In this section, we cover the most frequently asked questions we receive about family law, separation and divorce, and we continually add new topics as they arise.
If your query is not covered, simply call us on 03334 440 003 of fill in the enquiry form below and we’ll do our best to help you.
Question There’s an existing court order for contact that was made when my son was a baby; he’s now on the cusp of his teens, but my ex has moved into an HMO-type shared house with a bunk bed setup to share with our son (link to Shelter’s page on HMOs). Would the court see this…
Question A final hearing resulted in a barring order and a court order to communicate via a co-parenting app. The father is now refusing to use the app and messaging through the elder daughter (aged 16) instead. How do you handle this? Answer If you have a final order saying communication is to be via…
The divorce application itself costs £612 in court fees, but the total cost of a divorce depends on the financial complexity, the process used, and the personalities involved. Here is a clear breakdown of what drives divorce costs in 2026.
Almost everyone benefits from a pre-nup in principle, but for younger couples with modest assets the law may produce a similar outcome without one. Here is an honest assessment of when a pre-nup is essential and when it is less critical.
Bringing up a pre-nup requires tact and timing. Here are practical steps for having the conversation in a way that is honest, considerate, and treats the agreement as a genuine negotiation rather than a one-sided demand.
Without a prenuptial agreement, any financial settlement on divorce is negotiated at the most emotionally difficult time of your life, with no prior protection in place. Here is why a pre-nup is worth considering before you marry.
Mesher and Martin orders both defer the sale of the family home rather than requiring an immediate sale on divorce. Find out how each works, when they are used, and what the key differences are.
A pension sharing order can be a crucial part of a divorce financial settlement, particularly for long-term financial security. Here are the key factors to consider, including pension type, retirement needs and alternative assets.
A new partner’s income and assets are not directly included in divorce finances and cannot be claimed by your ex-spouse. However, the support they provide you may have an indirect effect on how the court assesses your financial needs.
Divorce finances in England are based on fairness and need, governed by Section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. Here are the six key factors the court considers, including assets, contributions, children and the clean break principle.
If your spouse has stopped paying essential bills during your divorce, acting quickly and strategically matters. Here is a step-by-step guide to documenting the situation, calculating your options, and knowing when to involve the court.
Business assets built up during a marriage are often treated as matrimonial property. Find out when they are included in a divorce financial settlement, what the court considers, and why specialist advice matters from the outset.
Most family law disputes can be resolved without going to court. Find out what factors matter, what the alternatives are, and when proceedings might be unavoidable.
If the person receiving maintenance remarries, payments end automatically. Cohabitation and changes in circumstance can also affect maintenance orders. Here is what you need to know.
Solicitors can make divorce easier or harder depending on their approach. Here is what to look for in a family solicitor and how a non-confrontational, Resolution-based approach can make a real difference.
The person who applies for divorce generally pays the court fee, but costs can be negotiated, shared, or ordered against the other party. Here is a clear breakdown of how divorce legal fees work.
Contact helplines and support organisations: In the UK, you can contact organisations such as the National Domestic Violence Helpline at 0808 2000 247 or Women’s Aid for support, advice, and guidance
You can separate without divorcing, but remaining legally married has consequences for inheritance, finances and new relationships. Here is what you need to know about separation and judicial separation in England.
Spousal maintenance is not automatic. The right question is not what you are entitled to, but what you need. Here is a practical method for working out what figure to put forward in a divorce settlement.
When you are dealing with financial matters in divorce, there will come a point where you are told to disclose your assets and your income. Even if you have decided that you don’t need to do full deep dive bank statement disclosure, there will still be some financial disclosure.
Since April 2022, a spouse cannot prevent a divorce from going ahead. However, they can refuse to engage with the process. Find out what legal options are available, including process servers, deemed service, and dispensing with service entirely.
Divorces started before 6th April 2022 fall under the old fault-based system, which required proof of adultery, desertion or unreasonable behaviour. If you are stuck in that process, specialist legal help can make a significant difference.
Since April 2022, you no longer need to prove fault to get divorced in England and Wales. The sole ground is that your marriage has broken down irretrievably. Here is what that means in practice and how the two-stage divorce process works.
If your spouse is dissipating marital assets before your divorce is finalised, you may be able to apply for an injunction to stop them. These are complex applications and specialist legal advice is essential before proceeding.
Family mediation helps separating couples resolve disputes without going to court. A neutral mediator works with both parties to reach fair agreements on finances, property and children arrangements. Quicker and more cost-effective than litigation.
When applying for a divorce in England you can apply jointly with your spouse or alone as a sole applicant. Each option suits different circumstances and it is worth understanding the difference before you decide. As a general rule a joint application is preferable where both parties are cooperating, but a sole application may be the better choice if your spouse is likely to be difficult or if you are in a domestically abusive relationship. Here is how to decide which is right for you.
An online divorce in England has a legal minimum of around 26 weeks, but most take between 6 and 12 months in practice. The timeline depends on how quickly paperwork is completed, whether both parties cooperate, and how long it takes to reach a financial settlement. Here is what to expect at each stage.
Worrying about legal fees is completely normal. Here are four practical ways to keep your divorce costs down, from Pay As You Go legal support to single solicitor divorce
If your spouse or partner has threatened to sell the family home, you may be wondering whether you can actually stop it. The short answer is yes, at least on a temporary basis. Here is how it works depending on your situation.
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London-based husband and father, Peter, was facing a tough choice. He had been married to his wife for 25 years, but he and his wife had drifted apart and were…
We thought weʼd never see the grandkids again. She was adamant that she didnʼt have to let the kids see our son, never mind us, even though we had looked…
I was so glad I chose Family First. My husband was so difficult about sharing the things we had built up together. He said it was all his because I…
Henry and his ex split up about a year ago. They both live in Oxford and their son, aged 5, lives with Henry’s ex.
Seeing Family First made me feel as if someone could make sense of it all. I got the advice I need, and they gave me some great contacts for other…
“RS represented a mother in respect of a dispute over a change of name of a child in Reading. The case was complicated as, although the child was 14, he…
Mother, Fiona, and her husband were living separate lives. With children to feed and no financial support from her husband, Fiona was struggling to make ends meet. She needed to…
Melanie and Robert from Oxford had been separated for a year, during which there was a lot of wrangling over custody of their infant daughter. Melanie wanted to take their daughter…
I was determined to protect my share of the house, just in case. Family First explained the process as well as the pitfalls of moving in.
Family First helped me understand what I needed to do. They ensured that I had a really good picture of what we owned.
Esther and her boyfriend were ready to set up home together in Oxford. It seemed like the right time for them – they’d been together for a year, things were…
Mrs R came to us needing legal advice but with a greatly lowered income of her own. Her husband owned a professional services company and was controlling about many things…
Dave from London and his wife Sue had decided to divorce. They were on speaking terms, but things were difficult. Dave thought that mediation might help, and the fact that…
When the wheels came off at home Nick was really shocked. Things weren’t good at home and the rows and the cold shoulder from his wife were really getting him…
I needed help urgently. We werenʼt getting on and we had both been to see Solicitors. It was obvious we were going to split up.
I needed my family legal proceedings in capable hands and with Family First, they were. The Family First Interview told me everything I needed to know about getting started.
I went to see Family First last week. For the first time I am feeling hopeful.
Preparing a statement for the family court can be a daunting process. However, when your statement is put in front of the Judge it should help your case, instead of…
Criticising Cafcass – When you are not happy with your section 7 report do you a) ring your local office a billion times to rant, channelling your inner Kanye West…
If we had a quid for every time we were assured by a parent that “I never say anything bad about my Ex in front of my child” then we…
Over many years of practice, I have been surprised (startled even) by how many clients assume that I do other kinds of law regularly , like criminal or property work.…
Children Act disputes between parents often start because of the use of alcohol or drugs by one (or both) of the parents. It has probably been an issue for sometime…
Abusive relationships are not always violent. You know something isn’t right but why does it feel so wrong? Read on to find out if you may be in an abusive…
One of the first questions people ask us is “How much is this going to cost me?” And the honest answer is: it depends on how you choose to pay for your legal…
In this post we set out ten of the most FAQ and Answers about Parental Responsibility (PR) – the legal concept that links parents with the children and vice versa.
The DRAMA – that’s why family lawyers enjoy their job (sometimes). Nobody walks into our office/ facebook page and tells their story in measured unemotional terms.
Pensions and Divorce are not as simple as you might expect. Ursula Rice explains what you need to do before you start court proceedings.
In this video Ursula Rice explains the importance of Non Court Dispute Resolution and how it can help you save time and money when resolving your family issue
Recently I advised a Deaf client. The enquiry came in by email, was firmed up using the text relay service, and the advice was given with the assistance of a…
When you divorce, maintenance can be your lifeline. How NOT to make a Maintenance Pending Suit Application.
UK Family Lawyer George Sayers discusses international relocation with children, including costs, traps and an overview of what to watch out for.
More and more people are going to court without a lawyer – and that includes going to a final hearing.
We helped to make this (quite long) video on how to fill out your form E. If you are in financial proceedings you may like to take a look.
You know and I know that those boxes are far too small to explain to a Judge why you need what you need, and what your money is spent on.…
If your ex has dropped the D- bomb then here is a handy guide to where to start. Do’s and Don’ts to get you through those first few days.
Paying legal fees is the single biggest worry for people who are thinking about getting advice. So how can you get the advice that you think you need?
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Oxford? This article explains the main costs involved in getting divorced in Oxford. From the court fee to legal support, financial orders and…
If you have a court case about a child going on, you probably already know that “wishes and feelings” are part of the checklist of things a judge has to…
When we are acting for parents in a dispute about a child we are often asked whether our client can recover their costs from the other parent.
In this video Ursula Rice presents a satirical tirade born out of the frustration of dozens of encounters with people who have approached their divorce in an unnecessarily combative manner,…
This video explains how you can effectively combine mediation with legal support when navigating family law issues like separation, divorce, finances, and child arrangements.
If you are in or contemplating family court proceedings then formal disclosure is a concept you are about to become familiar with. Disclosure in the family court process is the…
AI is making inroads into almost every aspect of our lives. In this video Ursula Rice explores the ways in which Artificial Intelligence can help you with your family law…
In this video, Ursula Rice explains how to get started with Single Solicitor Divorce at Family First.
In this video Ursula Rice explains how you can protect your share of your property using a Deed of Trust – particularly if you and your partner are not married.
Many people come to see a family lawyer saying, why bother with a consent order to tie up the money and finances in divorce, when we can just knock it…
When a relationship reaches crisis point, it can be tempting to think, “That’s it, I’m leaving the matrimonial home because I just can’t stand it”. When it comes to “Should…
The recent case of Wyatt v Vince goes like this: counter cultural gentleman uses festival raver knowledge to crack the bad-ass world of commercial electricity generation.
Without Notice applications: What they are and what makes it likely to will get one. Parents often ask us for advice on an emergency about a child. But is it…
Two great song titles in one blog post…(The one an eighties cheesefest that was number one in the charts for ages and the other a Led Zeppelin track. A connection…
In this short video, UK Family Lawyer Ursula Rice discusses Penal Notices – the penalties for missing a Court Deadline or breaching a Court Order.
Security of tenure is a fancy way of saying “how easy can you be kicked out of where you live”. This blog explains the basics about security of tenure. Read…
With the rise and rise of the internet, law consumers are able to find a family Solicitor at the click of a button. Our innovative Pay As You Go Law…
We know a lot of you out there are writing statements for the family court without help. Read on to find out more…
In this short video, Ursula Rice answers your questions about Police Disclosure in Family Law Proceedings – where should you start, what should you ask for and what should you…
If you are separating from your spouse, you may feel overwhelmed by the worries of money and organising your financial stuff during a divorce. You are not alone in thinking…
This video explains how early neutral evaluation (ENE) can assist you facing family law disputes. It describes real-world applications for these tools in resolving family law matters outside court.
Without notice (or as lawyers call them ” ex parte ” ) injunctions are a court application for an order without telling the other side you are going to get…
Before April 2022, Bury St Edmunds was the regional divorce centre for the South East of England, handling all paper-based fault divorces. Here’s what to do if your divorce is…
We did a Facebook campaign recently which just said “Prenuptial agreements – why risk your assets?”. While quite a lot of people “Liked” the post, there were also a few…
You are in the middle of an acrimonious split. You have found true love, moved to the next county, gone long term sick off work AND you know for a…
There are various areas where you might need enforcement in family financial remedy proceedings. In this video Ursula Rice explores three examples.
A new domestic abuse law reached the statute books earlier this year amidst some controversy. Although not yet live, Section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015 soon will be, bringing with…
AI and Family Law – What You Should Know When you’re facing a family law issue, the first thing most people do is turn to the internet. It’s fast, it’s…
Pets in a divorce can be a very emotive subject, read on to find out the legal position and some good ideas to help you stay with your faithful friend…
Holidays with you child are a happy time; a treat for them and for you. Don’t run foul of the law (and your ex-partner) by not considering child abduction laws.
One of the most difficult issues the family courts grapple with is called “internal relocation”. This covers cases where one parent is told by another parent the they are moving…
How to Prepare for Family Court so the other side doesn’t bully you. Family Court can feel like the unknown and particularly intimidating where you have no prior experience of…
You may have heard of a McKenzie friend and be considering one to support you in court. There’s no doubt that going to court is a daunting experience and having…
Using unbundled legal services in family law is often an excellent way to afford legal advice from qualified professional when funds are tight.
In an earlier blog we talked about disclosure in the family court process, and discussed form E and the necessary requirements to get it sorted. in this blog we talk…
When at the beginning or middle of a divorce it can be difficult see the end of the process. It seems overwhelming and endless. But we promise you that the…
Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm
Fill in the form and we'll call you.
Book your initial meeting for £180