Family Law

Finding a skilled family law attorney in Trinidad and Tobago matters because family disputes rarely stay simple for long. What begins as a conversation about separation can quickly involve children’s living arrangements, maintenance obligations, the family home, and urgent protective orders — sometimes all at once. At Martin George & Company, we have been guiding clients through these intersecting pressures since 1992, and we understand that the decisions made early in a family dispute often shape outcomes for years to come. Whether you are a spouse, a parent, a guardian, or an adult child dealing with a family estate, the starting point is the same: getting a clear picture of your legal position before taking steps you cannot reverse.

Family law in Trinidad and Tobago is procedural and timeline-sensitive. Divorce proceedings, custody applications, maintenance orders, and domestic violence applications each follow their own process, and missing a step or filing too late can affect both the outcome and the cost. It is also an area where facts matter enormously — not just the legal argument, but the evidence behind it. What was agreed, what was written down, what can be proved, and what the court is likely to focus on are all questions that a consultation should answer before proceedings begin. Clients who come to us with organised records and a clear account of events are always better placed than those who wait until a deadline forces their hand.

The firm’s family law service is broader than most clients initially expect. Beyond divorce and custody, it includes matters such as adoption, guardianship, legal separation, common-law partner rights, international child abduction and recovery under the Hague Convention, and a range of protective orders and injunctions available to clients facing domestic violence or intimidation. If you are unsure whether your situation falls within family law, a first consultation will usually give you the answer.

Services in this practice area

• Adoption
• Divorce
• Child Support
• Custody
• Legal Separation
• Spousal Support
• Guardianship
• Mediation
• Maintenance
• Alimony
• Access Orders
• Restraining Orders
• Matrimonial Injunctions
• Expulsion Orders
• Domestic Violence Applications
• Domestic Violence Protection Orders
• International Child Abduction Claims & Recovery
• Hague Convention on International Rights of the Child
• Legal Custody
• Visitation Rights
• Annulment of Marriage
• Separation Agreements
• Common-Law Spouses / Co-Habitational Rights
• Matrimonial Proceedings
• Property Settlement
• Lump-Sum Payments
• Dissolution of Marriage
• Adultery
• Desertion
• Abandonment
• Enforcement of Orders for Maintenance Payments
• Enforcement of Orders for Property Settlement
• Applications for Decree Nisi
• Applications for Decree Absolute
• S.47 Declarations in relation to Children

When you come in for a consultation, the first thing we will do is listen — to the relationship history, to any court papers or orders already in place, to the questions around children, money, and property, and to anything urgent that may need immediate attention. You do not need to arrive with a full legal theory; you need to arrive with the documents you have and an honest account of where things stand. Useful items to bring include any marriage certificate or cohabitation documents, existing court orders or correspondence from the other party, financial records if maintenance or property is involved, and notes on any incidents relevant to safety or welfare.

Our approach in family matters is practical rather than combative. Where negotiation or mediation can reach a fair outcome more quickly and with less damage to ongoing relationships — especially where children are involved — we will explore that path. Where the other party is not engaging in good faith, or where safety is at risk, we move into court proceedings with the same thoroughness we bring to every contested matter. Clients across Port of Spain, Tobago, and throughout Trinidad and Tobago should not have to navigate these pressures without proper legal support. Our role is to make the process understandable, manage the legal risk, and keep your focus on what matters most.