Divorce & Separation

A divorce can be obtained without any court attendance. You can apply via an online portal. You need to complete the forms and follow the guidance notes, which are intended to be straightforward and user-friendly.

You will first need to decide if you are applying as a sole applicant or as a joint applicant (with your ex), as the process is slightly different depending which route you choose.

The first step is the divorce petition itself. This will lead to the court making a conditional order, and then later a final order, which ends the marriage.

You can apply via the court portal

It would be usual to expect the divorce to take 6-8 months, because there is a “cooling off” period of 5 months during the process. It is often sensible not to apply for the final order until you have resolved any financial issues though – so it may sometimes take longer.

Many people choose their family lawyer through a recommendation from their family or friends. However, it is sensible to also check that their solicitor is also a member of Resolution. You can also check their credentials on Legal 500 and Chambers Guide, who provide reviews on family law firms.

Your family lawyer is an important advisor, and so you may want to have some informal discussions with one or two solicitors before making a final choice – it is important to appoint someone who communicates well, listens to your concerns, and instils confidence in you.

The best family lawyers will be good listeners and will be flexible in their approach to your case, depending on the outcome you want to achieve – rather than having a set way of working.

They will have excellent legal and communication skills, and will ensure that your case is managed in a way that reduces the stress on you, and remains within your financial budget.

We are a boutique firm and offer a personal service, tailored to your needs. We always put the client first. Our fee earners are consistently ranked as leaders in the field and we have a wide breadth of experience across all areas of family law. The size and structure of the firm means we can keep our overheads down and offer highly competitive rates, without ever compromising the quality of our service.

You will have to work closely with your divorce lawyer to make important decisions about your future. Aside from possessing all the right skills and legal knowledge, it is very important that you find someone you trust and with whom you have a good rapport. You must have absolute faith that your solicitor is putting you and your needs first.

Family lawyers charge by the hour. The more experienced they are, the more that they tend to charge. However, the price paid is not just about their experience, or prestige. It may also be affected by their geographical location, or the type of firm they are – bigger firms tend to have higher hourly rates, because of increased overheads.

So it is not always about price dictating the best lawyer, and care should be taken to make sure you get the lawyer that you need.

In your first meeting, you will be giving the background to your situation, so that the family lawyer can understand the legal help that you need.

It is sometimes helpful to provide some background information by email, prior to the consultation itself, in order to maximise time in the meeting. You can ask your solicitor if this would be helpful step.

As well as collecting information from you and understanding your circumstances better, you will also get a legal overview of the various routes that lay open for you, and the pros andc cons of each.

Family solicitors in England Wales specialise in all issues relating to family relationships. This is predominantly divorce and disputes over child arrangements, but it also encompasses a wide range of other services (pre-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, adoption, surrogacy, domestic violence injunctions etc)

The benefits of having a family solicitor is to help guide you through all of your options, and to secure the best legal outcome for you. They will ensure that any agreements, or court orders, are prepared in a way that protects your interests. Having a family solicitor will also greatly reduce the stress that can be caused in trying to navigate a complicated process alone.