Divorce no longer needs anyone to be blamed, but the money, the home and the children still need sorting properly. Here's how family law works in England and Wales as at 4 November 2026, the fees and deadlines that matter, and the family solicitors we list in each city.
Family Solicitors by city
No firm pays for its place on our lists. How we compile our lists
What family solicitors do and when you need one
Family solicitors advise on divorce, money and property, children, and protection from domestic abuse. You can file a divorce yourself, but advice is worth getting if there's a house, a pension or a business to divide, a dispute about the children, or any risk of harm.
A solicitor can also make an agreement legally binding, represent you in court and tell you whether you might get legal aid. If you're in immediate danger, call 999 first.
How divorce works: the no fault process
Since 6 April 2022 nobody has to be blamed. One spouse, or both together, states that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and the court must accept that as conclusive. As at 4 November 2026 the quickest a divorce can go is about six months.
You can't apply until the marriage has lasted a year, though separation or annulment are open to you before then. The same no fault rules apply to ending a civil partnership.
- Apply online or by post, alone or jointly. Solicitors use a MyHMCTS account. The £628 fee isn't refunded once the court issues the application.
- Conditional order: apply once 20 weeks have passed since the application was issued.
- Final order: apply at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) later. This ends the marriage. Wait more than 12 months and you'll have to explain the delay.
GOV.UK advises applying for a legally binding money agreement before you apply for the final order. You can still apply afterwards if you haven't remarried, but finalising first can affect pension and inheritance rights, so get advice before you do.
Money, property and pensions
The divorce ends the marriage but not the financial claims between you. Those stay open until a court makes a financial order, either by approving what you've agreed or by a judge deciding.
- You agree: a consent order costs £62. It can't be approved before the conditional order or take effect before the final order.
- You don't agree: file Form A, for a £321 fee, usually after a mediation information meeting (MIAM). The court holds a first appointment, then a financial dispute resolution (FDR) appointment, then a final hearing if there's still no deal.
How a judge decides. Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 puts the welfare of any child under 18 first, then weighs income, earning capacity, needs, the standard of living, ages, the length of the marriage and contributions, including caring for the family. Lost pension rights count too.
Pensions and remarrying. A pension sharing order doesn't take effect until the divorce is final. Make your financial application before you remarry or form a new civil partnership, or you lose the right to claim maintenance or property for yourself.
Prenups. They aren't automatically binding, but in Radmacher v Granatino (2010) the Supreme Court said courts should give effect to one made freely and with full understanding, unless that would be unfair.
Cohabiting couples. GOV.UK calls their protections very limited, with no automatic right to inherit if a partner dies without a will. A reform consultation closed on 14 August 2026, but as at 4 November 2026 no response had been published and the law is unchanged.
Children: arrangements, the MIAM and Child Focused Courts
If parents can't agree, the family court can make a child arrangements order (where a child lives and who they see), a prohibited steps order (stopping something, such as a trip abroad) or a specific issue order (one question, such as schooling). You'll usually have to attend a MIAM before you apply.
Apply online or on form C100. The fee is £270, up from £263 on 13 July 2026. MIAM exemptions include evidence of domestic abuse, a child at risk of harm, urgency, and a MIAM or other attempt to settle in the last 4 months.
In England, a Cafcass Family Court Adviser gives the court safeguarding advice. As at 4 November 2026 the court must still presume that each parent's involvement will further the child's welfare, unless shown otherwise, though that isn't a promise of equal time. The government plans to remove the presumption through the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which isn't law.
Child Focused Courts. As at 4 November 2026, 10 of the 42 family court areas use this model, trialled as Pathfinder, including all of Wales, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, West Yorkshire and parts of the West Midlands. Under it, Cafcass (Cafcass Cymru in Wales) or the council writes an early Child Impact Report. The Ministry of Justice announced a national rollout on 17 March 2026, and its October 2026 delivery update says eight more areas start on 17 November 2026: Northumbria and North Durham, Cleveland and South Durham, Lancashire, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, Cheshire and Merseyside, Northamptonshire, and Coventry and Warwickshire. Dates for the rest are indicative and not confirmed.
Protection from domestic abuse, forced marriage and FGM
If you or your children are being harmed or threatened, apply to the family court for a non-molestation order, which protects you from the abuser, or an occupation order, which decides who can live in the family home. Neither has a court fee.
Apply on form FL401. In an emergency the court can make an order without the other person being told first.
Domestic Abuse Protection Orders. These cover all forms of domestic abuse, with no court fee. As at 4 November 2026 you can apply for one only if the person you need protection from lives in Greater Manchester, the London boroughs of Croydon, Bromley or Sutton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland or Stockton-on-Tees, or North Wales. Elsewhere, use a non-molestation or occupation order. The government said on 28 August 2026 that it is rolling the orders out, but named no new areas or dates.
Forced marriage and FGM. A forced marriage protection order is free and legal aid is available. For an emergency order you file form FL401A with a witness statement. An FGM protection order protects someone at risk of female genital mutilation, or already a victim. You apply to a family court on form FGM001, with no fee, and someone else, such as a local authority, can apply for you.
Key court fees and deadlines
Most family court fees rose on 13 July 2026. These are the main fees and limits as at 4 November 2026. Help with fees may reduce a fee on benefits or a low income.
| Item | Fee or time limit |
|---|---|
| Divorce or dissolution application | £628 (was £612) |
| Consent order | £62 (was £60) |
| Financial order, Form A | £321 (was £313) |
| Child arrangements order, C100 | £270 (was £263) |
| Non-molestation, occupation, DAPO, forced marriage or FGM order | No fee |
| Earliest divorce application | 1 year after the wedding |
| Conditional order | 20 weeks after issue |
| Final order | 43 days after the conditional order (explain any delay over 12 months) |
| Financial claims for yourself | Before you remarry |
Paying for help: legal aid, mediation vouchers and fixed fees
Family legal aid is limited. You might get it for protection from abuse or forced marriage, care cases, mediation on a low income, and advice on divorce, money or children if you've been in an abusive relationship, usually with evidence such as a court, police or social services record.
| Means test | Usual limit (LAA keycard 62, from 6 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Gross income | £2,657 a month, unless you get a qualifying benefit such as Universal Credit |
| Disposable income | £733 a month |
| Savings and assets | £8,000, with home equity counted only above £100,000 |
| Exceptions | Limits can be waived for protection orders against domestic abuse, forced marriage or FGM, though a contribution may apply. No financial test for children in care cases or international child abduction |
Mediation vouchers. The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme gives up to £500 towards mediation sessions, not the MIAM. There must be a dispute about a child, so money only cases don't qualify, and one voucher covers both of you. GOV.UK calls it time limited, and funding is confirmed for 2026 to 2027. Legal aid can also pay for mediation if you qualify.
Fixed fees. Some firms charge fixed fees for set work, such as a consent order, and others by the hour. Ask for a written estimate.
How to choose and check a family solicitor
Check the firm on the SRA Solicitors Register before you pay anything. Confirm any membership or accreditation with the scheme itself.
The SRA register shows whether someone is a solicitor, where they work and whether the SRA regulates a firm. If a search finds nothing, the SRA says it isn't safe to assume the firm is regulated.
Resolution is a membership body for family law professionals. Its Code of Practice asks members to reduce conflict and put children's interests first. Resolution also runs what it calls its Specialist Accreditation Scheme, in which Resolution experts assess a member's expertise in two areas of practice.
The Law Society runs a Family Law Accreditation and a Children Law Accreditation. It says the Children Law Accreditation is recognised by the Legal Aid Agency.
- How much of your work is family law, and who will run my case?
- Have you handled cases like mine?
- Do you do legal aid work?
- Fixed fee or hourly, and can I have the estimate in writing?
Watch for scams. The SRA publishes alerts about fake firms that copy a real firm's name or phone number. Contact a firm only through details you've found yourself, and check any request for money by phone before you pay.
Free help across England and Wales
These services give family law advice, or point you to it, across England and Wales. Some only help people who qualify for legal aid or live locally, and hours change, so check each one on its own website first.
- Civil Legal Advice: 0345 345 4345, Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 12:30pm, if you qualify for legal aid, for domestic abuse, leaving an abusive partner, a child being taken into care and some child abduction cases
- Citizens Advice: Adviceline in England is 0800 144 8848, usually 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Wales has its own Advicelink line
- Rights of Women: a family law advice line for women on 020 7251 6577, Tuesday to Thursday 7pm to 9pm and Friday 12pm to 2pm
- Law Centres: some help with separating from a partner, mostly for people in their own area, and you may need to qualify for legal aid
- Forced Marriage Unit: 020 7008 0151, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (out of hours 020 7008 5000)
- GOV.UK: the legal aid checker, and online applications for divorce and child arrangements orders
Sources
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s.1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s.3 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s.24B (legislation.gov.uk)
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s.25 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, s.28 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Children Act 1989, s.1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026, SI 2026/642, Schedule 3 (legislation.gov.uk)
- SI 2026/665, change of coming into force (legislation.gov.uk)
- Court and tribunal fees updates from July 2026 (GOV.UK)
- Family court fees (EX50) (GOV.UK)
- Get a divorce: check you can (GOV.UK)
- Get a divorce: how to apply (GOV.UK)
- Get a divorce: apply for a conditional order (GOV.UK)
- Get a divorce: finalise your divorce (GOV.UK)
- Money and property when you divorce or separate (GOV.UK)
- Apply for a consent order (GOV.UK)
- Get the court to decide (GOV.UK)
- Radmacher v Granatino [2010] UKSC 42, press summary (Find Case Law, The National Archives)
- A fairer end to relationships, consultation (GOV.UK)
- Making child arrangements: apply for a court order (GOV.UK)
- Making child arrangements: mediation (GOV.UK)
- About Cafcass (Cafcass)
- Courts and Tribunals Bill policy paper (GOV.UK)
- Children to get swifter justice as new family court approach expands nationally (GOV.UK)
- Child Focused Courts: delivery update, October 2026 (Ministry of Justice, GOV.UK)
- Judges welcome roll-out of Child Focused Courts (judiciary.uk)
- Get an injunction if you've been the victim of domestic abuse (GOV.UK)
- Get an injunction: how to apply (GOV.UK)
- Apply for a Domestic Abuse Protection Order in a family court (GOV.UK)
- PM accelerates roll out of police rape and sexual offence teams, 28 August 2026 (GOV.UK)
- Apply for a forced marriage protection order (GOV.UK)
- Get a female genital mutilation protection order (GOV.UK)
- FGM protection orders, FGM700 (GOV.UK)
- Family Mediation Voucher Scheme (GOV.UK)
- Legal aid: what you can get legal aid for (GOV.UK)
- Legal aid: domestic abuse evidence (GOV.UK)
- Legal aid: financial eligibility (GOV.UK)
- LAA civil legal aid eligibility keycard 62 (GOV.UK)
- Check if you can get legal aid (GOV.UK)
- Civil Legal Advice (GOV.UK)
- Solicitors Register (SRA)
Family Solicitors: common questions
How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?
About six months at the very least. You wait 20 weeks from the court issuing your application before you can apply for the conditional order, then at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) before you can apply for the final order. Many take longer while the money is worked out, and GOV.UK says to apply for a legally binding money agreement before you apply for the final order.
How much is the court fee for a divorce?
As at 4 November 2026 it's £628, up from £612 on 13 July 2026, and it isn't refunded once the court issues the application. Help with fees may cover some or all of it if you're on benefits or a low income. On a joint application both of you have to apply for help, or the full fee is payable.
Does the divorce sort out our house, savings and pensions?
No. The finances need a separate court order. If you agree, the court can approve a consent order for a £62 fee. If you can't agree, you apply on Form A for a judge to decide, for a £321 fee. Apply before you remarry, because remarrying ends your right to claim maintenance or property for yourself.
Do I have to try mediation before going to court?
Usually you must attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before applying to court about children or money. Exemptions include evidence of domestic abuse, a child at risk of harm, urgent or without notice applications, and a MIAM or other attempt to settle in the last 4 months. If you attend and your ex doesn't, you can still apply.
Can I get legal aid for a family case?
Possibly. It mainly covers protection from abuse, forced marriage or FGM, advice on divorce, money or children if you've been in an abusive relationship and have evidence, mediation on a low income, and cases where a child may be taken into care, which have no financial test. Call Civil Legal Advice on 0345 345 4345 or use the GOV.UK legal aid checker.
What rights do unmarried couples have when they split up?
Far fewer than married couples. GOV.UK describes the current protections for cohabitants as very limited, and there's no automatic right to inherit if a partner dies without a will. A Ministry of Justice consultation on reform closed on 14 August 2026, but as at 4 November 2026 no response had been published and the law hadn't changed.
How do I get protection from domestic abuse?
Apply to the family court on form FL401 for a non-molestation order or an occupation order. Neither has a court fee, and in an emergency the court can make an order without the other person being told first. Domestic Abuse Protection Orders are only available in a few areas so far. If you're in immediate danger, call 999.
How do I check a family solicitor is real?
Search the SRA Solicitors Register, which shows whether someone is a solicitor, where they work and whether the SRA regulates a firm. Contact the firm through details you've found yourself, not those in an unexpected letter or email, and check any request for money by phone before you pay.
Other areas of law
Criminal Solicitors · Immigration Lawyers · Personal Injury Lawyers · Property Solicitors