Worthingtons Solicitors

Clare Curran

Family Law

Clare is a highly experienced lawyer who has specialised in family, matrimonial and child care law for over 20 years.  Clare was appointed Partner in charge of the Family Department in 2007 and heads up our committed and busy team operating from both our Belfast and North Down offices based in Newtownards.  Clare has specialist expertise and extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of family and matrimonial law including separation and divorce, resolving financial disputes following relationship breakdown, acting on behalf of high net worth individuals, acting in cases with an international element, advising on pre and post nuptial settlements, cohabitation disputes, civil partnerships, domestic violence issues, complex Children’s cases, international child abduction, and care, adoption and wardship proceedings.  Clare is an accredited member of the Children Order Panel, a select group of legal advisors appointed to act on behalf of children in specified proceedings.  She is also a qualified Collaborative lawyer and Advanced Advocate, meaning she is able to represent clients at all court levels.

"Excellent professional, sensitive representation. " "Attentive, informed and proactive."

Career Highlights

  • Drafting and negotiating complex financial settlements involving various assets including foreign and inherited property, pensions, trusts, investments, businesses and farms.
  • Successfully represented clients in niche financial claims including ‘injury on duty’ payments during marriage as part of divorce settlement.
  • Successfully secured the return of children removed by Social Services in alleged ‘non accidental injury’ cases.
  • Represented clients in a range of complex international child custody cases involving multiple jurisdictions, including UK and RoI, Australia and Asia and assisted in acting in a number of cases under the Hague Convention cases seeking ‘return orders’ for children wrongfully abducted to Northern Ireland.

Areas of Expertise

Adoption, Wardship and Care Proceedings in Northern Ireland Annulments Child and Spousal maintenance Children’s Law Issues Dissolution of Civil Partnerships in Northern Ireland Co-habitation rights Collaborative settlements Costs Involved in Family Law Cases Custody/Access Disputes Divorce Procedures Domestic Violence Issues Financial Settlements & Ancillary Relief Grandparents’ Rights International Child Abduction International Family Cases Matrimonial Agreements Pre Nuptial Agreements Property Adjustment Orders Pension Sharing Separation Surrogacy

Clare Curran's latest article

Covid-19 fall-out could impact on divorce finances

Clare Curran, Partner in charge of the Matrimonial/Family Law Department at Worthingtons Solicitors, based in Belfast and North Down, considers the potential impact of the current health pandemic on those cases...

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