clear. compassionate.
Family law.
Clear, compassionate family law advice from Vanessa Gardiner — helping clients move through divorce, separation, child arrangements and financial matters with practical guidance and constructive outcomes.
meet vanessa
Vanessa Gardiner is an experienced family solicitor and FMA-trained family mediator with over 19 years’ experience in family law and 15 years’ training in Collaborative practice. Based in Reading, she advises clients across the Thames Valley, Oxford and London on divorce, separation, child arrangements, financial settlements, cohabitation agreements and family mediation.
Vanessa’s approach is clear, compassionate and constructive. She helps clients understand their options, make informed decisions and move through difficult family law matters with confidence and practical support.
Professional Memberships & Associations
Areas Of Family Law I cover
Each person appoints a Collaborative lawyer and they commit to resolving outstanding matters between them through face to face four-way meetings between both clients and both solicitors together. Everyone signs an agreement to Collaborate committing to trying to resolve the issues relating from family breakdown without going to Court. The Collaborative way of working revolves around your individual family priorities, needs and timescales, once a settlement is reached, the solicitors prepare a Consent Order setting out the terms of agreement for signature and approval by the Court. Please follow the link for more information: Collaborative Lawyers | Divorce & Separation | Reading & the Thames Valley - Thames Valley Collaborative Lawyers
When separating or divorcing, parents and grandparents may want to make formal arrangements about who children live with and how they spend time with each parent or family member. This can also include whether any safeguards are required or certain conditions need to be followed.
Communication relating to child arrangements will always focus on what is in the best interests of the children. If negotiations break down or Court proceedings take place the Court must prioritise the needs of the children and can involve third party experts including CAFCASS (Cafcass advises the family courts about the welfare of children and what is in their best interests | Cafcass) to provide a voice of the child.
There are various process options available when deciding how you wish to approach child arrangements and the needs of your child including Collaborative law, solicitors’ negotiation, direct discussions, mediation and Family Court proceedings.
Agreements
Upon marriage you acquire the right to make financial claims against your spouse within the divorce or the legal separation process. There are various process options available when deciding how you wish to approach financial matters including Collaborative law, solicitors’ negotiation, direct discussions, mediation and Family Court proceedings.
You will always be advised to exchange financial disclosure with your spouse with legal assistance and bespoke advice provided to enable informed negotiations to take place.
Once a settlement is reached, the solicitors prepare a Consent Order setting out the terms of agreement for signature and approval by the Court. It is within the Court’s discretion to ask questions & refuse to make an Order if the Judge believes an agreement is unfair or all financial claims are not addressed. Obtaining a Consent Order is very important for protecting your future wealth, assets, & inheritance from claims by your spouse which remain open unless a Consent Order is approved by the Court.
If a parent wishes to relocate with a child within England and Wales or abroad it requires an agreement between parents or in default of an agreement an Order of the Court to decide what is in the best interests of the child and where they should live.
The statutory definition of domestic abuse was extended by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, recognising that abuse is not limited to physical violence and involves emotional, psychological, economic and controlling or coercive behaviour. It further recognises children can be victims of and effected by domestic abuse.
I can support and advise in relation to obtaining from the Court Non-Molestation Orders, Occupation Orders and Protection from Harassment Orders and holding perpetrators accountable. As well as support you in communicating and dealing with the Police.
I am experienced in working with clients who have been subjected to domestic abuse.
For couples planning or already living together and not entering marriage. You can enter into an agreement to regulate financial arrangements during the relationship and determine the division of financial assets, including properties, joint accounts, businesses and cars or personal belongings etc in the event of separation.
civil partnership)
It is important to obtain legal advice at an early stage even where you are doing the divorce yourself. The divorce process does affect the financial claims you are entitled to as a result of your marriage & understanding how and what the consequences are of legally ending your marriage (or civil partnership) is important. Please follow the link for more information: Get a divorce: Check you can get a divorce - GOV.UK
In separation unmarried couple who may or may not be cohabiting do not receive the same financial claim against each other nor the financial protections awarded to married couples. If you are in relationship and financially linked through property or business ownership, or have joint accounts etc you should seek initial legal advice to any potential financial claims you may be entitled to. It is important to ensure that any financial and property agreement reached is recorded in a legal document expressly identifying what division of assets is agreed and how it will be implemented.
Once a settlement is reached, the solicitors prepare a Separation or Settlement Agreement setting out the terms of agreement for signature by you and your ex-partner. This represents a legal agreement between you which can be implemented and enforced, if necessary.
Nuptial Agreements are increasingly popular. A couple planning to enter a marriage or civil partnership may decide to enter into an agreement that shows what they intend to happen to their money and property if the marriage or civil partnership were to end. In a dispute within divorce or dissolution proceedings, a Nuptial Agreement can be decisive (not yet legally binding) and it is now case law that the court should give effect to a nuptial agreement that is freely entered into by each party with a full appreciation of its implications unless in the circumstances prevailing it would not be fair to hold the parties to their agreement.
Such documents should be prepared with legal advice well in advance of the wedding (ideally six months at least) and formerly executed in good time (signed no later than 21 days) before the ceremony.
Suitable, for anyone wishing to agree in advance the division of financial assets and income in divorce and dissolution proceedings, especially for those entering second marriage, with children from previous relationships and anyone entering a marriage with pre-marital wealth they wish to protect against financial claims against them within later divorce or dissolution proceedings.
If you are in receipt of or a payer of spousal maintenance you may require a variation to increase the amount being paid, or reduce your payments and even seek a dismissal of the spousal maintenance claim.
For advice in relation to what PR is, what it means and if necessary, obtaining an Agreement or Order of Parental Responsibility. When there is a dispute over how a parents’ PR can be exercised it may be necessary to enter into communication with the other parent or person with PR to negotiate a resolution and this could include but not limited to decision about foreign travel, schooling/education, medical treatment, religious practices or obtaining a Passport for a child.
When an agreement cannot be reached or there is risk to safety of a child the Court has the power to make these types of Court Orders to protect and promote the welfare of a child.
I have an extensive network of local and nationwide mediators enabling me to make bespoke referrals to mediators most suited to my clients, child inclusive mediators & solicitor involved mediators (inclusive/hybrid). Mediators are trained to help resolve disputes about all issues faced by separating and divorcing couples including financial matters and child arrangements. They facilitate exchange of information and disclosure, negotiation and discussion directly or through shuttle mediation (different spaces for each person), providing information on a neutral basis and cannot provide legal advice.
I will provide legal advice to you alongside the mediation process. The mediator can also guide you as to specific issues where further advice is recommended. Once you have reached mutually acceptable proposals and taken legal advice upon them, your solicitor can prepare a Consent Order, Separation/Settlement Agreement or Parenting Agreement for signature and in some cases to be sent to the Court to be made into a legally enforceable Court Order.
how I work and costs
Initial fixed fee meeting by MS Teams, Zoom or telephone is £175 plus VAT. An additional fee may be added for an in-person meeting.
All work will be charged at my hourly rate and a full fee estimate will be provided during our initial meeting.
I am based in Reading, with experience of working in and with professional connections throughout the Thames Valley, Oxford and London.
I do not offer Public Funding/Legal Aid. I can refer you to a local Public Funding law firm. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid/check-legal-aid
- Initial fixed fee meeting
- Hourly rate / fee estimate
- Based in Reading / Thames Valley / Oxford / London
- No Public Funding / Legal Aid
Testimonials
Articles & Publications
Publications and Articles
I am published in Financial Times, Financial Times Advisor, Professional Advisor, Solicitors Journal, Family Law Week Journal, Talented Ladies Club, Law Society Gazette, Resolution The Review, Edward Fennel Legal Diary.
Speaking engagemenets / Podcasts
I have presented the Family Law Week webinar series on Family Law Supervision in 2026 & was a featured guest on the Family Law Week Podcast discussing Wedding Law Reform.
Get in touch with me!
I am based in Reading, with experience of working in and with professional connections throughout the Thames Valley, Oxford and London.