It’s important to make suitable arrangements for any children involved. It’s equally vital to handle financial matters in a way that is fair, safeguards your interests, and meets the housing needs of everyone—both now and in the future.

Whether you’re considering divorce, dissolving a civil partnership, or arranging a separation agreement, our experienced team provides clear, practical advice on all the legal issues involved. We handle your needs efficiently and with care.

The only ground for divorce is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. You cannot apply for a divorce, or to end a civil partnership, until you have been married for at least one year.

There are some alternatives to divorce, including judicial separation which follows a similar procedure although it does not dissolve the marriage or civil partnership. This may be appropriate where, for example, there are religious beliefs which do not recognise divorce although there is still a need for financial issues to be addressed.

Provided a divorce is not opposed, and there are no disputes over payment of the legal costs, the process will usually take about 6-10 months (where parties are amicable) to conclude and does not require you to attend court. We can guide you through the process and will keep matters as amicable as possible, particularly where there are children involved.

If you are not married, there is no formal process you need to go through to end the relationship but there may still be financial or children matters to deal with. Please see our Unmarried Family Finances and Children pages for further information.

Speak to a Family Law Solicitor Today

Due to the sensitive nature of family matters choosing the right solicitor for your matter is essential. We therefore offer a free initial telephone consultation so you can find out more about our services and decide if we are the right fit for you. If you would like to set up a free initial call, please complete the contact form here and a member of the team will be in touch.