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Family Arbitration

What is Family Arbitration?

Family arbitration is a form of dispute resolution which is quick, versatile and can be tailored to your particular circumstances. It can be used to resolve financial disputes and issues concerning children.

One of the key benefits of arbitration is that you are not required to attend court, which makes the process agile and streamlined.

The arbitration process starts with both parties appointing a legal professional, known as an Arbitrator, to adjudicate on their dispute and make a final decision which is legally binding.

What role do K J Smith Solicitors have in the Arbitration process?

Our expert family lawyers are involved from the outset. We will help you select the most suitable Arbitrator for your case, work with you to determine the core issues in dispute and prepare the legal paperwork on your behalf throughout the process.

We will represent and advise you at whichever location is most convenient for you. This could be at our offices, or at the offices of the Arbitrator.

What issues can be dealt with during Arbitration?

Almost all family law issues can be dealt with through arbitration, including:

  • Financial matters arising from divorce and separation.
  • Child arrangement disputes and other matters relating to children in the event of a breakdown in a relationship, whether you are married or not.
  • Civil Partnership breakdown and the associated financial matters.
  • Claims for financial provision for children where the parties are not married.
  • Issues involving ownership of property where the parties are unmarried and cohabiting.

Is Family Arbitration the right option for me

Family arbitration has many benefits, such as:

  • You are able to select the Arbitrator with a professional background most relevant to your matter, from a panel of accredited professionals.
  • You can be sure that your chosen Arbitrator will deal with your matter from start to finish; this differs from court proceedings, where multiple Judges may be involved throughout the process.
  • You can be confident that the process will lead to a conclusion in considerably less time than via the court.
  • You will have a final, written decision which will be legally binding, enabling you to move forward with your life.

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Finding the right lawyer can be a difficult job, therefore why not arrange a free 45-minute consultation at one of our offices or arrange a video consultation with us via Zoom, WhatsApp or Facetime.

Our flexible video conferencing service is available Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm.

Free, no obligation consultation

We offer a free initial 45 minute consultation to give you the opportunity to meet us and find out more about Family Arbitration before deciding if you wish to proceed in instructing us to act on your behalf.

Please contact our divorce lawyers today on 01491 630000 (Henley on Thames Head Office), 0118 418 1000 (Reading), 0118 418 1200 (Reading Central), 01256 584000 (Basingstoke), 01483 370100 (Guildford), 01494 629000 (Beaconsfield), 01344 513000 (Ascot), 01635 785 100 (Newbury), 01962 587900 (Winchester), 023 8200 2111 (Southampton), 01727 295 555 (St Albans) or email info@kjsmith.co.uk.

We also serve a wide range of other areas including Abingdon, Bracknell, Gerrards Cross, Maidenhead, Marlow, Oxford, Slough, Wokingham, Pangbourne, and High Wycombe.

Our Office Locations

All our offices are easily accessible by road, rail or bus and we are open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm.

Not sure which office is closest to you? Try our Office Finder.

If you would like to visit our team of family solicitors, we have offices in Henley-on-Thames (Head Office) Reading, Basingstoke, Guildford, Beaconsfield, Ascot, Oxford, Newbury & Winchester, St Albans, and Southampton. We serve a wide range of other areas including Abingdon, Bracknell, Gerrards Cross, Maidenhead, Marlow, Reading (central), Slough, High Wycombe and Wokingham.

Why not contact our team of divorce solicitors for a free initial consultation today? We offer a free initial consultation that can take place in any one of our offices or over the telephone.

Client Testimonials

We are proud to have represented many excellent clients. Below are some comments our clients have made about us.

Join Our Team

Join Our Team

We are always looking for exceptional people to join our team.

Whether you are considering a move now or at some point in the future, we would love to hear from you and learn more about your career goals and motivations.

At K J Smith we pride ourselves on our commitment to offering support, guidance and career development across all roles. You will receive a competitive salary along with a comprehensive range of benefits.

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Kulbir Rahi

Kulbir Rahi

Partner at our Ascot office

"I joined K J Smith with an open mind and with the expectation of developing and adding diversity and challenge to my career, having spent 23 years in a comfortable position with a traditional high street practice.

I can honestly say that K J Smith have exceeded my expectations. Since joining, I have felt supported and encouraged by the firm’s continued commitment to growth and improvement. The company allow staff at all levels to have a voice and recognise the importance of investment in their employees at every level."

Read other staff testimonials here.

Free Consultation

Free Initial Consultation


To find out how we can help you, please contact us for a free initial consultation. Call or email, we will be happy to speak to you about your options and how we can help.