendation is based on the same requirements that you need. A person who recommends you a solicitor who did a great job in the sale of their house is not worth as much as a recommendation from someone who has engaged a family solicitor for a high monetary value divorce.
Compare apples with apples. If one cannot obtain a personal recommendation, the internet can be a useful tool to find your solicitor. In general, like everything else, businesses in their website and marketing message have a clear idea of the customers they wish to attract. Solicitors are no different. If a solicitor’s website has a very confrontational message, then this will appeal to the person who perceives that they want a “rottweiler” for their case. In contrast, this solicitor would be totally unsuitable to the person who wants to keep things broadly amicable with their ex-partner and who recognises that a confrontational/bullying style rarely yields results. When choosing ultimately what solicitor you wish to engage, remember that family law is about relationships. It is not like a property transaction which is purely transactional and price may be the biggest determining factor. Remember in family law, you will have to spend a lot of time with this solicitor over the next two years so you want to like engaging with him or her. If you don’t have that connection, It would be wise to have a meeting with another solicitor until you find one that feels right for you.
So for people who wish to apply for Judicial separation, they must fulfill the following grounds for divorce:
If you are genuinely confident that you can agree on everything with your spouse then a quick divorce can happen in approximately 8 months. As you can see the polar opposite case where everything goes wrong etc can take 4 years. I think it is sensible to budget for 18 months to 2 years. As a guide for guessing the time just ask yourself will these pain points arise:
Depending on the number of times you answer YES to the above questions, you will have a good read on what your timeline is.
Read more here about how long a divorce takes in Ireland.
A contested divorce in Ireland is where the spouses cannot reach any agreement with one another as to the division of the family assets and/or the custody/access and maintenance of the children. This is a most unfortunate situation and probably only occurs in 10% of the Divorce cases initiated in Ireland. Effectively this means that solicitors have been engaged by both sides and usually a barrister as well. A Civil Bill has been issued setting out the applicant’s side of events, a Defence has been lodged by the person receiving the respondents. As well detailed statements of means of each party together with all vouching documentation has been exchanged and both parties have agreed that everything is in order. Booklets of all this documentation is prepared by each solicitor in the case and usually, a settlement meeting has happened without a resolution. The case is one of 3 cases to be heard on the day and there can be a substantial delay in waiting for this date. Both parties give their evidence and are cross-examined by each other’s barristers. Each side’s counsel makes their submissions and based on all the evidence and paperwork the judge decides how the assets should be divided and all other matters should be decided. The costs of a case being fought ie fully contested requires a lot more legal work and hence the legal fees involved for both sides can increase hugely
You can read more in our article here about uncontested divorce.
The quick answer is No.
Only a court can grant you an order dissolving your marriage.
If there are no assets or pensions of any description of the marriage, then there is no reason why the parties cannot take legal proceedings without a solicitor.
I have previously warned against the pitfalls of a DIY Divorce where there are assets or a pension involved in a divorce and you can read that here.
This is when both spouses agree to the terms of the divorce and can proceed to the next steps in the process by attending court. In this case, a solicitor is not necessarily required but it is important to remember that a divorce solicitor is strongly recommended if there are assets involved.
Yes, always. Marriage and the ending of a marriage is an extremely important formality in Ireland.
Marriages are not entered into lightly like they are in Las Vegas and similarly the marriage is not lightly ended either. In Ireland, before granting a Divorce the judge must satisfy themselves with certain conditions before granting the order.
This includes that the parties have been adequately provided for going into the future.
In Ireland, that literally means that the judge will speak to you in court and ask you questions to satisfy themselves that this is true. It is for this reason that the parties need to physically be present in court. There are exceptions such as where one of the parties has been provided or served with the court papers and actively does not wish to engage with the process. Legal advice should be taken if this situation arises
When dealing with a divorce or separation, especially when assets are involved, it’s crucial to have dependable, experienced Family Law Solicitors. The Family Practice, led by Jeremy Ring and Catriona O’Rourke, is ready to guide you through this challenging period.
We offer expert, empathetic support with a deep understanding of the legal process. Our track record extends over three decades, and our office is conveniently located on Ormond Quay Upper, near O’Connell Street. Don’t navigate this complex time alone, let us secure your future. Reach out to The Family Practice, your dedicated family law solicitors in Dublin.
Find out if we may be able to work together.
Fill out our form in the strictest confidence and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours to discuss if your circumstances are suitable for us to meet with you.
