Family

There are a wide variety of reasons why you would wish to discuss family problems with us, the most common is that a marital relationship has permanently broken down.

Alternatively you may seek advice because you are encountering temporary difficulties and have no wish to terminate the relationship formally. On the relationship breakdown you may have concerns over the following issues:

• Money and property
• Children
• Protection from violence

You may also wish to seek advice on a particular problem. For instance a wife may be anxious about her position in the matrimonial home or a father may be denied contact with his children.

• Counselling
• Mediation (Conciliation)her Family Agencies

The only ground on which a petition for divorce may be presented to the Court by either party to the marriage is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

However the Court cannot hold the marriage has broken down unless the petitioner satisfies the Court of one or more of the following five facts:

• Adultery and intolerability
• Behaviour
• Desertion
• Two years separation and consent
• Five years separation