Divorce and financial settlement solicitors

About divorce and financial settlement

When a marriage breaks down and the decision to permanently separate has been made, divorce is the most common and appropriate legal route. Understanding the process, and having the right legal support, can make all the difference.

Whether you have an initial question or are ready to speak with an adviser, talk to AIDA to start with who can help point you in the right direction, no matter the question.

What is the UK divorce process?

Depending on your situation, the options available will vary.

To file for divorce in England and Wales, you must meet the following criteria:

1. You must have been married for at least one year
2. Your marriage must be legally recognised in England and Wales
3. Your marriage has permanently broken down

Either you or your spouse can demonstrate that you have, either now, or in the recent past, treated England and Wales as the place you live.

To start a divorce in England and Wales, you simply need to say that your marriage has irretrievably broken down – you no longer have to give reasons or prove fault. One person can apply, or you can make a joint application if that feels right for you both.

Once the application is underway, our family law solicitors help you move into calm, constructive discussions about matrimonial finances and arrangements for children, at a pace that feels manageable. Depending on how complex things are – and how emotions are running – we can bring in an accredited family mediator or a qualified arbitrator to support you, so any agreements are fair, workable and clearly documented for both parties.

Ensuring this impacts your children as little as possible, will be of the highest priority. In many families, financial settlements and arrangements for children can be worked out through calm discussion and mediation, without needing a judge to decide.

Where agreement is harder to reach, our divorce and financial settlement solicitors step in to guide you through the family court process, preparing your case carefully, speaking for you in hearings and helping the court put in place fair, workable orders that give everyone clarity for the future.

How our divorce and financial settlement solicitors can help

Our experienced divorce and financial settlement services solicitors provide a holistic suite of services – from support in applying for divorce, through to negotiating and arbitrating financial settlements and agreeing arrangements for children.

Where necessary, our accredited family mediators can help the parties involved to decide how to deal with complex financial situations. For example, the marital estate might comprise one or more businesses, family trusts and overseas assets. Our qualified financial remedy solicitors will support you in agreeing a settlement that reflects the needs of those affected, without the need to go to court.

Where there are children, the divorcing pair will need to agree where they will live, visiting arrangements and how to split other parental responsibilities. This agreement can often be drawn up informally, with the help of a family mediator. In some cases, it may be necessary to obtain a child arrangement order, which is a legally binding court order.

Our divorce and financial settlement solicitors understand that every family’s needs and financial situation are different. We will always recommend the best option for you and your family, based on the specific circumstances, and pay special attention to the wishes and wellbeing of any children affected by the divorce.