Blended Families: FLiP’s Bradley Williams Featured in Tatler

We are delighted to see FLiP Director Bradley Williams quoted in Tatler’s recent article – “How the super-rich do blended families” found here. The article talks about navigating the complexities of blended families.

Bradley Williams, Director at Family Law in Partnership, tells Tatler: “There may be differences of opinion about parenting, tensions between siblings and step-children, and tensions between parents about their own children which can create conflicts that they have to live and deal with. This is made more complex if there are unresolved issues with ex partners and, even if they get on well with their exes, their children may have ambivalent feelings about the new relationship.”

Bradley also addresses how the financial elements could be dealt with, and suggests that couples should consider either a cohabitation agreement or a pre-nuptial agreement. Bradley goes on to say: “Step-parents are almost always unaware that when they embark on a new relationship, if they marry the mother or father of another child and if that child is treated as a ‘child of their family’ (which they almost always are), then financial claims can be made against the new step parent on that child’s behalf.”

Bradley highlights that blended families can bring their own complexities which need to be understood and addressed too: ‘If a child is causing difficulties don’t assume they are the problem. It might be their way of expressing distress and it can need careful understanding. Be proactive about making space for you as a couple to think together about your situation and consider seeking help from a therapist if you need help to have those conversations. If tensions with exes are making things difficult, then this may also be an area where the support of a therapist can help.’

Bradley, along with FLiP Director Elizabeth Hicks, is one of Tatler’s Address Book family law specialists for HNW and UHNW individuals. He appears in the Tatler Address Book found here.

At FLiP Bradley specialises in complex financial remedy applications, applications concerning the property of non-married couples, and private children law issues. He has extensive experience of international family law cases and frequently acts for clients with substantial assets. Bradley deals with cases concerning pre and post nuptial agreements across jurisdictions, including the application of foreign matrimonial property regimes. Find out more about Bradley’s family law practice here.