Direct Access Barrister
Grace Garrett-Sadler
Direct Access Barrister
Grace Garrett-Sadler
Area of Law
Family
Financial proceedings:
Financial remedy proceedings between divorcing spouses or former civil partners
Applications under TOLATA relating to the ownership of property
Schedule 1 proceedings, being financial proceedings regarding children between unmarried couples
Children proceedings:
Disputes between parents as to the day to day arrangements for a child (child arrangement orders)
Proceedings including allegations of abuse, where a fact-finding is taking place
Specific issue orders (i.e. schooling, religious upbringing and so on)
Prohibited steps orders (i.e. preventing a child being taken to a certain place or undergoing a specific medical intervention, and so on)
Relocation applications, both internal and out of the jurisdiction
Applications by grandparents to spend time with a child
What sort of work do I do?
I have regularly been instructed on a direct access basis in what's known as private law children disputes. These are disputes between parents as to the day to day arrangements for a child, and can include issues more specific mattes such as foreign travel. These proceedings often include allegations made by one party against the other that the court has to consider and can also include reports being undertaken by Cafcass or the relevant Local Authority.
On occasion I will represent a client on direct access basis in financial remedy proceedings. These proceedings can be more technical than the private law children matters, so careful consideration as to whether direct access is appropriate is required. These proceedings can relate to how divorcing spouses (or former civil partners) divide their assets, including housing and pensions, and whether one party will pay another any maintenance. They can also include an unmarried couple who owned a home together, or an unmarried couple who had a child together.
Who do I work for?
I represent mothers, fathers, grandparents, husbands, wives and so on. I represent these individual in proceedings against their former partner, for example. I am also instructed to provide advice at an early stage, perhaps even before proceedings have been issued.