Research the best divorce solicitors & family lawyers in your area
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For Individuals
Wiselaw finds and lists the most talented family law solicitors near you. We constantly update our listings based on our independent quality standards and all solicitors start by meeting the following three criteria:
All solicitors are experienced specialists in family law and not generalist practitioners. If they do practise in other areas of law, family law must be their primary discipline, or they must have significant years’ experience in family law.
Solicitors must present themselves, their skills and their background in a clear and thorough way. Prospective clients should be able to easily understand the solicitor’s profile information and the services they can provide.
Every solicitor must have received, or be open to receiving, published feedback about their service. This may include reviews of them or the firm, or them having been assessed and awarded by a recognised industry body.
With over 350,000 visitors each year, Wiselaw is the UK’s most highly used independent resource dedicated to family solicitor research.
For Solicitors
For many clients, the route to finding a family solicitor starts with an online search. Searching online is convenient and discreet, but it also offers endless unfiltered results which can make the experience overwhelming and confusing.
That’s why thousands of people use Wiselaw every month to help them more easily make an informed decision about which family solicitor is right for them. Wiselaw is now the UK’s most highly used and highly ranked independent resource for family solicitor research.
What does a divorce really cost? How much are court fees and solicitor fees? And what are the ways you can pay for your divorce? Our guide answers these questions and more, offering everything you need to know about divorce costs and paying for your divorce.
How do you choose a family law firm? What should you look for when choosing a family lawyer? And how much does a divorce lawyer charge? Your chosen solicitor will have a direct impact on the outcome of your divorce, so it pays to choose wisely.
Divorce and family law can be confusing enough without also being bombarded with legal jargon. Our glossary of legal terms has over 300 explanations and definitions to help you navigate your way.
Time that a child spends with their non-resident parent (often referred to as 'contact').
A document from the court that states you have received a divorce petition from the other party. You are obliged to complete this form and return it to the court.
A person who is authorised to serve court documents.
An unforeseeable event which can lead to the challenge of a court order previously made in financial proceedings.
The application form used for issuing children proceedings.
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. It is an English public body that promotes the welfare of children and families involved in family court proceedings.
A document in which trustees are appointed to hold property for others (the 'beneficiaries'). It also sets out the beneficiaries' entitlement to the property/assets.
The legal document that formally ends your marriage.
Now known as a pension attachment order in England and Wales. It is one method of dividing a pension between two spouses on divorce.
Court proceedings that ensure a party complies with a court order.
A court hearing when the court considers evidence surrounding allegations and decides whether or not these allegations are proved based on the balance of probabilities.
A court in England and Wales that can hear matters relating to family law.
A court order which requires a person to pay a set amount from their salary to satisfy a debt.
A formal divorce that a husband grants a wife under Jewish law.
The standard used to determine which country’s law which should be applied to determine a given legal dispute.
A court order that prevents a party from taking part in proceedings until they have complied with other court orders.
Documents that are improperly obtained during divorce proceedings by one party. They are not permitted and the obtaining of these may result in criminal or civil proceedings.
Where one parent denies the other contact with a child with no justification.
Where a debt is held in joint names and two or more people are responsible for the payments and balance of a debt.
Any asset that is in the names of more than one person.
The body which registers the ownership of land and property in the UK.
A legal document that lets you choose someone to make decisions about matters such as property, health or financial affairs on your behalf. It is designed to ensure someone you trust can administer your affairs when you can no longer make these decisions yourself.
See child maintenance or spousal maintenance.
A temporary court order for maintenance made before the Decree Absolute is granted.
The law in that governs divorce and marriage in England and Wales. It was introduced “to consolidate certain enactments relating to matrimonial proceedings, maintenance agreements, and declarations of legitimacy, validity of marriage and British nationality”.
A divorce under Sharia law.
The principle that the needs of both parties should be considered in a divorce settlement.
Divorce can be granted without one person blaming the other. Couples can get a divorce based solely on the fact that the marriage has broken down, without needing to ‘cite’ one of the 5 reasons for divorce that they otherwise would have needed to, including adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, or longer-term separation.
Committing to telling the truth by swearing on a holy book.
A court order that removes another person from your home and forbids that person from returning and trying to enter your home.
The legal rights and responsibilities you have for your child. Parental responsibility can be automatic – for example if you are the mother or you are the father and you were married to the mother when your child was born – or you can obtain parental responsibility under certain circumstances.
The application used if evidence from an expert is needed.
A senior barrister who is a recognised expert in a specific area of law.
A formal document asking for information and clarification following the exchange of each party’s Form E.
A legal term meaning houses and land.
The law which details how judgements made in English courts are enforced in British Overseas Territories.
A form that can be used to highlight where one party has failed to provide full answers/disclosure in a questionnaire.
A form which sets out a party’s monthly/annual outgoings used for calculating maintenance.
An agreement or promise to do something (or not to do something) designed to be binding on the person who gives the undertaking.
Where your spouse has behaved in such a way that you can no longer continue to be married to them. It is the most common ground for divorce in the UK.
An application made to the court to change the terms of an order. For example, you might apply for a variation to a financial order if a party's financial circumstances change.
A marriage that is treated as if it had never existed because it was unlawful or invalid.
A principle in family law that all decisions and orders will reflect the best interests of a child.
A maintenance order which lasts until one of the parties dies, or if the receiving party remarries.
An agreement between spouses about how to divide their assets. While it is not a court order, the agreement is sufficiently clear to be binding.
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