Family solicitors in West Hampstead, London

We advise individuals who are planning ahead with a partner or dealing with the end of a relationship.

• Spouses who are separating or considering divorce
• Spouses who need to settle property, savings, pensions or maintenance on divorce
• Separated parents agreeing arrangements for their children
• People planning to marry, or already married, who want a nuptial agreement
• Partners who live together, or plan to, without marrying

• Divorce and separation

  Divorce in England and Wales is on a no-fault basis: once the marriage has lasted at least a year, either spouse, or both jointly, can apply on the ground that it has broken down irretrievably, provided the courts here have jurisdiction. We also advise on the arrangements to be settled on separation.

• Financial remedy proceedings

  Financial remedy proceedings are the court process for deciding how property, savings, pensions and spousal maintenance are dealt with when a marriage ends. Divorce does not by itself end financial claims between spouses, so a court order is usually advisable even where terms are agreed.

• Child arrangements

  We advise parents on where children will live and the time they spend with each parent, aiming for agreement where possible. If the court is asked to decide, the child's welfare is its paramount consideration.

• Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements

  These agreements record how a couple's finances should be divided if the marriage ends. They are not automatically binding in England and Wales, but a court may give effect to one that each party entered into freely, with a full appreciation of its implications, unless it would be unfair to hold them to it.

• Cohabitation agreements

  Couples who live together without marrying or forming a civil partnership do not currently have the same financial claims on separation as married couples, and common law marriage has no legal status in England and Wales. A cohabitation agreement can record how property, savings and shared costs will be dealt with if the relationship ends.

1. First meeting

   We discuss your circumstances and give you a clear estimate of costs.

2. The divorce application

   One spouse, or both together, applies to the court for a divorce. Two further steps follow, the conditional order and the final order, and the law sets a waiting period before each.

3. Financial disclosure

   Each party has a duty to give full and frank disclosure of their financial circumstances, including income, assets, liabilities and pensions. This is the basis for any negotiated settlement or court decision.

4. Reaching agreement

   Where possible, terms are agreed by negotiation, directly or through solicitors, or through mediation or another process outside court. Agreed financial terms are usually set out in a consent order for the court to approve.

5. Court proceedings, if needed

   Before applying to the court about finances or children, you will usually need to attend a mediation information and assessment meeting (MIAM), unless an exemption applies. Financial cases then usually include a first appointment and a financial dispute resolution appointment before any final hearing.

6. The final order

   The final order formally ends the marriage. It may be advisable to settle financial matters before applying for it, because it can affect pension and inheritance rights.

Costs depend on whether the matter is contested. We provide a clear estimate at the first meeting.