Family Law expertise in the US

We have strong relationships with family lawyers and other professional advisors in the US, as well as UK based advisors to US nationals. We can give comprehensive advice quickly about a choice of jurisdiction and have many years’ experience of forum disputes between England and the US, working closely with our private client team and international tax accountants in relation to potential US tax consequences of a divorce settlement. Recent cases have seen us working closely with contacts in New York, California, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, New Mexico and Florida and we have strong working relationships with attorneys right across the US.

We can help you to resolve divorce or separation disputes, whether there are aspects relating to finances, children or both. We are experts in cross border children cases, in particular cases where one party wishes to return or move to the US with a child or children. We also regularly advise on the preparation of prenuptial or postnuptial agreements involving US nationals who live in, or are planning to move to England.

We have a specialist team of lawyers, lead by partner Connie Atkinson who are expert in advising on surrogacy following US surrogacy arrangements. We work closely with our immigration team to give advice on the family law and immigration issues that arise.

Members of our team regularly travel to the US and partner Jane Keir regularly speaks at conferences hosted by International Association of Family Lawyers (IAFL), the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and the Illinois State Bar Association.

We support clients with the following:

• Advice on where and when to start divorce and financial proceedings, taking advice from our connections in the relevant US state where there is a choice of jurisdiction
• Preserving assets pending divorce distribution
• Enforcement of US court orders in England
• Claims following an overseas divorce including UK pension sharing following a US divorce
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements for US clients
• Advice in respect of where children live post-divorce and the organisation and protection of the time that they spend with their separated parents