Our Divorce Solicitors Promise
Don’t go through your divorce alone. Our divorce solicitors specialise in child arrangements and financial settlements.
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Need legal advice now from a divorce solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:
- Unlimited time to discuss your divorce with an experienced divorce solicitor
- An outline of your legal position in your divorce
- A clear fee-quote and time frame to resolve your case
Call us today to arrange your appointment.
Starting and responding to divorce proceedings
Simple and complex financial settlements
Child arrangements and child maintenance
Post-divorce wealth and estate planning
Commonly asked questions on divorce.
Divorce is a highly complicated and emotional area of law, which can result in multiple questions regarding the divorce proceedings and both the financial and child arrangements. Therefore, our divorce solicitors have answered some of the most commonly asked surrounding the topic.
1. What does it mean exactly to get divorced?
Divorce will be a familiar concept to most people, but going through one yourself can be daunting and emotional.
What many people don’t know is that divorce is split into 3 areas: the divorce itself to end the marriage, a financial settlement dealing with property and finances, and the child arrangements.
Each of these areas is dealt with separately, while the finances and children can be dealt with informally by a couple, with varying results.
The most common reasons people look for a divorce lawyer are when they know their partner is going to be difficult during the divorce, or they have significant assets.
2. How do I get a divorce?
Divorce is mostly filling out paperwork and waiting for the family court to make their decision on whether or not to approve your case. To get a divorce involves 5 steps:
1. Issuing the divorce application
2. Getting a response to the application
3. Applying for the conditional order (approval that the divorce can go ahead)
4. Receiving the conditional order
5. Receiving the final order (the official document to say the divorce has been finalised)
The divorce financial settlement and child arrangements are separate proceedings that run parallel to the divorce proceedings.
3. How long does a divorce take?
The fastest time a divorce can be completed is 4 months, but it’s rarely this quick. On average, a divorce that involves children and finances will last between 6 and 12 months.
It’s extremely common for divorcing couples to argue over the finer details such as who will issue the divorce application or which grounds for divorce to use. The longer these arguments go on, the longer the divorce will take.
If you need a divorce financial settlement or child arrangements, the overall process can take even longer. Our divorce solicitors will always give you an idea of how long your divorce may take during your initial consultation.
4. How much does a divorce cost?
The cost of divorce depends entirely on the complexity of your case, and how far your partner is willing to contest things.
It can be difficult to give meaningful fee quotes for divorce. For example, a simple divorce where there are no assets or children involved can cost anything from £1,700 to £8,000 depending on whether your ex-partner decides to sign the divorce papers.
Generally, we advise costs are:
- Simple divorce: from £1,700 plus VAT
- Divorce with simple finances and child arrangements: from £6,700 plus VAT
- Complicated divorces involving numerous assets and uncooperative partners: upwards of £8,000 plus VAT*
All prices for exclude disbursements and court application fees.
*Please note that in complex divorce cases, costs can vary wildly depending on the nature of your assets and how they are owned. It’s not uncommon for costs in these divorce cases to exceed £40-50,000, excluding barrister and application fees.
For divorces, normally, even if your partner says they agree to the terms of your divorce, there will be further discussions and disagreements over certain assets or wording of agreements, all of which contribute to fees.
5. Why can the cost of divorce change so dramatically?
However, for most people, there are facets such as the family home, pensions and children that must be accounted for, all of which complicate matters. Much of a divorce lawyer’s time is spent preparing paperwork and orders, and liaising with the other side over their contents.
Where costs of a divorce really begin to rise are when there is a complete disagreement over everything, and the family court’s intervention is required.
6. Why use a solicitor for divorce?
Divorce is a highly complex area of law, and without an experienced professional guiding you through the various stages, there’s a high chance that costly mistakes will be made.
Instructing a specialist divorce solicitor will ensure that you get the best possible outcome for your divorce case, while using the most cost-effective and timely methods.
7. Do I have to have a financial settlement and child arrangement order for divorce?
No, these aren’t necessary, but we do advise all clients who might need these orders to get them.
We have seen cases where couples decide to get divorced amicably with no formal financial agreements where, years down the line, the family home is sold and a partner who previously agreed to give up their share of the proceeds now wants them.
8. Do you offer legal aid for divorce matters?
We are currently unable to offer legal aid in any capacity as we lack the necessary legal aid certificate. We also don’t offer pro bono divorce work at present.
Need legal advice now from a divorce solicitor in London or Brighton?
Tell us about your case and we’ll get back to you the same day.
Meet our expert family law team.
Paul Britton
Managing Director and Solicitor Advocate
Theresa Wright
Head of Family Law
Sophie Campbell-Adams
Family Law Solicitor
Joseph Navas
Family Law Solicitor
Why Britton and Time Solicitors?
Divorce is our speciality. Our divorce solicitors work on a wide variety of divorce cases, which has given us an abundance of knowledge and experience in this area of law. When it comes to your specific divorce case, we’ll always guarantee:
Award-Winning Service.
You are our priority, and the law is our speciality. Our award-winning divorce solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.
Full Billing Transparency.
No fee surprises. Ever. Our divorce solicitors will inform you from the outset on how much your case will cost, and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.
Regular Communication.
With fortnightly updates on your case, you’ll never be left in the dark. Our divorce solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.
Our reviews.
It’s not about how good we think our services are; it’s about what you think.
There are three things that make Britton & Time, and in particular Paul, stand apart from other law firms: knowledge, communication and a will to win.
Rated excellent by over 95% of our clients.
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Other forms of family law.
Adoption
Child Custody
Child Law
Child Maintenance
Cohabitation
Divorce Financial Settlement
Prenuptial Agreements
Separation
Adoption
Child Custody
Child Law
Child Maintenance
Cohabitation
Divorce Financial Settlement
Prenuptial Agreements
Separation
Our divorce law insights.
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Death During Divorce – What Happens If My Spouse Dies?
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Unmarried Couples’ Rights: What Protects You
Whilst it’s clear in marriage, many are unaware of unmarried couples’ rights and what they’re entitled to. In this article, we cover it all.
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Legal Separation: How Does It Work?
In this article What is legal separation? How does it differ from divorce? What about separation agreements? Why choose legal separation? Can I contest legal separation?...
Living Together But Not Married – What Happens When We Split?
Living together but not married? Unmarried couples who own property together can face complex legal issues when they split up.
Death During Divorce – What Happens If My Spouse Dies?
Death during divorce can complicate matters and raise new legal questions. Be prepared and know your options.
Need legal advice now from a divorce solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll be able to help you the same day.