Your situation: your couple, your children, your assets

Forming a couple and living together

• What type of union should I choose?
• How is a marriage contract drawn up?
• Why conclude a marriage contract?
• What are my rights as a married spouse?
• What are my rights in a civil partnership (PACS)?
• What are my rights as an unmarried couple (cohabitation)?

Are you thinking of getting married? Of divorcing? I can help with any question you may have, before you choose your form of union, in everyday life, and in the event of a break-up.

Whether you are cohabiting, in a civil partnership or married, I can help with all your property and non-property matters.

I also advise same-sex couples on financial matters and on children, and same-sex families on every aspect of family law. I regularly advises international families who wish to settle in France or abroad.

I advise you on the recognition of your union in France or abroad and on its legal effects there, and on your rights before entering into a union, whatever its form.

I explain the scope of your property and matrimonial commitments so that you understand the consequences of your choice and can anticipate any difficulties. I advise you on choosing or changing your matrimonial property regime so that it matches your expectations.

If you are moving abroad, I explain the legal consequences of the move and give you clear and objective advice, so that your agreement is fair, technically structured, legally binding and recognized internationally.

I also assist you in drafting cohabitation agreements and civil partnerships, between people of the same sex or not, particularly when they are to be performed abroad. For you as parents, I help you draw up family covenants or parenting agreements.

Separation

• What are the grounds for divorce?
• How does a divorce by mutual consent work?
• How do contentious divorce proceedings work?
• How can I best prepare for my divorce?
• What is compensatory allowance?
• What is an international divorce?

The breakdown of a relationship is a destabilising and stressful time. I deal every day with national and international separations and divorces, where the financial stakes are sometimes very high and the human stakes always considerable.

My understanding of the dynamics of conflict helps me guide you through the crises your relationship is going through, whether temporary or final. After a full analysis of your personal and financial situation, I suggest the solutions that match your interests and help you build a strategy that respects every member of the family.

I give you precise, quantified and pragmatic legal advice, and work with you on the steps needed to anticipate problems and protect your interests. I help you find civil and tax solutions that make your separation as financially painless as possible.

If you disagree about the children, a financial settlement or maintenance, I conduct the negotiations with you to reach an amicable agreement or, failing that, brings the matter before the court. Whether you settle or go through contested divorce proceedings, I am at your side and advise you at every stage.

I can help you with every type of divorce: divorce by mutual consent, divorce on acceptance of the principle of the breakdown of the marriage, divorce for definitive alteration of the marital bond, or divorce for fault. If you are not married, I assist you with separation, the dissolution of French or foreign civil partnerships, and wrongful termination of cohabitation.

Finally, I advise you on the consequences of your separation: whether a compensatory allowance or maintenance is due, how much, and in what form. I work on the liquidation of your matrimonial property regime to explain each spouse’s rights and, where useful, works with tax lawyers and notaries to deal with all the consequences of your separation together.

A family’s assets are built over a lifetime, often across several countries. I help you organize them in advance, when you marry, move abroad, acquire property or plan an inheritance, rather than having to protect them urgently following separation or death.

Plan: organizing the couple’s assets

I advise on choosing or changing your matrimonial property regime and organizing your assets: joint ownership, property companies and divided ownership rights. I consider the tax consequences of each option, working with tax specialists and your notary where necessary.

I assist unmarried couples and civil partners buying property together, to provide for the allocation of the price according to each person’s funding in the event of sale, separation or death.

Family businesses can be vulnerable to divorce, sometimes to the point of disappearing. I advise on the position of a spouse working in the business and on clauses that limit the risk, protecting both assets and business governance.

Divide: separation and succession

On separation, I calculate each person’s rights in your matrimonial property or jointly owned assets, taking account of proposed allocations, claims and reimbursements. I negotiate an amicable division, where useful on the basis of an expert assessment agreed between you. If agreement is impossible, I represent you in court proceedings to divide the assets.

After a death, I assist with the estate, meetings with the notary and management of jointly inherited assets. Whether you are a protected heir, surviving spouse, legatee or life-insurance beneficiary, I explain your options and give priority to an amicable division.

Pass on: succession planning

I explain the tools for succession planning: wills, gifts, gifts dividing assets between heirs, life insurance and matrimonial arrangements benefiting the surviving spouse, taking their tax consequences into account.