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To make an appointment, please complete our online form or call 01243 769001
Edward Cooke
Director, Edward Cooke Family Law
Read below for blogs and news from within the firm and for insight into the latest developments in family law.
The Festival of Chichester’s exciting and varied line-up of over 100 events returns from 11 June to 10 July.
READ MOREDirector and Family Solicitor Lauren Guy provides clear advice on how to prepare for and get the most out of your first meeting with a family lawyer.
READ MORELauren Guy, Director and Family Solicitor and Matthew Fletcher, a barrister and Children’s Law specialist at 1GC Family, share their top tips for parents giving evidence in court proceedings.
READ MORETrainee Solicitor Melanie Arens answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the new no-fault divorce law.
READ MORE6 April 2022 marks the biggest change in divorce laws in the UK for 50 years when the new Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 comes into force.
READ MOREMichelle Lewis, Director and Family Solicitor, provides a clear summary of child maintenance considerations for separated parents, including how it is calculated, when it is payable and how it is arranged.
READ MOREEdward Cooke Family Law have been delighted to support Family Mediation Week 2022, an annual event run by the Family Mediation Council to raise awareness of family mediation.
READ MOREThe team at Edward Cooke Family Law wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Our offices will be closed over the festive period from 5pm on Thursday 23 December until 9am on Tuesday 4 January 2022.
Edward Cooke Family Law supports Resolution Good Divorce Week, which aims to kickstart a national conversation about how parents can reduce conflict and embrace a child-focused approach to separation.
READ MOREEdward Cooke has been named as a Ranked Lawyer for Family and Matrimonial in the Chambers and Partners directory.
READ MOREOne of the key questions we encounter when we meet a new client for advice or mediation is: “How can I parent my children with someone I no longer love? Or, in some cases, can’t face even seeing?” Edward Cooke shines a light on a new step-by-step guide from Resolution for all separating parents.
We are thrilled to announce that we are now ranked as a Leading Firm in Family Law in The Legal 500 2022 and, in addition, that two of our directors are named as Recommended Lawyers.
READ MOREIt is normal to feel stressed when a relationship ends, especially when you have children together. Director and Family Law Specialist, Lauren Guy and Kim Crewe, Family Consultant from Separation Options, explore how you can help manage this stress.
READ MOREWhatever your reason for considering donor conception, the decisions you make along the way can have lifelong implications for you and your child. Lauren Guy provides insight on options and important factors to consider.
READ MOREAt Edward Cooke Family Law, to support our legal work with our clients, we often suggest they work with Family Consultants. Director and Family Law Specialist, Lauren Guy, and Family Consultant, Kim Crewe, of Separation Options join forces in our latest blog to share the benefits of this approach.
READ MOREResolution’s 'The Review' July issue featured Edward Cooke in conversation with Tim Rice, relationship counsellor and couples therapist at the Carvalho Consultancy, exploring the benefits of individual therapeutic support for family law professionals and, in turn, their clients.
READ MOREWe are delighted to announce that Edward Cooke Family Law Director Lauren Guy has been appointed to the Dispute Resolution committee of Resolution, the nationwide community of family justice professionals.
READ MOREFollowing the announcement this week about the extension of the Covid-19 vaccine programme to certain children, Director, Lauren Guy, explores how to navigate a difference of opinion if you cannot agree whether to vaccinate your child.
READ MOREOur July charity walk across the South Downs from our head office in Chilgrove to our new Brighton office has already raised significant sums for Children on the Edge
READ MOREWe are delighted now to offer Family Mediation as well as Collaborative Law from our Brighton Office.
READ MOREWe are proud to join Emily in celebrating her recent Community Hero Award from the House of Commons for her volunteering work at Arun and Chichester Citizens Advice.
READ MOREThe team at Edward Cooke Family Law were pleased to start this week on a high, celebrating our third birthday.
READ MOREEdward Cooke Family Law is honoured to support a month of local and international events at this year’s Festival of Chichester
READ MORESpecialist family and surrogacy lawyer, Lauren Guy, shares a useful how-to guide on applying for a Parental Order for those who have had, or are planning to have, a child using a surrogate.
READ MOREAs Chair of Resolution’s Training and Learning Committee, Edward Cooke looks at how training and learning needs will continue to evolve in view of changes brought about by the pandemic and other developments in family practice.
READ MOREWith the prospect of international travel opening up from today, lots of separated parents will be thinking about booking a holiday abroad. If this applies to you, it is important to think about whether you need to get consent from anyone else, usually the child’s other parent, before doing so.
READ MOREAs more intended parents turn to surrogacy to create their family, our checklist provides a framework for considerations for those specifically considering international surrogacy.
READ MOREThe team at Edward Cooke Family Law are embarking on a charity walk across the South Downs in July to raise money for fantastic charity, Children on the Edge.
READ MOREAs we approach our third anniversary, we share our reflections on what sets us apart as a specialist divorce and family law firm, our modern approach to our work and our commitment to finding constructive solutions for families.
READ MOREEmily Higlett, Paralegal at Edward Cooke Family Law, looks at the impact of the pandemic on victims of domestic abuse and how the new Domestic Abuse Bill aims to combat the rise in the use of technology as a tool of domestic abuse.
READ MOREEdward Cooke recently spoke to the New Statesman for two articles on the delays caused to family matters by the challenges of the pandemic and of the use of Nightingale courts.
READ MOREEdward Cooke recently spoke to the Solicitors Journal about current challenges faced by family law professionals, about online and hybrid mediation and the importance of skills training as the profession adapts to a fast-changing environment.
READ MORELauren Guy, Director at Edward Cooke Family Law and specialist in modern family structures, provides a useful introduction to surrogacy for individuals and couples considering their next steps, outlining types of surrogacy, legal and emotional considerations, and useful sources of additional information.
READ MOREAn online guide to achieving a ‘good divorce’ is being published today by Edward Cooke Family Law, to help separating couples avoid court, reduce conflict and costs.
READ MOREEdward Cooke Family Law are pleased to announce the expansion of their firm as they mark the start of the new year by opening an office in Brighton on 4 January 2021.
READ MOREMerry Christmas from all at Edward Cooke Family Law. We hope that you have a safe and restful festive season and that 2021 brings you peace, joy and good health.
Our offices will be closed over the festive period from 12 noon on 24th December 2020 until 9am on 4th January 2021.
As part of Resolution’s Good Divorce Week 2020, Edward Cooke, founder of West Sussex-based specialist family law practice Edward Cooke Family Law, looks at how to obtain a “good divorce”
READ MOREEmily Higlett, paralegal at Edward Cooke Family Law looks at the implication of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill, which passed through parliament earlier this year, and which will lead to “no fault” divorce coming into effect in 2021
READ MOREThe team at Edward Cooke Family Law are very pleased to support Resolution’s Good Divorce Week, which runs from 30 November to 4 December 2020.
READ MORESpecialist West Sussex family law practice Edward Cooke Family Law a is delighted to announce Michelle Lewis is now a director in the firm.
READ MOREAs part of government plans to unblock the devastating backlog of legal cases in England and Wales, Chichester’s East Pallant House has become the country’s first Nightingale Court.
READ MOREEdward Cooke, Managing Director of Edward Cooke Family Law, a specialist firm of family solicitors and mediators in Sussex and Hampshire, is now Chair of Resolution’s Training and Learning Committee.
READ MOREChichester family law solicitors Edward Cooke Family Law are delighted to be supporting The Point, a charity which provides day-to-day support for disabled adults across West Sussex from its day centre in Little Breach, Chichester.
READ MOREEdward Cooke Family Mediation, part of Chichester-based family law firm Edward Cooke Family Law, is delighted to be able to offer “hybrid mediation” to family law clients as an additional part of its mediation service.
READ MOREHome is not always a safe haven - for victims of domestic abuse, it is a place of fear and suffering, writes Michelle Lewis, senior associate at Edward Cooke Family Law
READ MOREThe Coronavirus Pandemic has affected the whole country on so many levels, but we are very aware that families going through separation are finding the effects of the lockdown particularly challenging.
READ MOREIn a three-part blog, family lawyer and mediator Edward Cooke and psychotherapist Adele Ballantyne, of national family law organisation Resolution’s Parenting after Parting committee, consider the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on parents and children. In Part 3, Edward sets out practical tips for parents for coping with the lockdown.
READ MOREIn a three part blog, family lawyer and mediator Edward Cooke and psychotherapist Adele Ballantyne, members of the Parenting after Parting committee of Resolution, the national family law organisation, consider the impact on parents and children of the Covid-19 lockdown. In part 2, Adele Ballantyne considers factors affecting separating parents during the current crisis from a psychological perspective and offers her top tips to help separating parents
READ MOREIn a three-part blog, family lawyer and mediator Edward Cooke and psychotherapist Adele Ballantyne, of national family law organisation Resolution’s Parenting after Parting committee, consider the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on parents and children. In part 1, Edward looks at guidance issued to parents for navigating the current situation.
READ MOREIn the second of two blogs regarding Oscar nominated film, 'Marriage Story', Edward Cooke reflects on what lessons lawyers can learn from the film.
READ MOREIn the first of two blogs regarding Oscar nominated film, 'Marriage Story', Edward Cooke takes a closer look at what lessons can be drawn for people going through a separation or divorce.
READ MOREWe are pleased to now offer appointments in Petersfield, Hampshire, at the Causeway House Business Centre.
READ MOREWe are delighted to announce we have expanded our operations into Chichester city centre.
READ MOREAs part of Family Mediation Week, solicitor and mediator Michelle Lewis of Edward Cooke Family Law gives a brief outline of the mediation process and its benefits.
READ MOREMerry Christmas from all at Edward Cooke Family Law - wishing you peace, joy and good health in 2020. Please note our offices will be closed over the festive period from 4pm on 23rd December 2019 until 9am on 2nd January 2020.
READ MOREIn a feature for ‘The Review’, Edward Cooke says President of the Family Division’s proposed child reforms are a good start, but the proof will be in the pudding.
READ MOREAs we enter the festive season, Solicitor and Mediator Michelle Lewis shares her advice on how separated parents and families can best manage the Christmas period and childcare arrangements.
READ MOREIn the second of two blogs to mark Resolution’s Awareness Week, Edward Cooke, looks at the importance of Resolution’s Awareness Week 2019 and its focus on family law reform – as well as the impact of past campaigns in supporting constructive changes to a number of essential family law issues.
READ MOREIn the first of two blogs to mark Resolution’s Awareness Week, Edward Cooke, Director of Edward Cooke Family Law in Chichester and a member of Resolution’s national committee, looks at the question of rights for cohabiting couples
READ MOREMichelle Lewis, Associate Solicitor, Mediator and Collaborative Lawyer at Edward Cooke Family Law provides an overview of Collaborative Law and its benefits. Michelle qualified as a Collaborative Lawyer this year.
READ MOREWe are delighted to announce that Tony Tynan, a highly respected and experienced family solicitor will be joining Edward Cooke Family Law on 2nd December 2019.
READ MOREEdward Cooke comments on the fact that important no fault divorce legislation will not proceed for now due to parliamentary prorogation
READ MOREChichester family lawyer Edward Cooke and his friend and musical colleague, Rob Gallop, gave a charity piano concert for Chestnut Tree House at the Festival of Chichester on Sunday 14th July 2019.
READ MOREEdward Cooke Family Law celebrated its first year in business on 25 June 2019 with a specially designed cake! The cake was made by Edward's 15 year old daughter, who is a keen amateur cake maker. Not a bad effort we think!
READ MOREThe announcement by David Gauke, the Justice Secretary on 9th April 2019 that the government is to bring forward legislation to introduce no-fault divorce is hugely welcome, says Edward Cooke, a Chichester divorce solicitor and family mediator.
READ MOREEdward Cooke Family Law, a family law and mediation practice based in West Sussex, has pledged its support for young musicians by supporting West Sussex Music’s “Musical Chairs” campaign.
READ MOREEdward Cooke, a Chichester Family Lawyer and Mediator has been successful in his re-accreditation to the Law Society's Family Law panel
READ MOREMichelle Lewis, a family lawyer and mediator, joins Edward Cooke Family Law near Chichester from a well-known regional firm in Hampshire, as the firm expands its specialist family law practice team
READ MOREIn our latest blog, we look at the growth of Child-Inclusive Mediation, a process than enables children's voices to be heard on separation and divorce by their parents in a safe and neutral way, thereby allowing parents to make better-informed decisions about future child arrangements
READ MOREEdward Cooke, Chichester Family Lawyer and Mediator, asks what the recent film ‘The Children Act’ tells us about the pressures on family law professionals, as well as growing recognition of the need for ‘reflective family law practice’.
READ MOREEdward Cooke, Chichester Family Lawyer and Mediator was recently interviewed by the Law Society on what it was like to take on the juggernaut of Whitehall and HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) in order to stop the wholesale closure of Chichester’s local court provision. The full interview is set out below.
READ MORERecent government announcements of proposed reforms to divorce law and Civil Partnership law show that family law has yet to catch up with the realities of modern family life in the UK in the 21st century.
READ MORELed by Chichester Family Lawyer Edward Cooke, West Sussex Resolution’s long campaign to retain court provision in Chichester has met with success, with the government announcing that court provision will be retained in the county town when the existing court building closes
READ MOREEdward Cooke, Chichester Family Lawyer and Mediator, reflects on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Owens and asks whether the introduction of no-fault divorce is now likely.
READ MOREThe Supreme Court recently found that it was discriminatory that Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan could not enter into a Civil Partnership. How will the government respond to this judgment and will Civil Partnerships now be extended to heterosexual couples?
READ MOREEdward Cooke, a Chichester family lawyer and mediator has won national recognition for his work to protect access to family justice in the West Sussex area.
READ MOREThe government has recently launched an online platform for people who wish to handle their own divorce online.
READ MOREThe pressing need for ongoing court provision in Chichester has been highlighted by a Chichester family lawyer and mediator at a Chichester city awards ceremony.
READ MOREWidely reported in the media, the recent Supreme Court case of Owens has once again reignited a long-running debate over the introduction of no fault divorce into English law.
READ MORERecent primetime BBC1 drama ‘The Split’, about a family of central London divorce lawyers, may have been entertaining, but at times it is a text-book case as to how divorce should not be handled
READ MOREEdward Cooke has set up his own law firm to meet growing demand from clients for a bespoke, discrete, specialist family law service.
READ MOREWe offer meetings (subject to our Covid procedures) at our offices or, if you prefer, appointments by video conferencing including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and other platforms. We have been undertaking online client appointments, remote court hearings, online mediation, conferences and settlement meetings throughout the pandemic and are very familiar with using a wide range of online platforms.
To make an initial appointment please complete the online submission form in the box below, or if you would rather speak to a member of
our team directly please call 01243 769001.