Cohabitation

Emma was born and educated in Norfolk. She has lived in Fakenham for most of her life. She attended Nottingham Trent University where she took an LLB (Hons) Law Degree. She then went on to study the Legal Practice Course and a Masters in Law which were both achieved with a Commendation.

Emma has undertaken in-house work experience both in Norfolk and Nottingham. Upon the completion of her studies, Emma joined Hayes + Storr in September 2019 as a Paralegal in the Family Department.

Outside of work, her hobbies include reading and travelling. Emma spent a gap year prior to her University studies volunteering in a local village and school in Thailand. She often goes on long country walks and enjoys visiting the Norfolk coast.

Maria joined Hayes + Storr in 2018 having trained and qualified as a solicitor in 2005 at a firm in Middlesex. Maria completed her Degree in Law with Psychology at Staffordshire University and then went on to complete her legal practice course at The College of Law in Birmingham. After her first child was born, she decided to take a break from her career as a solicitor to bring up her two young children.  During her time away from the law, she set-up her own successful child-minding business enabling her to stay at home with her children, whilst also earning an income. She then worked as a marriage registrar with Norfolk County Council before embarking on a return to her legal career in the Hayes + Storr Family Department.

Maria can assist with all family matters, including relationship and marriage breakdown, and ancillary financial relief, but her particular interest and specialism is in private law children cases. Recently, Maria has worked on cases involving removal of children from the jurisdiction of England and Wales, and where one parent lives in a non-EU country. These cases demonstrate the added complexity of peoples’ worldwide travel to the arrangements for their children when they separate. Maria also has experience of dealing with cases of alleged abuse of children, or of domestic abuse of one of the parents. Where such allegations are made, the court has a duty to consider making findings on such allegations by way of a Fact Finding Hearing. Maria has experience of guiding clients through such complex and highly emotive proceedings.

If you wish to make an appointment with Maria, she can see you at any one of our seven offices across Norfolk.

Outside of work, Maria enjoys doing activities with her family including walking, cycling, entertaining family and friends.