I need to make a claim against my former partner ================================================ Claims against unmarried partners are complex. Whether you are seeking provision for yourself or your children, it is vital you obtain proper legal advice at the earliest opportunity. As top family lawyers, Vardags can help you. We have over a decade of experience of getting cohabitees financial security and provision for their children, dealing with the biggest cases and the highest courts in the country. Whether your former partner is a high-earning professional, an entrepreneur, a celebrity or a sportsman, our unique financial and legal expertise will help you to get the best possible provision for yourself and your children. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS -------------------------- Generally speaking, cohabitees do not have rights over each others' property. You may, however, have claim if you have contributed to the joint purchase of a house (even if it is your partner's sole name) or you have carried out substantial work on it. If you have relied on your partner's promises that they will look after you or house you, then you might also be able to claim. [FIND OUT MORE](https://vardags.com/faq/children-and-family/entitled-to-share-of-property-with-former-partner "How can I prove I am entitled to a share of the property now I've split up from my former partner?") Even if you are not married, you are entitled to support from the other parent of your children. Under Schedule 1 of the Children Act, you can obtain both ongoing maintenance and lump sums towards the costs of bringing up children. The level of provision will depend on your needs and your partner's financial position. If there is money available, they can be required to meet expenses such as school fees and even provide a house for you and the children. [FIND OUT MORE](https://vardags.com/faq/children-and-family/split-from-partner-financial-support "How can I get a contribution to the costs of bringing up our children now I've split from ex-partner?") If your partner is breaking an existing order, there are numerous ways of enforcing it. The court can divert a portion of their salary directly to you (garnishee order), give you a charge over property or shares or even transfer bank accounts over to you. If your partner willfully and deliberately refuses to satisfy an order, this can amount to contempt - the court can fine and even jail them for this. [FIND OUT MORE](https://vardags.com/faq/children-and-family/former-partner-stopped-paying-for-children "What can I do if my former partner has stopped paying the costs of bringing up our children?") If you fear violence or are subject to violence or abuse, the court can and will protect you. For victims of domestic abuse (be it physical, verbal, or emotional harm) the court can make two types of order - "non-molestation" orders and "occupation" orders each giving you comprehensive legal protection. Non-molestation orders are supported by criminal sanctions. Breaking one is a criminal offence, and your partner can be arrested immediately if they breach the terms, even if they have committed no other crime. These orders are available whether you have been married to your ex-partner or not. [FIND OUT MORE](https://vardags.com/faq/children-and-family/ex-abusive-to-me-and-children "My ex is abusive to me andor the children, what can I do?") Often couples try to make child arrangements work between themselves, without recourse to the courts. Sadly, this does not always happen successfully, with the resident parent preventing the children from seeing their other parent or limiting contact. If this has happened to you, Vardags can help. As experienced family lawyers, Vardags can help you establish a regular system of contact with your children either through negotiating with your ex-partner or by applying to the court. [FIND OUT MORE](https://vardags.com/faq/children-and-family/ex-limiting-access-to-children "My ex won't let me have enough access to our children, what can I do?") [MORE FAQS](https://vardags.com/faq/children-and-family) OUR Children & Family TEAM ------------------------------ [### Caroline Korah](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/caroline-korah "Caroline Korah Vardags Partner Head of Children") [### Lucy Bolton](https://vardags.com/solicitors/manchester/lucy-bolton "Lucy Williams Vardags Partner Divorce & Family") [### Jemima Kearney](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/jemima-kearney "Jemima Kearney Graduate Trainee Solicitor") [Partner - Head of Children](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/caroline-korah "Caroline Korah Vardags Partner Head of Children") [Partner and Co-Head of Manchester and Regional Offices - Divorce & Family](https://vardags.com/solicitors/manchester/lucy-bolton "Lucy Williams Vardags Partner Divorce & Family") [Associate](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/jemima-kearney "Jemima Kearney Graduate Trainee Solicitor") [### Caroline Korah Partner - Head of Children](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/caroline-korah "Caroline Korah Vardags Partner Head of Children")"Caroline Korah is a highly dedicated lawyer who fearlessly represents her clients' interest" Legal 500 [### Lucy Bolton Partner and Co-Head of Manchester and Regional Offices - Divorce & Family ](https://vardags.com/solicitors/manchester/lucy-bolton "Lucy Williams Vardags Partner Divorce & Family")"Lucy Williams is loved by clients and counsel" Legal 500 [### Jemima Kearney Associate ](https://vardags.com/solicitors/london/jemima-kearney "Jemima Kearney Graduate Trainee Solicitor")"JEMIMA KEARNEY IS A HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, ELOQUENT, EMPATHETIC, AND DETAIL-FOCUSED ASSOCIATE, A BRIGHT FUTURE STAR IN DIVORCE LAW" Legal 500 [Meet the rest of the team](https://vardags.com/team/children) Is Vardags Right For You? ------------------------- We offer a free consultation to qualifying individuals. Please call our confidential enquiry line on **020 7404 9390**. Lines are staffed 24 hours. When you contact us a member of our client relations team will take the full details of your situation, assess whether we can assist you, and if so, determine the best team for your case. Media Highlights ---------------- [Time Ayesha Vardag features in Time Magazine](http://time.com/5037316/britain-divorce-london-capital-ayesha-vardag/ "Ayesha Vardag features in Time Magazine") [BBC News David Lister discusses 'Brangelina' divorce on BBC News](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7279887504982302720 "David Lister discusses 'Brangelina' divorce on BBC News") [The Telegraph 'Homemaker' ex-wife of Laura Ashley boss earns mammoth divorce payout](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/06/homemaker-ex-wife-laura-ashley-boss-wins-third-200m-income-payout/ "'Homemaker' ex-wife of Laura Ashley boss earns mammoth divorce payout") [The Telegraph Caroline Korah discusses parental child abduction with The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/brexit-stopped-us-getting-our-abducted-children-back/ "Caroline Korah discusses parental child abduction with The Telegraph") [The Times Hidden assets and fluctuating fortunes - how crypto clouds divorce](https://www.thetimes.com/article/12c7dc62-6d9f-4c75-9314-b17a9d4fc98f?shareToken=3393e3e3e8101b72a28c6d95a1c641fe "Hidden assets and fluctuating fortunes - how crypto clouds divorce") OUR FULL RANGE OF SERVICES -------------------------- Vardags is one of the UK's leading divorce law firms. We specialise in complex, high net worth and international cases. The Legal 500 has said of Vardags: "The team is noted for its sheer intellect" [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/divorce "Divorce") Vardags is among the leading family law firms in the UK. Our solicitors specialise in complex cases for high net worth individuals, including international child relocation, child abduction, and prenuptial agreements. The Legal 500 has said that "clients feel in totally safe hands" with Vardags' Children & Family lawyers. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/children-and-family "Children & Family") Our reputation and privacy team, headed by top media lawyer Alex McCready, works in and out of the public eye on cases involving defamation, privacy and reputation management. We provide expert advice and representation across the full range of reputation and privacy related matters, including crisis management, emergency injunctions and actions against online and new media. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/reputation-privacy "Reputation & Privacy") Vardags is a leading UK law firm with expertise in complex disputes relating to a range of corporate law matters. Our team has a wealth of expertise to help clients with their legal needs. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/corporate "Corporate") Vardags is a successful and rapidly-growing law firm with an outstanding reputation for winning cases. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/criminal-defence "Criminal Defence") Vardags is a top law firm with a trailblazing fertility and surrogacy department. We have had success with some of the most groundbreaking cases of the last decade in the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, with rulings that have changed the law. Vardags remains at the cutting edge of fertility law, pushing for further improvement of the outdated legislation in place in Britain. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/fertility-surrogacy "Fertility & Surrogacy") Vardags' civil litigation team is renowned for its nous and its consistent ability to deliver results. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/commercial-civil-litigation "Commercial & Civil Litigation") Vardags' wills and trusts team has the specific expertise to cater to the wills and trusts needs of high-net-worth and high-profile individuals. Richard Todd QC, Leading Counsel for Yasmin Prest said of Vardags: "a note to acknowledge your firm's pivotal role in achieving such an outstanding result in the recent Supreme Court case of Petrodel v Prest". [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/wills-trusts "Wills, Trusts and Probate") Vardags is a leading family law firm with specialist expertise in assisting clients who are experiencing domestic abuse. We appreciate that those in abusive relationships may face difficulties contacting us. We can provide additional discretion, such as arranging alternative meeting places and talking via our WhatsApp service. [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/domestic-abuse "Domestic Abuse Lawyers") [Find out more](https://vardags.com/services/sje-and-shadow-experts "Single Joint Experts & Shadow Experts")