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Locations Personnel

Partners:

Charles E. Stewart John A. Beatty Paul C. Smart Lynne Hyndman Judith McConnell

Solicitors:

Richard Clements Una Fitzgerald Jane Grainger Grainne Heaney Paul Mallon Janeen McKay Joanne Moody Charlie P W Stewart David Sturgess

Useful Links:

Law Society of Northern Ireland Law Society of England & Wales Association of Personal Injury Lawyers Society of Trust and Estate Practictioners UK Government Land Registrars of Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Court Service Office of Public Sector Information The British Institute of Human Rights Human Rights Update

Stewarts Solicitors offer a wide range of services surrounding matrimonial and family law, select one of the links below that relates to your circumstances for more information on how we can help.

Divorce & separation Domestic Violence Children & Adoption

Children & Adoption

All Family Solicitors at Stewarts are accredited members of the Children Order Panel and Collaborative Lawyers Association

Stewarts Solicitors are experienced in assisting parents and guardians of children by providing sound, clear advice on the legal requirements and the legal remedies available in relation to parental responsibility, contact and residence of children, together with Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific Issue Orders.

In cases where Social Services have intervened in respect of children we can provide experienced advice and representation to parents. Our matrimonial and family lawyers have experience in dealing with all types of Public Order cases to include, Care proceedings, Adoption and Secure Accommodation cases.

We can also assist in Private Law proceedings, if you are applying to adopt a child, or if you are objecting to someone trying to adopt your child.

We can arrange consultations at short notice at any of our office locations in Belfast, Ballymena and Newtownards

Frequently asked Q & A's

If I leave will I be allowed to see my children?

The starting point is that contact with both parents is desirable, and likely to be in the child’s best interests, unless there have been allegations of, for example, abuse or neglect.

If you cannot agree a sensible pattern of contact with your spouse/partner, you can ask the court to step in and make an order.

The court will take into account a number of factors; called the “welfare checklist” to decide whether contact is in the child’s best interests.

Such factors include the child’s own wishes and feelings and age. Clearly, contact needs to be age appropriate, and if the child is very young, it might be sensible to increase the level of contact gradually.

If I have parental responsibility for my child do I automatically have contact rights?

Although parental responsibility gives you certain legal rights in relation to the upbringing of your child and gives you some rights in terms of seeing them it does not automatically give you the right to contact them or have them visit of stay with you.

If you cannot agree this amicably with your partner you will need to apply for a Contact Order from the courts.

Am I entitled to child maintenance?

If there are children from the marriage/relationship then it will almost always be necessary for child support to be paid by the non-resident parent. This will either be calculated by the Child Support Agency agreed or in accordance with their formula.

The basic calculation, subject to contact arrangements and certain other factors, is 15% of net income for one child, 20% for two and 25% for three or more children. To calculate the potential amount visit the Child Support Agency website www.csa.gov.uk

Do I have rights to see my grandchildren?

The legal system recognises the importance of grandparents and offers an opportunity to apply through the court system for a contact order if necessary.

Grandparents do not have an automatic right to make that application and you would have to apply to the court for permission to do so but provided that you it can be shown that the grandparent has had a meaningful and close relationship with the grandchildren then the court is likely to grant permission to be able to pursue an application for contact.

Can the children still live with me?

Usually if the children are settled with a particular parent, who is their primary carer, the courts will be reluctant to disturb the status quo except in extreme cases, such as where there have been allegations of domestic violence or child abuse.

The court does have the power to make orders determining when the child will see his or her parents (contact) and where the child will live (residence) if there is a dispute.

Normally, the courts operate a “no order” principle, which means that they will not interfere by making an order unless doing so is in the child’s best interests.

I cannot afford the CSA demands what can I do?

A number of assessments made by the CSA are incorrect. You should check carefully all the information used by the CSA to make their assessment, especially income. You are legally bound to pay the amount requested by the CSA until such a time as your circumstances change.

Testimonials

"Thank you for a friendly, helpful and professional service,"

- John "I have used your firm for over 40 years and continue to do so. Thank you for the excellent service."

- Edward "Excellent service, my family are no strangers to this Firm."

- Anne I was treated with courtesy and queries were dealt with effectively. A very helpful document explaining the firm’s fees, procedure etc. was sent out at the outset. My Solicitor was very efficient and professional.

- A Very well treated, everything was explained in a very easy to understand way.

- William The level of service was excellent and I would recommend your service to any of my family and friends. A tremendous firm to use.

- Ryan "Excellent service, my family are no strangers to this Firm."

- Anne "Efficient, professional and understanding. I was relaxed and made to feel at ease."

- Stephen "Quick to act in response to first contact. I was treated with efficiency and courtesy. I appreciate that I was helped through the process in a way that was totally stress free."

- James "My Solicitor was extremely polite and friendly. Great communication and very helpful."

- Frances "My Solicitor was very informative and always kept me up to date on the progress of the case."

- Amee "My Solicitor was very good explaining my case and was friendly to speak with when dealing with my claim."

- Elizabeth "Great care was taken to make sure I was recovering well and was fully aware of the legal process and provided excellent customer service. "

- Paula "I was very impressed with the professionalism of the firm. All staff I spoke to were courteous and very pleasant to deal with at all times. All correspondence was handled and processed very quickly."

- Wesley "Very Polite and dealt with the utmost of efficiency."

- Ronald "Everything was explained clearly, what was happening, and how the case would progress."

- Mervyn "Words cannot describe the excellent manner in which I was treated considering the sensitive nature of the case."

- W "Excellent"

- Claire "I have recommended you to my friends & family should they need help, and will continue to do so."

- Hazel

Proud supporters of

ARDS Rugby Football Club

ARDS Rugby Football Club was founded and has been in continual operation since 1928. Since that time ARDS RFC has become a pillar of the Newtownards community promoting strong community ties and encouraging participation by all - they currently turn out 4 adult sides and 4 youth sides on a regular basis in official competitions.
Stewarts Solicitors are proud to support ARDS RFC and if you would like to read more about the club then please click the link below to visit their website.

Visit ARDS RFC Website

CIYMS

CIYMS stands for the Church of Ireland Young Mens Society and comprises of over 1600 members. It is one of the oldest and most important sporting and leisure organisations in Belfast, providing a range of sporting, leisure and social activities for all ages unequalled by any other sports and leisure organisation in the city.
For more information please visit their website using the link below

Visit CIYMS Website

Breast Cancer Campaign

Breast Cancer Campaign is a charity dedicated to funding research for one of the biggest causes of death for women in the UK. Their mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative, world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, preventment and cure.
You can read more about breast cancer campaign by clicking the link below to their website.

Visit Breast Cancer Campaign Website

Ataxia UK

Ataxia UK is a charity which is dedicated to providing care and researching a cure for people suffering from Ataxia.
Ataxia itself is a name given to a series of neurological disorders that affect movement, balance, speech and coordination and affects around 10,000 adults and several thousand more children across the United Kingdom.
If you would like more information about the charity and how to get involved in supporting their cause, please click the link below to their webiste.

Visit Ataxia UK Website

UNICEF

UNICEF is the world's leading organisation protecting the rights of children and young people. UNICEF is working in over 190 countries to protect children's right to be educated, to be healthy, to a childhood, to be treated fairly and to be heard.
For more information on UNICEF and to find out how to get involved with their work please click the link below to visit the UNICEF website.

Visit UNICEF Website

North Down Cricket Club

North Down Cricket Club is one of the oldest clubs in Ireland, founded in 1857. The Club is situated close to the shores of Strangford Lough in the town of Comber, famous for Thomas Andrews, designer of 'Titanic', whiskey, potatoes and cricket.
For more information on the North Down Cricket Club including match news, fixture lists and player information then please click the link below to visit their website.

Visit NDCC Website

Jeans for Genes

Jeans for Genes is a UK based charity that aims to change the world for children with genetic disorders. They hold regular fundraisers and have an annual "Jeans for Genes Day" which takes place on the 7th October every year.
If you would like to read more about the Jeans for Genes charity and find out how to get involved with raising funds for their cause, please use the link below to visit their website.

Visit Jeans for Genes Website

Tiny Life

Formerly known as NIMBA, TinyLife is Northern Ireland's pemature and vulnerable baby charity, dedicated to reducing premature birth, illness, disability and death in babies born here.
TinyLife is a fantastic cause that we are proud to support, if you wish to read more about Tiny Life and get involved with their projects then use the link below to visit their website.

Visit Tiny Life Website