Contact the firm to ask about first appointment terms. Arbitration, mediation and private hearings are offered as alternatives to court.
Office
10 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, London WC2A 3QG
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Payne Hicks Beach is an old Lincoln's Inn practice that says it was founded in 1770 and has always worked from 10 New Square. Its family department is one of the best known in London for very large divorces, and its partners include Baroness Shackleton. Nick Manners has led the department since 2024. Beyond finances, the team covers children disputes, international relocation and abduction, surrogacy and adoption, and pre and post nuptial agreements. It suits people with substantial wealth, family businesses or trusts. Contact the firm to ask about first appointment terms.
Founded in 1770
Also worth knowing
Head of family Nick Manners worked on Potanin v Potanina, which reached the Supreme Court, the firm says.
Lawyers
Nick Manners is listed as a member of Resolution on his profile.
Nick Manners, Partner and Head of the Family Department
Baroness Fiona Shackleton of Belgravia LVO, Partner
Legal aid is available in certain child abduction cases, and the firm can make emergency legal aid applications for children brought to England and Wales. Contact the firm to ask about first appointment terms.
Dawson Cornwell is a Holborn family firm, founded in 1972, best known for international work, above all child abduction and cross border custody. Russell Bywater is managing partner, Carolina Marín Pedreño heads children and Charlotte Conner heads the matrimonial team. The firm says it sits on the government's specialist panel for Hague Convention abduction cases and runs a 24 hour emergency line. It also handles divorce, finances, surrogacy and forced marriage. It suits parents facing a move or removal abroad, and couples with assets in more than one country. Legal aid is possible in some abduction cases.
Founded in 1972
Also worth knowing
It has a Spanish Desk and a Pakistan Desk, and 13 partners are listed on its team page.
Lawyers
The firm says many of its lawyers are Resolution Accredited Specialists, including in child abduction and private children law.
Russell Bywater, Managing Partner
Carolina Marín Pedreño, Partner and Head of Children Department
Charlotte Conner, Partner and Head of Matrimonial Department
Free initial consultation for qualifying clients, mainly those with high value cases. Enquiry line staffed 24 hours, with WhatsApp contact available.
Office
10 Old Bailey, London EC4M 7NG
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Vardags is a divorce and family firm founded in 2005 by Ayesha Vardag, who won Radmacher v Granatino in the Supreme Court, the case that gave prenuptial agreements real weight in England. It works from the Old Bailey and focuses on high value cases with private companies, trusts, property portfolios and hidden or overseas assets. David Lister heads London family. An in house financial forensics team helps trace and value assets. It suits wealthy spouses and people with international links. A free first consultation is offered to qualifying clients, and the enquiry line is staffed 24 hours.
Founded in 2005
Also worth knowing
The firm says Legal 500 UK 2025 called it the Rolls Royce and the Ferrari of the family law world.
Lawyers
Ayesha Vardag, Founder and President
David Lister, Senior Partner and Head of London Family
Simon McKirgan, Senior Partner, Divorce and Family
Robert Hines, Partner, Divorce and Family
Louise Walker, Partner, Divorce and Family
Maria Fiorito, Partner, dual qualified (Italy)
Katharine Danby, Partner, Head of Financial Forensics
Legal aid available for eligible clients, depending on means, merits and the type of case. Urgent domestic abuse injunctions can be arranged by phone. Call or request a call back for a first conversation.
Office
Francis Barber House, 9 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DG
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Goodman Ray is a family law firm co-founded in 1985 by Peggy Ray, a former Family Court recorder and Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year. It is best known for children work, from disputes between parents to care proceedings and abduction, and it still takes legally aided clients. It also has a dedicated domestic abuse team for urgent injunctions, plus matrimonial finance, surrogacy and forced marriage work. A large partner group runs the firm from Gough Square. It suits parents in children cases and people needing protection quickly. Call or request a call back to start.
Founded in 1985
Also worth knowing
Partners Trudi Featherstone and Tom Brownrigg are accredited mediators, according to the firm.
Lawyers
Peggy Ray lists membership of Resolution and the Law Society Children Panel on her profile.
Best for Couples who want to settle out of court with expert help
The firm says it introduced collaborative practice to the UK.
It lists four family arbitrators among its specialists.
James Pirrie has been a Law Society accredited mediator since 1989 and is accredited by Resolution in finance and cohabitation cases, according to the firm.
Free, no obligation first meeting or call to check fit. No legal aid, and no public law children work.
Office
Savoy Hill House, Savoy Hill, London WC2R 0BU
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Family Law in Partnership, known as FLiP, is a settlement focused family firm off the Strand with solicitors, mediators, arbitrators and divorce consultants under one roof. It says it introduced collaborative practice to the UK, and it offers mediation, arbitration and joint options where a couple works with one FLiP team. Directors include James Pirrie, a long standing mediator and family arbitrator. It still litigates when needed. It suits couples who want to avoid a court fight, including those with significant assets. It does not offer legal aid. A free, no obligation first conversation is available.
Also worth knowing
The firm says Legal 500 UK has ranked it tier one for family mediation since that category began.
Call for an initial discussion. Contact the firm to ask about first appointment terms.
Office
Livery House, 9 Pratt Street, London NW1 0AE
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Osbornes Law is a Camden firm that has served north London since 1973, and its family department is one of the largest parts of the practice. Mark Freedman leads the family team, Lisa Pepper heads divorce and matrimonial finance and Maria Kitsiou heads children work. The team covers high net worth finances, international children cases, public law children work and adoption, with a French Desk led by a dual qualified lawyer. Several partners are mediators. It suits north London families who want a broad, well ranked team. Call for an initial discussion.
Founded in 1973
Also worth knowing
It has a French Desk led by Yael Selig, who is dual qualified in England and Gibraltar.
Lawyers
Mark Freedman, Partner, leads the family team
Lisa Pepper, Partner and Head of Divorce and Matrimonial Finance, mediator
Joanne Wescott, Managing Partner, Family Law
Maria Kitsiou, Head of children work
Claire Andrews, Partner, Family Law
Melissa Arnold, Partner, Family Law
David Leadercramer, Family lawyer, arbitrator and mediator
Andrew Watson, Mediator and cohabitation lawyer
Yael Selig, Leads the French Desk
Lauren Hall, Leads the international children team, mediator
Jonathan Jonas, Solicitor advocate, public law children
Fixed fee first consultation with a divorce lawyer. No legal aid contract for family work, so all family matters are privately funded.
Office
180 North Gower Street, London NW1 2NB
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Hodge Jones & Allen is a large London firm founded in Camden in 1977, now based at Euston with further offices in Wandsworth, Stratford and Orpington. Its family team is led by Vanessa Friend, a mediator who works across prenups, relocation abroad and divorce finances. The team takes an inclusive approach, with dedicated work for LGBTQIA+ and polyamorous families, plus surrogacy, cohabitation and military divorce. Family work is private paying only. It suits people who want a well known firm with a fixed fee first consultation and options to settle out of court.
Founded in 1977
Also worth knowing
The firm has dedicated advice for LGBTQIA+ and polyamorous families.
Lawyers
Vanessa Friend, Partner and Head of Family, mediator
Phoebe Hill, Partner
Raj Bhattoa, Partner
Rebecca Coates, Partner
Sarah Norman-Scott, Partner
Shevonne Weir, Associate
Jay Faergemann, Solicitor
Areas of family law handled
Divorce and separation
Financial settlements and pensions
Civil partnership dissolution
Child arrangements
Leave to remove and relocation
Child abduction
Domestic abuse
Cohabitation
Prenuptial agreements
Surrogacy
LGBTQIA+ families
Family mediation
Office
180 North Gower Street, London NW1 2NB
Other details
Other offices
Wandsworth, Stratford and Orpington (appointments only)
First meeting bookable by phone, email or online form. Hourly billing with a monthly cost estimate and itemised invoice.
Office
88 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3UB
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Rayden Solicitors is a family law firm headquartered in St Albans with two London offices, at London Bridge and on Hampstead High Street. Executive partner Julian Bremner is a financial arbitrator, and Hampstead partner Marc Etherington is a collaborative lawyer, so out of court options are real here. The London teams cover divorce, finances, children, international divorce, domestic abuse and surrogacy. Billing is hourly with a monthly estimate and an itemised invoice. It suits Londoners wanting a dedicated family firm south or north of the river. First meetings can be booked by phone or online.
Also worth knowing
It sends clients a monthly cost estimate alongside an itemised monthly invoice.
Lawyers
Julian Bremner, Executive Partner and Financial Arbitrator
Anna-Laura Lock, Partner (London Bridge)
Jennifer Moore, Partner (Hampstead)
Marc Etherington, Partner and Collaborative Lawyer (Hampstead)
Free, no obligation callback at a time that suits you. Office visits by appointment. No legal aid.
Office
Ground Floor, 128 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SA
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Stowe Family Law calls itself the UK's largest firm dedicated only to family matters. It started in Leeds in 1982 and now has a big London team based in Victoria, with further bases across the capital from Canary Wharf to Wimbledon. Phoebe Turner leads the London region. The firm covers divorce, high net worth finances with forensic accountants, children, fertility law and domestic abuse, plus mediation, collaborative divorce and arbitration. It suits people who want a large family firm with weekend phone hours. The first step is a free, no obligation callback. Legal aid is not offered.
Founded in 1982
Also worth knowing
Its phone lines are open seven days a week, including weekends.
Lawyers
Phoebe Turner, Regional Director, London, East Anglia and Essex
Emma Newman, Managing Partner, London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent
Emma McMorrow, Team Leader Partner, London
Rosanna Hounslow, Team Leader Partner, London
Anu Kaur, Team Leader Partner, London
Sarah Peters, Team Leader Partner, London and East of England
Shivi Rajput, Team Leader Partner, London and East of England
Jennifer Gray, Partner, London
Sophia Leeder, Partner, London
Ciara Pugh, Partner, London and East of England
Areas of family law handled
Divorce and separation
High net worth divorce
Financial settlements with forensic accountancy support
Religious divorce
Child arrangements
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Cohabitation
Domestic abuse support
Surrogacy, adoption and assisted reproduction
Mediation and collaborative divorce
Family arbitration
One couple one lawyer
Office
Ground Floor, 128 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9SA
Best for Wealthy or international clients who want a small, discreet firm
The firm calls itself a small niche firm of family lawyers in Mayfair focused on high net worth clients.
Consultant Margaret Kelly-Edwards is a collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator, and has sat as a judge in the Family Court, according to the firm.
The firm says several of its solicitors are dual qualified family lawyers.
No obligation consultation at the outset, with costs explained as the case goes on.
Office
84 Brook Street, London W1K 5EH
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
KMJ Solicitors, the trading name of Ketley Miller Joels, is a small Mayfair family law boutique focused on high net worth divorce. Managing partner Clayton Miller leads a compact team that includes several dual qualified lawyers and has acted for clients with links to Australia, China, Singapore, India, Russia and Ukraine. Consultant Margaret Kelly-Edwards is a collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator. The firm also handles children, cohabitation, prenups and international cases. It suits wealthy or internationally connected clients who want a discreet, smaller firm. A no obligation consultation is offered.
Also worth knowing
It shows Lexcel accreditation and The Times Best Law Firms 2024 badges.
Lawyers
Clayton Miller, Managing Partner
Margaret Kelly-Edwards, Consultant, collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator
Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
How we compiled this list
We include firms with an office in London that do family law as a main part of their work. For each one we read the firm's own website in October 2026, checked it says it is regulated by the SRA, and wrote the description ourselves. Accreditations and first consultation terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. Google ratings are shown with the date we checked them, where we have them.
No firm pays for its place on this list, and the order is our own.
This page is general information, not legal advice. The law described is for England and Wales as published on legislation.gov.uk, GOV.UK, judiciary.uk and by the Legal Aid Agency in October 2026.
Getting divorced in England and Wales
Since 6 April 2022, divorce has been no fault. One or both of you apply with a statement that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and the court must accept that statement. You no longer have to prove adultery, behaviour or a period of separation. The same change applies to ending a civil partnership and to judicial separation.
You can't apply for a divorce until you've been married for one year. In the first year you can apply for a separation or an annulment instead.
Step
What happens
Application
Apply online or by post, alone or jointly. Solicitors apply through a MyHMCTS account. The court fee is £628 and isn't refunded once the application is issued
Wait 20 weeks
Counted from when the court issues the application. This is when money and children are usually worked out
Conditional order
You then apply for the conditional order, which used to be called the decree nisi
Wait at least 43 days
That's 6 weeks and 1 day after the conditional order
Final order
This ends the marriage. Apply within 12 months of the conditional order, or you'll have to explain the delay
The fee rose from £612 to £628 on 6 July 2026. You may get help with fees if you're on certain benefits or a low income. On a joint application, both of you have to apply for help with fees.
Sorting out money and property
Getting divorced doesn't settle your finances. If you agree how to split money and property, you can make it legally binding with a consent order. If you can't agree, you can ask the court to make a financial order.
Consent order: the fee is £62. The court can't approve it before the conditional order, and it only takes effect once the final order is made
Asking the court to decide: you file Form A with the financial remedy court, and the fee is £321. You usually have to attend a mediation information meeting first, unless an exemption such as domestic abuse applies
Court stages: a first appointment, then a financial dispute resolution (FDR) appointment aimed at settlement, then a final hearing if you still can't agree
Timing: GOV.UK says to apply to the court before you apply for the final order if you want a legally binding money arrangement
Under section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the court looks at all the circumstances and gives first consideration to the welfare of any child under 18. It weighs each person's income, earning capacity and needs, the standard of living, your ages and the length of the marriage, contributions including looking after the home and family, and any lost benefits such as pension rights. A pension sharing order doesn't take effect until the divorce is final.
Don't remarry first. If you remarry or form a new civil partnership before applying, you lose the right to claim maintenance or a property order for yourself against your former spouse.
Living together without marrying. Cohabiting couples don't have the same rights as married couples. GOV.UK describes their protections when a relationship ends as very limited, and there's no automatic right to inherit if a partner dies without a will. The government consulted on changes from June to August 2026, but no new law has been passed.
Fees rose on 6 July 2026: the consent order fee from £60 to £62 and the contested financial order fee from £313 to £321.
Arrangements for children
Most parents agree arrangements without going to court. If you can't, the court can make:
A child arrangements order: where a child lives and who they spend time with
A prohibited steps order: stops a parent doing something, such as taking the child abroad
A specific issue order: settles one question, such as which school the child goes to
You apply online, where you have 28 days to finish once you start, or by post on form C100. The fee is £270, up from £263 on 6 July 2026, and help with fees may be available.
MIAM first. You'll usually need to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting before applying. Exemptions include evidence of domestic abuse, a child at risk of harm, urgency, a without notice application, and having tried mediation or another option in the last 4 months. If you go and your ex doesn't, you can still apply.
Cafcass. Cafcass represents children's interests in family court cases in England. A Family Court Adviser gives the court safeguarding advice before the first hearing and may be asked to write a section 7 report if the case goes further.
The law still presumes that each parent being involved in a child's life will further the child's welfare, unless it's shown otherwise. That means involvement, not any set split of time. The government plans to remove this presumption through the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which is in the House of Lords and is not law.
London is not yet a Child Focused Courts area, the new approach now used in parts of England and Wales, and it isn't in the first wave of the national rollout announced in March 2026. Child maintenance is separate. If you use the Child Maintenance Service, Direct Pay has no collection fees, and Collect and Pay adds 20% to the paying parent's payment and takes 4% off the receiving parent's.
Protection from domestic abuse
If you're being abused, you can ask the family court for an injunction. There's no court fee.
Non-molestation order: protects you or your child from being harmed or threatened by the abuser
Occupation order: decides who can live in the family home or enter the area around it
You apply on form FL401, online, by email, by post or in person. If you need protection urgently, you can ask for an emergency order without the other person being told first.
Domestic Abuse Protection Orders. These newer orders cover all forms of domestic abuse and also have no court fee. In London you can only apply for one if the person you need protection from lives in Croydon, Bromley or Sutton, and family court applications go to Croydon or Bromley. The pilot started there on 27 November 2024. Everywhere else in London, apply for a non-molestation or occupation order instead.
Legal aid for protection from abuse has relaxed financial limits. Civil Legal Advice on 0345 345 4345 can help with domestic abuse and with separating from an abusive partner. In an emergency, call 999.
Mediation and legal aid
The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme pays up to £500 towards mediation sessions. It can't be used for the MIAM. It covers disputes about a child, or money disputes where there's also a dispute about a child. Purely financial cases don't qualify, and one voucher covers both of you. GOV.UK describes the scheme as time limited.
Legal aid can also pay for mediation on a low income. If both parents qualify, it covers the MIAM, the sessions and the consent order application. If only one qualifies, it covers the MIAM and the first joint session for both, then only the eligible parent's costs.
Legal aid in family cases. Outside mediation, you might get legal aid for advice on divorce, money or children if you've been in an abusive relationship, usually with evidence from the courts, police, social services, a health professional, a refuge or a support service. It also covers protection from abuse or forced marriage, and cases where a child may be taken into care.
Legal aid test
Usual limit from 6 April 2026
Gross income
£2,657 a month for you and your partner, or a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit
Disposable income
£733 a month
Savings and assets
£8,000, with home equity only counted above £100,000
Exceptions
Limits can be relaxed for domestic abuse and forced marriage. No financial test for children in care cases or international child abduction (a child taken out of or brought into the UK)
Not every family firm takes legal aid. On this list, Goodman Ray says it does for eligible clients, and Dawson Cornwell says legal aid is available in some child abduction cases.
Family courts and free help in London
The Central Family Court is the main family court for central London. It deals with divorce, financial remedy, child arrangements, adoption, domestic abuse, forced marriage and FGM protection cases. Always check the court named on your paperwork.
Court
Address
What it hears
Central Family Court
First Avenue House, 42 to 49 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6NP
Divorce, financial remedy, child arrangements, adoption, domestic abuse, forced marriage and FGM protection cases
Money disputes go through the Financial Remedies Court, which is organised in zones. London is its own zone, with a lead judge.
Civil Legal Advice: 0345 345 4345, Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 12:30pm. You can ask it to call you back
Legal aid checker: GOV.UK has an online tool to check if you can get legal aid for your problem
Check a solicitor: search the SRA Solicitors Register before you instruct anyone
London family law: common questions
How long does a divorce take?
Around six months at the very least. You wait 20 weeks from when the court issues the application before applying for the conditional order, then at least 43 days before applying for the final order. It often takes longer when money is still being sorted, because it's usually best to have a financial order in place before the final order.
Do I have to prove my spouse was at fault?
No. Since 6 April 2022, you only need to state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and the court must accept it. You can apply alone or jointly, once you've been married for at least a year.
Does the divorce settle our money?
No. The divorce ends the marriage, but money and property are separate. An agreement is only legally binding once the court approves it as a consent order, which costs £62. If you can't agree, you can apply on Form A for the court to decide, which costs £321. Apply before you remarry, or you can lose your own claims.
Do I have to try mediation before going to court?
Usually you must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting first, for children and money applications. There are exemptions, including domestic abuse, a child at risk, urgency and a without notice application. You don't have to reach agreement in mediation, and the voucher scheme can pay up to £500 towards sessions in children cases.
Can I get legal aid for a family case?
Possibly, if you've been in an abusive relationship, need protection from abuse or forced marriage, want mediation, or a child may be taken into care. You usually need to pass a means test, with gross income of £2,657 a month or less and savings of £8,000 or less. There's no financial test in care cases or international child abduction (a child taken out of or brought into the UK). Civil Legal Advice is on 0345 345 4345.
We lived together but never married. What are our rights?
Far fewer than a married couple's. Cohabiting couples have only very limited protections when a relationship ends, and no automatic right to inherit if a partner dies without a will. The government consulted on reform in 2026, but nothing has changed in law. A solicitor can advise on where you stand.
Is a prenup binding in England and Wales?
Not automatically. Since the Supreme Court's decision in Radmacher v Granatino in 2010, a court should give effect to a prenup that each person entered freely with a full understanding of what it meant, unless it wouldn't be fair to hold them to it.
