Vanessa Gardiner Family Solicitor & Family Mediator

31/08/2026

Are you getting married and would like advice on protecting your family wealth - you may like to consider a Pre-Nuptial Agreement or if you are already married a Post-Nuptial Agreement.

Many people now have Pre-Nuptial Agreements prepared before marriage. It is much akin to obtaining an insurance policy - you hope you never need it but if you do it is ready and waiting.

Whilst Pre-Nuptial Agreements are not legally binding which means the Court is not obligated to automatically enforce it, the Court most certainly pay close attention to what they say, what financial provision they make for spouses and children and if that provision will meet their housing, income and pension needs in particular.

It is an opportunity to disclose your wealth and provide transparency of financial information from the outset, have amicable discussions around what a reasonable division of finances would be if the marriage came to an end in the future and a legal document you can refer back to at the worst of time when you are going through a divorce (and most likely feeling less generous, more defensive and more anxious).

If prepared with legal advice, a reasonable period before the wedding (a minimum of 28 days) but ideally consider this at least 6 months in advance of the wedding day, without duress and full financial disclosure you should expect your Pre-Nuptial Agreement to be relied upon in future divorce proceedings. It is a way of narrowing the issues and limiting financial claims that can be brought to needs as opposed to overall sharing of all the assets.

It can save a lot of time and money later down the line to have a Pre-Nuptial Agreement from the outset.

To arrange a fixed fee consultation and discuss your potential Pre or Post-Nuptial Agreement needs you can visit my website at www.vanessagardinersupervision.co.uk/family-law/ and complete the web contact form or email me directly at [email protected]

24/08/2026

Getting divorced is not an easy decision. Often one person has been considering this for up to 2 years before they inform their spouse they wish to bring the marriage to an end.

This does not mean that getting divorce has to be a battle and if reframed can be the beginning of a new chapter for both involved.

Getting divorced can be straightforward if proper time and consideration is given to how to go about it.

My top tips are:-
1. Take legal advice early. Ask for recommendations and contact a family law specialist, ideally Resolution member, directly for an appointment. Finding out the options, likely timescales and potential legal costs gives you information to help set expectations early and make preparations. Make sure you give it the necessary time to be resolved, as putting time restraints on the process will only put you under unnecessary pressure during negotiation.
2. Take financial advice early. Speak to your financial advisor/accountant or ask for recommendations and even better use a Resolution Accredited Financial Advisor who understands the intricacies of divorce proceedings and can offer financial insight.
3. Consider a consultation with a divorce coach. They can help you to focus on yourself and your future, set objectives and find purpose which can be very helpful when going through a life changing event like divorce proceedings. I have worked with Claire Macklin Divorce Coach with numerous clients and they have always found their work to be valuable.
4. Read your correspondence, emails and letters from your family solicitor carefully. Make a list of your questions and send them altogether not in multiple emails. Read their list of requirements from you, provide the documents they request & let them know if you need help or more advice rather than dwelling on concerns alone.
5. Wherever possible try to maintain respectful communication with your ex-spouse but protect your privacy and boundaries. There is a difference between being informative, friendly and firm whilst maintaining your boundaries and feeling you must capitulate to their every need/want to stay on good terms. Being amicable and being controlled are different.

Getting divorced is a process, it takes time and requires a lot of information to be shared. However, because it is a process it means that each step leads on to the next. If you follow your family solicitor's advice and instructions you should be able to move forward and make progress from the start in the knowledge it will take a number of months to be resolved but that it will come to an end with the right outcome being achieved.

You can arrange a fixed fee appointment with me by visiting my website www.vanessagardinersupervision.co.uk/family-law/ and completing the contact form or email me directly at [email protected]

17/08/2026

If you have children with your partner or spouse and have or are separating there are rights and responsibilities that you need to be aware of relating to your children:-

Child Maintenance
When children spend unequal amounts of time with a parent during separation it will be necessary to work out how much child maintenance should be paid to the other parent towards the needs of the children and school fees. A parent can also earn more than then Child Maintenance Service income threshold and may require a further calculation or a Court Order.

Parental Responsibility
Do you have Parental Responsibility for your child? If not, an Agreement or Court Order can be made to legally give you Parental Responsibility which means that you can make decisions about children financially, medically and even relating to education and schooling in separation.

Declaration of Parentage
If there has been a mistake or you have not been included on a child's birth certificate it made need to be changed. As a legal document it requires a Court Order although it can be still be agreed.

If you believe you need some legal advice in relation to your children you can visit my website at www.vanessagardinersupervision.co.uk/family-law/ and complete my contact form or email me directly at [email protected] to arrange a fixed fee appointment.

10/08/2026

For separated families, taking children on holiday and in particular out of the country for a sunny holiday can lead to a number of challenges. There can be issues gaining consent of the other parent, transfer of children's Passports between parents between holidays and agreeing the dates when children will spend time with each parent.

I can offer pragmatic advice to assist in reaching agreements over holiday dates, as well as the legal issues over possession of Passports and obtaining consent or Court permission to take children on holiday.

What should be a fun and enjoyable time for adults and children can become a difficult and upsetting situation especially if holidays are cancelled, threatened to be cancelled or delayed.

If you need legal advice to help you plan your school holidays and ensure you and your children will be able to enjoy your time away you can email me and arrange an initial consultation at [email protected] and visit my website for more information www.vanessagardinersupervision.co.uk/family-law/

22/06/2026

As a family lawyer I spend my time doing a variety of different types of work. Today's focus is on arrangements for children.

* How much time should children spend with each parent, and/or grandparents?

*What might those arrangements be, which days and what holiday time will they spend with each parent?

*Are there concerns for the children's safeguarding and are measures needed to be put in place for their protection?

*Would either parent benefit from a Separated Parenting Course or Co-Parenting Course, or some other forms of education around safeguarding and parenting?

*Are there any allegations of domestic abuse or abuse against children causing them harm or trauma? What impact should this have on child arrangements?

There are many points to consider and I can advise and support you in working through these challenging issues.

🏳 It is always beneficial to try to negotiate through Collaborative law, solicitors negotiation, directly or mediation.

🤝 Where there is agreement a Parenting Plan can be drawn up.

👩‍⚖️ Where the arrangements require formal Court Order I can advise you in Court or Arbitration proceedings.

Putting the children first and at the heart of family circumstances.

15/06/2026

Being a family solicitor means I work with clients across a range of different legal issues. Everyone knows family lawyers advise and support clients through divorce and separation. However, there is so much more to our work than this.

Today, I am talking about Parental Responsibility and Declarations of Parentage.

One parent may not have been included on a child's birth certificate. This can happen for a range of reasons, not necessarily maliciously or with malintent. Understanding our heritage, who we are and where we come from is very important to forming the identity for the child. For parents if they aren't registered on the birth certificate they do not have legal recognition of their parentage or Parental Responsibility.

A parent only has Parental Responsibility for a child if they have a Parental Responsibility Agreement or they are registered on the birth certificate. Parental Responsibility is the legal status that gives a person the rights, duties, and authority to make major decisions about a child’s upbringing until they turn 18 including medical, education, schooling & assessment decisions. Without Parental Responsibility you may be excluded from those decisions being made about your child.

I can advise and assist you in seeking to amend the Birth Certificate or seek a Parental Responsibility Agreement.

13/06/2026

🤔Can I afford to get divorced or separate?

🤝Well, lets face it, no one really wants to spend their hard earned cash on fees, but in to get the legal advice you need it is a necessity. There are ways in which you can ensure your monies go further and here are my practical tips I shared with Talented Ladies Club.

🕑It is quick read but hopefully some helpful pointers for managing your legal fees and making sure you get the and support you need to move forward.

Has your marriage come to an end? Worried about the expense of separating? Find out how to save money on legal fees when getting divorced.

12/06/2026

It is a privilege to have my joint article with Claire Macklin (divorce coach) published in Talented Ladies Club.

💡We gave our joint top tips for when suffering from in a relationship.

🫶Domestic abuse takes many forms including control and if you or a friend need follow the tips in our article to understand how you can take steps to protect and empower yourself.

Are you in a financially abusive relationship? How to spot the signs, how to escape, and how to protect yourself when getting divorced.

11/06/2026

I will be posting about the different legal services I provide as a family solicitor:-

☀️Collaborative Law

🗣For those unfamiliar with Collaborative practice, in essence 2 Collaborative family lawyers working with 2 clients, in face to face four-way meetings, discussing the issues, options & agreeing outcomes together for potentially any family law matter (save for protective
orders).

💻Work takes place outside of those meetings which lawyers facilitate including divorce proceedings being commenced, gathering information & financial disclosure, considering possible outcomes, preparation of
documents, instruction of experts.

🌼I am always working with clients to understand what is important to them & what do they need to discuss or address. Communication of these issues can then brought to the meetingsfor open discussion in person.

🤝When an agreement is reached by the clients, with agency and
being actively involved, they are significantly more likely to adhere
to it. They are invested, enhancing trust in each other and hopefully
having said to each other what needs to be said and heard to move forward in their lives. This will give their decisions longevity.

🫶Right now, human connection couldn't be more important for clients & us as lawyers.

10/06/2026

Collaborative law has been around for over 20 years in the Uk, but it is still a breath of fresh air to practice this way and the process hasn't aged, instead it has grown and adapted and is as applicable and beneficial as ever. Despite this it is still the lesser known process option for clients going through divorce. I think this is about to change though.

Unlike mediation, the general publics knowledge and understanding of Collaborative Law is likely nil to low despite the many benefits of utilising this way of dealing with issues arising from family break down and separation.

Family Law Week have published my article on what I believe is the rise of Collaborative Law. More and more lawyers I speak to are completing the Collaborative training and want to engage not only in working this with clients but with each other as practitioners as well.

For more information about resolving your family dispute out of Court and in a family centred way check out my website: https://vanessagardinersupervision.co.uk/family-law/

Find the Thames Valley Collaborative Lawyers website here: https://thamesvalley-collaborativelawyers.org/reading-central

clear. compassionate. Family law. Clear, compassionate family law advice from Vanessa Gardiner — helping clients move through divorce, separation, child arrangements and financial matters with practical guidance and constructive outcomes. meet vanessa Vanessa Gardiner is an experienced family soli...