A Typical Client
What does a “typical” Beyer Family Law client look like? Though every case is different, over the years certain patterns have emerged. Many of the people who find their way to us share a similar set of circumstances, and understanding those circumstances might help you decide whether we are the right firm for you.
An international life
Most of our clients have lives that cross borders. Perhaps they grew up in one country, married in another, and are now raising a family somewhere else entirely. They may hold dual nationality, or maybe their partner does. The family home might be in London, but there are properties, business interests or financial connections in Germany, France, the Middle East, the United States or elsewhere.
This international dimension is often what makes their situation so complicated, and it is precisely where our expertise as international family lawyers in London lies. When a family’s life spans more than one jurisdiction, questions that might seem straightforward in a purely domestic case – where to divorce, which country’s courts should decide financial matters, or where the children should live – become highly strategic decisions that can shape the entire outcome.
Questions such as “where should I divorce?” or “can I divorce in England if I live abroad?” can therefore be much more important than they first appear. International divorce jurisdiction can affect both the process and the financial outcome, which is why speaking to an experienced international divorce lawyer in London at an early stage can be particularly important.
A significant imbalance
In many of the cases we handle, one partner has been the primary earner or controls the majority of the family’s wealth, while the other has focused on raising the children and managing the household. That second partner, very often a mother, may have given up a career, relocated internationally for the relationship, or spent years building a life that revolves around the family rather than generating independent income.
When that relationship comes under strain, the financial imbalance can feel paralysing. There may be uncertainty about what assets exist, where they are held, or what a fair divorce settlement might look like. Sometimes there is a sense that the other side has already taken steps to protect their position.
For families with an international life, this uncertainty can be magnified. A divorce with overseas assets might involve property in several countries, foreign bank accounts, pensions, companies or other financial interests. Establishing the complete financial picture is an essential part of reaching an appropriate international divorce financial settlement. Our advice on financial claims and settlements explains some of the issues that can arise.
We see this regularly, and it is one of the areas where early specialist advice makes the greatest difference. England is widely recognised as one of the most protective jurisdictions in the world for the financially weaker party, whether the couple is married or not. Understanding what English law can offer, and how to secure the right jurisdiction, is often the most important first step.
Married, or not
Not all of our clients are married. We represent a significant number of mothers who have been in long-term relationships and have children with their partner, but who never formalised the arrangement through marriage. Many of these clients assume they have no rights, particularly if they are living outside the UK.
That assumption is often wrong. Under English law, the courts have powers to make substantial financial provision for children, and by extension for the parent who cares for them, regardless of whether the parents were ever married. In cases involving significant resources, this can include provision of a home, maintenance, school fees and more.
For international families, questions about child maintenance can become particularly difficult where one parent lives abroad or family resources are spread between countries. Advice on international child maintenance may therefore form part of the wider strategy.
The legal route is different from divorce, but the practical outcomes can be equally meaningful.
Whether a client comes to us as a spouse or as an unmarried partner, the starting point is the same: we need to understand the full picture before advising on the best path forward.
Children at the heart of it
Almost all of our typical clients have children. And in every case, the children’s wellbeing sits at the centre of everything we do.
Cross-border families face particular challenges when parents separate. Where should the children live? Can one parent relocate with them to another country? How should contact with the other parent work when the parents are in different jurisdictions?
These questions are legally complex and emotionally charged. An international child law solicitor in London needs to understand both the legal framework and the human reality of families whose lives span different countries.
We have extensive experience with international custody matters, relocation applications and cases involving the Hague Convention. Where a parent is considering moving abroad with a child, obtaining specialist advice about international children and relocation issues at an early stage can be essential.
Our aim is always to find arrangements that work for the children and for the parent who has day-to-day responsibility for their care.
Complex international divorce finances
The cases we handle tend to involve a degree of financial complexity. There may be business interests, trust structures, properties across multiple countries, foreign pensions or assets that are not immediately visible.
An international divorce with foreign assets requires not only legal expertise but also the ability to work with forensic accountants, valuers and international lawyers to build a clear and accurate picture of the family’s resources.
English courts take non-disclosure very seriously, and there are robust legal tools available to ensure transparency. We are experienced in using those tools effectively and in advising clients who suspect that the financial picture they have been given is incomplete.
For someone facing complicated international finances, finding a complex divorce finances solicitor in London who understands both English family law and the practical difficulties of tracing and valuing assets overseas can make a significant difference.
A need for someone who understands
Many of the people we help are going through one of the most difficult periods of their lives. They are often far from their own family and support network, navigating an unfamiliar legal system, and dealing with the emotional weight of a separation while trying to protect their children’s future.
For German-speaking clients in particular, being able to discuss difficult family and financial issues in their own language can be invaluable. Whether you are looking for a German-speaking divorce lawyer in London, a German family lawyer in London, or advice concerning an Anglo-German divorce, you can also visit our German-language family law pages.
Between us, we bring not only legal expertise but a genuine understanding of what it means to live between countries. We can advise in English, German and French, and we are familiar with the expectations and anxieties that come with cross-border family life.
Does this sound like you?
If any of this feels familiar, it may be worth having a conversation.
Perhaps you are living overseas and wondering whether you can pursue a divorce in England while living abroad. Perhaps your spouse has started proceedings in another country and you need urgent advice about international divorce jurisdiction. Or perhaps you are concerned about children, overseas property, business interests or other assets abroad.
You do not need to have made any decisions yet.
We offer a free initial telephone call where we can listen to your situation and help you understand what options are available. Often the most valuable thing we can do is help a client understand the landscape before they decide how to move forward.
You can contact Beyer Family Law, call us on +44 (0)20 8616 8560 or email mail@beyerfamilylaw.com.
Beyer Family Law Solicitors are based in central London and specialise in divorce, international divorce and family law, with particular expertise in cross-border cases involving Germany and France.
