There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to divorce. In some cases, both people agree that the relationship is over, and you want to formalise it. In other situations, there are financial complications, emotional complexities, and difficult circumstances to untangle.
Whatever your situation, a good first step is to come in for a no-obligation consultation. At your free initial consultation (45 minutes), one of our experienced lawyers will explain the legal options available to you.
We’ll listen to you to understand why you want a divorce, and discuss the various options available to you. This also gives you the chance to meet us in person and decide if we’re the right lawyers for you, without any obligation to take it further if you don’t want to.
You can bring your marriage to an end with divorce, if it has irretrievably broken down. Find out about the process, costs, and considerations to take into account.
Married couples can opt for a judicial separation to formalise the end of a relationship, if they do not want a divorce. Unmarried couples can choose a separation agreement to clarify child arrangements and the division of assets.
Annulling a marriage or civil partnership brings it to an end, if there were defects with the legalities. It’s usually only available within first 3 years of marriage, and in limited circumstances.
No. You can make the agreement between you and your partner, without going to court. It’s a good idea to have a record of what you agreed, so we encourage you to write it out in a Parental Plan, which can be rubber-stamped by the court if you want it to be.
Yes. If the child was part of your family, you can apply for a child arrangement order as a step-parent. The court will consider the relationship between you and the child, and the advantages of the order, and any potential risks of harm to the child.
Once you’ve made the decision to go to court, it all depends on how quickly you can come to an agreement. It could be weeks, or it could be months.
If matters progress to a Final Hearing and the Court is required to make a decision as the parents are unable to agree, the process could take between 6 and12 months.
It costs £255 to apply for a court order. You will also need to pay any legal fees on top of that.
Generally yes, unless there has been domestic abuse in the relationship, or social services are involved. You’ll normally need to show that you’ve tried mediation before you can apply to court.
Mediation is usually a good idea anyway, as it’s typically much easier and cheaper than going to court.
Unmarried couples with children have access to the same legal remedies in relation to children as married couples. You can either come to an agreement between yourselves, go to mediation, or go to court to reach an arrangement.
We’re recognised by the Legal 500 as a Leading Firm in a number of practice areas. That means that an external, objective body has scrutinised our competency and client reviews, and found us to be one of the top family law practices in the UK.
Our lawyers are members of Resolution, so we are committed to a Code of Practice which promotes a constructive approach to family issues that considers the needs of the whole family.
