Divorce & Separation
Applications under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 — sole or joint. Dissolution of civil partnerships. Judicial separation.
Family Law
Divorce, child arrangements, financial remedy, domestic abuse injunctions, cohabitation rights — whatever the family situation, we connect you with a specialist solicitor for a free initial consultation.
⚠ If you have received court documents, have an upcoming hearing, or face a child safety concern — mention it in the form so your request can be prioritised.
What You Can Submit
From a first conversation about separation through to contested final hearings — submit any of these issues and a specialist solicitor will be in touch.
Applications under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 — sole or joint. Dissolution of civil partnerships. Judicial separation.
Who the child lives with and spends time with — agreed or contested. Specific issue and prohibited steps orders.
Division of matrimonial assets, pension sharing, maintenance orders, and consent orders formalising an agreed settlement.
Non-molestation orders, occupation orders, and emergency without-notice applications under the Family Law Act 1996.
Pre- and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and TOLATA trust of land disputes between unmarried couples.
CMS applications, top-up maintenance orders in the Family Court, and enforcement of unpaid maintenance.
International child abduction (Hague Convention), overseas divorce recognition, and cross-border financial remedy.
Agency and step-parent adoptions, special guardianship orders, and parental responsibility applications.
Why It Matters
Delay in family law can mean lost rights — particularly around financial remedy deadlines, child arrangements becoming entrenched, and protective orders being made before you have legal input.
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 removed fault from April 2022. No adultery or unreasonable behaviour is required. However, the divorce order says nothing about money or children — those are entirely separate proceedings requiring specialist advice from the outset.
If you remarry without having issued a financial remedy claim — the "remarriage trap" — you permanently lose your right to claim against your former spouse. A solicitor ensures the application is issued at the correct stage.
Before applying for a child arrangements order you must generally attend a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting). Exceptions apply for domestic abuse and urgency — but knowing which applies requires legal advice first.
Served divorce papers require an Acknowledgement of Service in 14 days. A financial remedy claim requires Form E within 28 days. Missing these deadlines can result in orders made against you in your absence.
A non-molestation order or occupation order under the Family Law Act 1996 can be made at an emergency without-notice hearing if there is immediate risk of harm. A solicitor can make an emergency application on the same day in urgent cases.
There is no "common law marriage" in English law. An unmarried partner has no automatic right to the other's property regardless of how long they have lived together. A cohabitation agreement provides far greater protection than a TOLATA claim after separation.
Information That Helps
The more clearly you describe the situation, the easier it is for the solicitor to advise you.
Date of marriage, date of separation, and whether divorce proceedings have been issued.
Children's ages, current living arrangements, and any immediate welfare concerns.
Existing court orders, injunctions, or consent orders you are party to.
Major assets — family home, mortgage, pensions, business interests, savings, joint debts.
Any deadlines, court dates, or legal letters requiring a response.
Domestic abuse history, police involvement, or urgent safety concerns.
Submitting the form does not create a solicitor-client relationship and does not replace legal advice.
Common Questions
Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (in force April 2022), either or both spouses apply by stating the marriage has irretrievably broken down — no fault or reason required. A Conditional Order is granted after a 20-week reflection period, and a Final Order at least six weeks later. Joint applications are available. The divorce order says nothing about finances or children — those require separate proceedings.
Child arrangements orders replaced "custody" and "access" under the Children Act 1989. They set out who the child "lives with" and who the child "spends time with". Courts apply the welfare checklist and the presumption of parental involvement — both parents should be involved unless there is a risk of harm. CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) represents the child's interests in contested proceedings.
Under sections 23–25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the court divides assets "fairly" with wide discretion. The starting point for long marriages is often equal division. The court considers income, earning capacity, needs, standard of living, contributions (financial and non-financial), and conduct. Pension sharing, lump sums, property adjustment orders and maintenance can all form part of a financial remedy order.
Before most family court applications (child arrangements orders, specific issue orders, prohibited steps orders) you must generally attend a MIAM. Exemptions apply for domestic abuse (with supporting evidence), urgency, and child protection concerns. From April 2024, courts actively promote mediation and alternative dispute resolution. A solicitor advises whether you qualify for an exemption and which MIAM provider to use.
There is no common law marriage in English law. An unmarried partner has no automatic right to the other's income, pension, or property on separation — regardless of the length of the relationship. Claims must be brought under TOLATA 1996 (trust claims) or Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 (provision for children). These claims are uncertain and expensive. A cohabitation agreement drawn up in advance provides far greater protection.
Legal Aid for private family law is very restricted following LASPO 2012. It is generally available only where there is evidence of domestic abuse or child protection concerns, and financial eligibility thresholds apply. Many solicitors offer fixed-fee initial consultations and unbundled services (helping with specific parts of a case only) to make legal advice more accessible. A solicitor advises at the first consultation whether Legal Aid may be available to you.
How It Works
You do not need to know exact legal terminology. Describe what is happening, include any urgency or court dates, and your request will be reviewed.
Submit Your RequestUse the form to explain your family law matter — what is happening, where you are in the process, and any urgency or upcoming court dates.
Your request is reviewed with matter type, urgency and location in mind. Requests involving court hearings, child safety or protective orders are prioritised.
A specialist family law solicitor contacts you for a free initial consultation — advising on your rights, the process, and the realistic next steps.
Request Family Law Help Today
Describe your situation once and a specialist family law solicitor in England or Wales will be in touch for a free initial consultation. Submitting the form does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
Submit Your Request