Divorce in England and Wales has been "no fault" since April 2022: neither spouse needs to blame the other, applications can be made jointly or by one person, and there is a minimum of 20 weeks between the application and the conditional order, then a further six weeks before the final order. The paperwork is done online, but the decisions that matter most, about money, property and children, are not automatic, and that is where a London divorce solicitor earns their fee.
The capital adds its own complications. London property prices mean the family home is often the largest asset and the hardest to divide, pensions and business interests need valuing, and many couples have assets or family abroad, which can raise questions about which country's courts should deal with the divorce. Financial claims are settled either by agreement, usually recorded in a consent order, or decided by a judge; London cases are heard at the Central Family Court in Holborn and at family courts across the boroughs.
A good divorce solicitor will tell you early whether mediation, collaborative law or arbitration could save you the cost and stress of contested proceedings, and will be clear about fees, whether fixed for an uncontested divorce or charged by the hour for a financial dispute. Legal aid is rarely available for the divorce itself, but it may be where there has been domestic abuse.
The solicitors below handle divorce and separation within 20 miles of central London, with verified featured firms first and the rest ordered by distance. For background reading, see our guides to the divorce process and how much a divorce costs, or learn more about what divorce solicitors do. If children or wider family issues are involved, our family law solicitors in London page may also help.
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