Solicitor Agency Instructions

This page is intended primarily for other solicitors.

 

We know that it can be difficult to find a good solicitor agent to represent your client at a court which is out of your area, particularly at short notice, or if your client has Legal Aid.

 

Subject to availability, we are happy to appear as your agents in family law matters in our local courts which are: –

 

• Bristol County Court.

• Exeter County Court.

• Taunton County Court.

• Weston-super-Mare County Court.

• Barnstable County Court.

• Torquay and Newton Abbot County Court.

 

The main focus of our practice is on financial issues, but John Pratley has more than 25 years’ experience in family law, and has covered pretty much all aspects in that time. He was on the Children Panel for ten years. We are happy to accept instructions in proceedings with which he feels comfortable:-

 

• Ancillary Relief/Financial Remedy applications, including interim maintenance, FDR, and final hearings in comparatively straight forward cases.

• Proceedings between former cohabitants under Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and Schedule 1 Children in Act 1989.

• Private law children applications under Children Act 1989.

• Public law children applications under Children Act 1989.

 

We will take your instructions sensibly and without fuss. We will prepare for the hearing properly – we have our own reputation to protect, as well as yours. We will inspire confidence in your client, and return him/her to you happy, at the end of the hearing. We will report to you briefly by phone immediately after the hearing, highlighting key issues and dates, and we will email a thorough attendance note/report usually the same day, but in any event by the end of the following business day.

 

We are happy to discuss a funding arrangement which fits in with your arrangement with your client, including Legal Aid, but we will insist on being paid within seven days of presentation of our invoice.

 

To find out if we are available use the contact button below or send an email to j.pratley@appltreefamilylaw.com please include, the word ‘Agency’ and the time and location of the hearing in the subject bar, and make sure you supply a phone number on which we can call you back.