Divorce solicitors in England & Wales

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Plain-language guide

What a divorce solicitor does.

A divorce solicitor guides you through ending the marriage and, more importantly, through the financial settlement that follows it. The divorce itself is now an administrative process under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020; the money is decided under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 by agreement recorded in a consent order, or by the court after full disclosure on Form E. The solicitor's real value is in getting a fair, final and enforceable financial order, including the pension.

When you need one

You have decided to divorce and want the financial side dealt with properly, not just the paperwork.
Your spouse has proposed a settlement and you need to know whether it is fair before signing.
There is a pension, a business or property abroad and the division is not straightforward.
Your spouse is hiding assets or refusing to disclose their finances.

How fees usually work

Fixed fees are common for the divorce application itself and for drafting a consent order. Negotiating or litigating the finances is charged by the hour, and costs rise sharply once a financial remedy application is issued because of the three-hearing process. Ask for an estimate to a consent order first, and what the first directions appointment and financial dispute resolution hearing would each add.

Questions to ask before you instruct

Should we try mediation or a private financial dispute resolution before court?
What is a fair outcome in my case, and why?
How will the pension be dealt with, and do we need an actuary's report?
What happens to the family home, and can I stay in it until the children finish school?

See the listed practitioners

General information about England & Wales law and practice, not advice on your matter. The practitioners listed on this page give that advice.

Divorce solicitor questions

Do I have to give a reason for the divorce?

No. Since April 2022 the only ground is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, shown by a statement from one or both spouses. Adultery and unreasonable behaviour are no longer alleged, and the application cannot be contested except on very narrow grounds such as jurisdiction.

Is a 50/50 split automatic?

No. The court applies the section 25 factors, with first consideration to the welfare of any child, and looks at needs, compensation and sharing. Equality is the starting point for assets built up during the marriage, but needs, particularly housing for the children, often justify a departure from it.

Why do I need a financial order if we have agreed everything?

Because without an order the financial claims remain open indefinitely. A consent order approved by the court makes the agreement final and enforceable and, with a clean break, prevents either spouse claiming against the other's future earnings or windfalls.

For the practitioners listed here

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