Family at the heart of growing Hay & Kilner team

Operating from offices in Newcastle and Wallsend, Hay & Kilner’s Family Law Team offers comprehensive legal support across all aspects of family law, ensuring tailored support for every client. They recognise that each of their clients have different needs and unique circumstances. With a wealth of experience and a wide breadth of knowledge they boast a growing team renowned for high quality, client-focused service.

How can Hay & Kilner help?
The Newcastle City office provides expert support across a wide range of family law matters offering guidance on divorce, financial matters and private children’s issues. Our experienced team assists a wide range of clients offering tailored solutions to their specific circumstances, including cases involving business assets, farms or multiple properties. Our approach is practical and clear, focusing on achieving the best outcomes for clients in emotionally complex situations.

We are also one of the few North East firms offering the ‘one solicitor’ approach assisting both parties to reach an amicable solution. Additionally, we offer collaborative family law where parties are separately represented but agree at the outset to deal with matters co-operatively and outside the court arena.

With a mind to protective planning for your assets and reducing time and money spent in dispute the team are able to advise in relation to both Pre and Post Nuptial agreements. Currently, many unmarried couples choose to live together in a property bought with financial support from family members and/or their own savings, they also advise about future proofing those assets with a well drafted Cohabitation Agreement. One size does not fit all, and their service is bespoke.

The Wallsend office works in conjunction with our Newcastle offering providing Legal Aid services for children’s matters. This ensures access to justice for clients who may qualify for public funding. Our team is particularly skilled in handling care proceedings, child protection issues, adoption, as well as a variety of other sensitive family matters.

The Wallsend team specialises in both public and private law children proceedings. Kerry Kelso and Anna Curphey hold the Law Society Children Law Accreditation. The team deals with a wide range of cases where they act for parents, family members and children when they are facing the most stressful periods in their lives.

The team approaches each case with empathy and determination, helping clients work towards the best possible outcomes for their children.

A cohesive and experienced family law team
The Partner and Head of the Hay & Kilner Family Team is Kerry Kelso who is based in Wallsend, with Fiona Ryans and Louisa Bestford leading as heads of the Newcastle team. However, regardless of location, Hay & Kilner’s Family Law Team works cohesively across both the Newcastle and Wallsend offices, offering clients expert guidance and practical solutions for every family situation.

As Kerry Kelso, expressed, "Our team really does go the extra mile for the families we work with, bringing empathy, integrity, and legal expertise when it’s needed most."

The team’s strength lies in its diverse skill set, whether handling complex financial matters, child protection issues, or collaborative separations. We are proud to offer tailored support, ensuring that every client receives the focused and dedicated attention they deserve.

If you need any assistance with family matters, please contact us.