There is a common misconception that fathers have less rights than mothers. Although this is not entirely true, not all fathers automatically have ‘legal’ rights when it comes to their children.
Under the Law of England and Wales, legal rights in relation to a child is referred to as ‘parental responsibility’. Whether you have parental responsibility or not will depend on your circumstances. Parental responsibility typically ends when a child reaches the age of 18 years. We can provide you with further advice and assistance on your specific circumstances and advise if you have parental responsibility. If you do not have parental responsibility this can be obtained, and we can guide you through the process.
If there are no serious safeguarding concerns, the Court considers that a child has the right to spend quality time with each parent and have a meaningful relationship with both parents. You therefore have the same right to spend time with your child as the mother.
If there is a dispute regarding who a child should live with or how much time they should spend with each parent, and you are unable to reach an agreement outside of the Court process, then an application to the Court can be made for a Child Arrangements Order.
We can assist you with all aspects relating to private law child arrangements and guide you through any negotiations and the Court process, should an application be required.
Family law team
Julie Slater-Williams
Family Law | Head of Department | Partner
Experience
Julie qualified as a Solicitor in 2005. She has specialised in Family Law all through her career, throughout Staffordshire and Cheshire. In 2015, she joined Keelys LLP. Julie is a Partner and Head of Department.
Practice Area
Julie has practiced family law throughout her career, qualifying in 2005.
Julie has extensive experience of all areas of family law including divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, private law children matters, special guardianship orders, pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements and financial matters on divorce / dissolution.
Julie has experience with high net worth cases including multi million pound assets, high value pensions and high value businesses. She regularly liaises with top tier counsel in cases involving unusual elements and arguments relating to conduct and intractable contact disputes and implacable hostility in children cases.
Julie is also a qualified collaborative solicitor. She is trained to assist clients in settlement focused manner where this is deemed appropriate. She has strong links with other collaborative solicitors. Julie’s ethos is to get to the heart of cases in as cost effective and stress reduced way as possible. Where this is not possible, Julie will advise and litigate to contested hearings to ensure that the matters that need to be dealt with are done so as swiftly and thoroughly as possible to ensure the needs of the client are met.
Qualifications
Solicitor
Interests
Julie is a keen reader, traveller and enjoys spending time with her children doing fun things.
Marie Bell
Family Law | Matrimonial Executive
Experience
Marie joined Keelys in December 2013. She has over 20 years experience of working within a family law department. Marie became a Graduate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (now known as CILEX Member – Advanced Paralegal) on the 25th March 2025 and she obtained her certificate in family law in August 2011. Marie is currently working towards her fellowship, with a view to becoming a CILEX Fellow.
Practice Area
Marie specialises in divorce and the resolution of financial matters. Marie also undertakes work in relation to separation agreements where unmarried couples were engaged and children proceedings.
Qualification
MCILEX
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Interests
Out of work Marie enjoys the outdoors by volunteering on a Local Nature Reserve, walking and cruising the inland waterways on a narrowboat. She also enjoys wildlife photography.
Julie Cox
Family Law | Family Lawyer
Experience
Julie has over 10 years’ experience representing clients in family law cases in addition to Court advocacy representation.
Practice Area
Julie specialises in all private family matters, including divorce, judicial separation, dissolution of Civil Partnerships, cohabitation agreements and disputes, financial negotiations and settlements, pre and post-nuptial agreements, child arrangements and Injunctions.
Julie is known to have a pragmatic but empathetic approach and has a number of outstanding recommendations and reviews from previous clients.
Highlights
- International child relocation
- Return of a child in a child abduction case
- Successful defenses to Injunctions
- Prevention of dissipation of international assets in financial remedy case
Qualifications
CILEX
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Nashmeen Malik
Family Law | Assistant
Experience
Nashmeen became part of Keelys Family team in June 2023 as a Matrimonial Assistant. Nashmeen has many years’ of experience assisting in relation to Family matter, Wills, LPAs, and Probate Law. In April 2023, Nashmeen successfully concluded her Paralegal Training and UK Legal System training at QLS Level 5.
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Interests
Outside of the legal realm, Nashmeen is passionate about holistic healing, personal development, and spirituality. Graduating as a holistic life coach and Mind Body Practitioner in 2021, she finds delight in delving into literature on spirituality, neuroscience, and positive psychology, while also cherishing moments spent with her loved ones.
