Divorce solicitors

All of our lawyers are experts and your case will be handled by the same qualified lawyer from start-to-finish. We have secured top rankings in leading client guides the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, providing independent assurance of our expertise.

You will be given a realistic estimate of the cost of dealing with your divorce at the outset, with a clear breakdown of all fees involved. Any fixed price we agree will always be adhered to and no additional work will be carried out without your prior agreement.

When getting divorced, the details really matter. Our divorce solicitors have a laser focus on getting every little thing right, avoiding unnecessary delays and other frustrating problems.

You will never be left wondering what is happening or need to chase your lawyer for answers. Our team take pride in proactively keeping our clients up-to-date, with clear guidance on timelines and when to expect progress.

Divorce can be very hard, both emotionally and in terms of handling all of the practical details. Our divorce solicitors always make an effort to put themselves in your shoes and ensure they understand your concerns and what you need, so we can deliver on your expectations.

The legal process of securing a divorce can seem daunting. Even small mistakes can hold up your divorce or end up costing you extra, so it is sensible to seek expert legal advice to make sure your divorce proceedings go ahead as smoothly as possible.

We will be happy to talk you through the requirements and make sure every little detail is handled correctly.

Our divorce solicitors are experts in matters including:

• Completing and filing divorce applications
• Responding to divorce applications
• Applications from overseas residents for divorce in the English court system
• The implications of your divorce for issues including tax and inheritance

The division of finances in divorce is critical to your future financial security, so it is important to make sure you get a settlement that fully reflects your needs and those of your loved ones. It is also understandable to want to protect the assets you have built up.

We are highly skilled in negotiating divorce financial settlements through private negotiation and arbitration, while also having a strong track record of success in making court applications for Financial Orders where a voluntary settlement cannot be reached.

Our divorce lawyers are experts in matters including:

• Property (the family home, second homes, investment properties etc.)
• Pensions
• Savings and investments
• Inheritances
• Trusts
• Business assets
• International assets

What happens to children during a divorce is usually the most emotive issue for parents and the one that it is absolutely essential to get right. Your children’s wellbeing and your relationship with them must be protected, so the right legal approach is critical.

Wherever possible, we will help you to make arrangements for children amicably as this is almost always in your children and your best interests. However, where this is not possible, we can assist with applying for a Child Arrangements Order, meaning a court will decide what happens.

Our divorce solicitors are experts in matters including:

• Where children will live
• Child contact arrangements
• Preventing contact with children
• Child relocation
• Grandparents’ rights

If the case is straightforward and you are both in agreement, a divorce will normally take between 7 and 10 months. The time taken is largely determined by how quickly the courts process the paperwork.

The cost of divorce will depend on your individual circumstances and will involve court fees (which are fixed) and legal fees (which will be determined according to your requirements).

Our divorce solicitors are able to offer fixed price divorce where appropriate, and we will always provide a detailed quote upfront, so you can see exactly what you will be paying for.

To discuss your needs today and get more information about our fixed fee divorce service, please get in touch with our divorce solicitors in the UK.

The rules around divorce in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2022. Since this date, divorcing couples have no longer needed to explain why their marriage is over – instead, one or both partners simply need to provide a statement that their marriage has “irretrievably broken down”.

To apply to get a divorce under the laws of England and Wales, you must have been married for more than one year. If you have been married for less than a year, you may be eligible to have your marriage annulled, depending on the circumstances.

Under the old divorce rules, there were five reasons used to demonstrate that the marriage had irretrievably broken down. These are known as ‘facts’ in law but generally referred to as the ‘grounds for divorce’. They were unreasonable behaviour, adultery, two year’s separation with consent of both parties, five year’s separation without consent and desertion. These ‘facts’ are no longer relevant, one of our divorce lawyers can explain the law and what you need to do to apply for a divorce under the new rules.

Yes, since 6 April 2022, no fault divorce has been available for individuals and couples getting divorced in England and Wales under the terms of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020.

This means you do not need to give a reason for the breakdown of your marriage in your divorce application, so there will be no need to assign blame for the divorce. It is also possible for couples to file for divorce together in a joint application (although the option for one spouse to make a sole application remains).

There are a number of things to consider here:

Cost – the person who starts the divorce pays court fees. If you are in agreement about getting a divorce, you may choose to share all of the costs involved. Therefore, this would not be a factor.

Legal jurisdiction – If you or your partner might be able to apply for divorce in another country, it could be very important who applies as, in some countries, the law allows for more favourable settlements or treats the care of children from a marriage differently. This could mean you need to be the one to start the divorce so that you choose which country’s laws apply.

Since 6 April 2022 and the implementation of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, the option to contest or ‘defend’ a divorce has been removed. However, as the need to give a reason for the divorce was removed at the same time, taking the element of blame out of divorce proceedings, there is less likely to be any need to contest the divorce.

Under the old law you could object to the grounds on which a divorce is being sought. This was known as contesting a divorce and is covered in our contested divorce explained blog post.

You will not be required to appear in court to secure a divorce. Divorce is dealt with via an online application (although you can request a paper application if you prefer).

A court appearance will only normally be necessary if you cannot agree a financial settlement and the case goes to a hearing or if you cannot agree the arrangements for looking after your children.

Our divorce lawyers are experts in negotiation, collaboration, arbitration and other amicable approaches to divorce, so can give you the best chance of agreeing a financial settlement and arrangements for children privately, without the need for court proceedings.

The divorce process itself is now relatively straightforward, so does not particularly need a solicitor (unless you want someone else to deal with the ‘paperwork’ for you). However, it is very important to get advice from an experienced divorce solicitor around finances and seek their help if there are disputes about that or around children.

You will need to work with a specialist divorce solicitor who can assist you through every stage, from the initial application to obtaining the Conditional Order and later the final order.

Our specialist divorce solicitors at Woolley & Co have extensive experience assisting clients to work through divorces, including those with complex financial circumstances or those with concerns about the care and living arrangements for their children.

Generally speaking, both parties are responsible for paying their own legal costs.

Where one party is applying for the divorce, they will need to pay the Court fee. Where both parties are making a joint application, both will be responsible for covering the fee. The standard Court fee is currently £593.