Family Law Solicitors

Family law matters are personal. The legal process doesn't have to make them worse.

Whether you are separating, dealing with arrangements for children, or facing an urgent protection order — a specialist family solicitor can clarify your rights, your options, and what to do first. Submit your details and a solicitor will be in touch for a free initial consultation.

Divorce, separation & finances Child arrangements & care proceedings Urgent domestic abuse orders Free initial consultation

Describe your family law matter

Share the legal issue, your location, and the outcome you need help with so a legal representative can contact you.

Legal issue

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What do you need help with? I agree to be contacted about this request. I understand this form does not create a lawyer-client relationship.

Your details are used to understand the legal matter and arrange contact about your request.

Choose Your Matter

Family law matters we handle.

Select the issue closest to your situation. A solicitor who specialises in that area will review your request and contact you directly.

Divorce

No-fault divorce under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. Separate legal proceedings cover financial settlement and child arrangements.

Financial Settlements

Division of the matrimonial pot — property, pensions, savings and income. A consent order makes the agreement legally binding and prevents future claims.

Child Arrangements

Where children live, how much time they spend with each parent, and how decisions about their lives are made. Court orders if agreement cannot be reached.

Domestic Abuse & Protection Orders

Non-molestation orders and occupation orders available urgently — without notice to the other party in serious cases. Legal aid may be available.

Care Proceedings

Social services involvement, care orders, supervision orders, and special guardianship. Legal aid is available for parents and family members in most cases.

Cohabitation Disputes

Unmarried couples have no automatic rights on separation. Trusts of land, beneficial interests, and Schedule 1 claims for children require specialist advice.

Mediation & Separation Agreements

Resolve disputes without court where possible. A separation agreement sets out agreed terms for finances and children during the period before divorce.

Pre & Postnuptial Agreements

Protect assets brought into a marriage or received during it. Courts give significant weight to agreements that meet the legal requirements for validity.

What You Get

What the free initial consultation covers.

Family solicitors work differently from other practitioners — the first conversation focuses on your specific situation, not a generic overview of the law.

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A clear picture of your legal position

Whether you are separating, dealing with children, or facing a court application — the solicitor will explain exactly where you stand and what your rights are, in plain language.

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What the other party can and cannot do

Many people are told things by a separating partner or spouse that are not accurate. The consultation will clarify what the other party is legally entitled to — and what they are not.

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Urgent steps if needed

Where there is immediate risk — to children, to property, or to personal safety — the solicitor will identify the urgent legal steps available and the timeline for obtaining them.

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Realistic outcomes for your situation

Family law outcomes are fact-specific. The solicitor will give you a realistic assessment of what a court is likely to order in your circumstances — not a best-case scenario.

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Funding options explained

Family law funding includes legal aid (still available for domestic abuse and care proceedings), fixed-fee services, and hourly rate representation. The solicitor will explain what applies to your situation.

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No pressure and no commitment

The free initial consultation is for your benefit. You decide whether to instruct the solicitor after the conversation — there is no obligation, and no sales process.

Family law — what people ask us.

Do I need a solicitor or can I handle my family matter myself?

You can represent yourself in family proceedings, but the decisions made — about children, finances, and property — will affect you for years. The other party, particularly if they have a solicitor, will be better positioned in negotiations and at hearings. Where children are involved or assets are significant, specialist advice is rarely a cost — it is an investment in the outcome. Many solicitors offer fixed-fee initial consultations that give you a clear picture before you decide how much representation you need.

Is legal aid available for family matters?

Legal aid for private family law matters (divorce, finances, child arrangements) was largely removed in 2013. However, it remains available in specific circumstances: domestic abuse cases where there is evidence of abuse, care proceedings (for parents and some family members), and child abduction cases. A solicitor can assess whether you qualify. If legal aid is not available, fixed-fee and unbundled services can make quality advice accessible at a manageable cost.

How long does a divorce take?

Under the current no-fault divorce process, the minimum is approximately 6 months from the application to the final divorce order. In practice, most divorces take longer — particularly where financial settlement is being negotiated simultaneously. Financial proceedings, if contested, can take 12 to 24 months. A solicitor can advise on how to keep the process moving efficiently and how to protect your financial position during the proceedings.

My spouse has already instructed a solicitor. Should I do the same?

Yes. Where one party is legally represented and the other is not, the represented party has a significant advantage in negotiations, document drafting, and court proceedings. This is particularly true in financial proceedings, where the way assets are valued, disclosed, and argued can substantially affect the outcome. You do not need to match your spouse's level of representation exactly, but some specialist advice — even if limited — will protect your interests.

We agree on everything. Do we still need solicitors?

For the divorce itself, no — you can proceed jointly online. But to make any financial agreement legally binding, you need a consent order drafted and approved by a court. Without a consent order, either party can make financial claims against the other years later — even after remarriage in some cases. A solicitor can draft the consent order efficiently and at fixed cost once you have reached agreement on the terms.