Our Family Law team undertakes work in all aspects of relationship breakdown and is here to help and provide you with the highest quality of service.
Experienced and compassionate professionals
We specialise in divorce, nullity, and judicial separation, providing caring advice to fit your circumstances.
Since 6th April 2022 all divorces proceed on the basis of the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
It is no longer necessary to prove adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion or the fact that both parties have lived separately and apart for over two years and consent to the divorce.
Our Expert Team
Our highly experienced and dedicated team is committed to providing expert guidance through every step of your legal journey. We are here to support you through your life’s most challenging moments, ensuring you feel confident and informed throughout the process.

Pearl Baker
Principal

Toni Thomas
Senior Solicitor

Cathy Bannister
Senior Solicitor
Overview of the divorce proceedings
One party can commence the divorce proceedings, or an application can be made jointly.
It is not normally possible to defend an application for divorce and if one party believes that the marriage has broken down then it is broken down and the Courts will find that the breakdown has been proven. The divorce application needs to be made on-line and a Court fee paid. The application is sent to the other party and is either acknowledged or if it is not acknowledged, after the regulatory period of 20 weeks from the service of the application, parties can apply for the Conditional Order.
The period of 20 weeks is often referred to as the “cooling off period” to enable reflection to take place and for the parties to reconcile should they wish to do so. After the 20-week period, the party applying can apply for the Conditional Order.
The Conditional Order is equivalent to the historic Decree Nisi. It is not the final Decree but after 6 weeks and a day from the Conditional Order the party applying can ask the Court to issue the Final Order which is equivalent to a historic Decree Absolute. The parties are then formally divorced. At this stage the parties should consider making new Wills.
In related financial proceedings if one party is to receive the benefit of a Pension Sharing Order then that party will be advised not to apply for the Final Order until 28 days has passed from the Court having made the Financial Order.
Applications for one party to pay the divorce costs of the other party are now actively discouraged and are not made.

