Divorce & Family Law Solicitors in London

A Prenuptial Agreement (prenup) or a Postnuptial Agreement (postnup) is a legally binding contract that outlines each person’s financial rights and responsibilities in the event of a divorce or death. Prenups are drawn up before a couple gets married, while postnups are created after marriage.

Prenups are often associated with high-net-worth clients. But anyone who has significant assets or debts can benefit from this type of agreement, while postnups can be drawn up if circumstances change during the marriage.

In England and Wales, the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage must be supported by one of five grounds (or reasons) for divorce: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, 2 years separation with consent, or 5 years separation.

But from 2022, there is a No-Fault Divorce which allows couples to end their marriage without one spouse blaming the other. Instead, they can confirm that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and have a cooling-off period before the divorce final order.

A financial agreement gives both parties certainty and security regarding future financial positions after divorce. It can take up to four weeks for a financial agreement to be approved and only comes into effect when the divorce Final Order is confirmed.

In UK divorce cases, assets – including ​​cars, properties, furniture and jewellery – are classed as either matrimonial or non-matrimonial assets. This categorisation affects how they are distributed in a divorce. In most cases, if one spouse owned an asset before marriage, it would be considered a non-matrimonial asset.

The answer to this is not always straightforward. It depends on several factors, including the age of the children, the relationship between the parents, and even the country to which you plan to relocate. In most cases, you must get permission from everyone with parental responsibility for a child or from a court before moving abroad with the child.

In most divorce cases, pensions are taken into consideration together with other financial assets of the marriage. Alongside other assets, sharing any pensions is decided by a separate financial agreement. However, a court can issue a Pension Sharing order if spouses want to split benefit or contribution pension funds after divorce, but not state pensions.

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to divorce or stay married. Depending on the circumstances, you can divorce if you feel the relationship has broken down irretrievably and can cite reasonable grounds. But the No-Fault Divorce can be used for couples who don’t want to assign blame or a specific reason for the marriage breaking down.

In other circumstances, a legal separation can allow you to separate assets without officially ending the marriage while giving you both time to work on the relationship if you want. However, children and money can often complicate issues further, and you should be sure of all the implications before starting divorce proceedings.

The divorce process, and how long it takes, depends on the facts of each case. There could be many complexities, making it difficult to assign an exact time frame. Usually, a divorce takes roughly six months before a Final Order is granted. However, in some cases, it can take up to 10 months.

The length of any divorce can vary and depends on several factors, including the case’s complexity, the willingness of both parties to cooperate, and the timescales of the courts.

In the UK, the minimum time for a no-fault divorce is currently six months from the date of the initial application to the date of the final order. This period is intended to provide a cooling-off period for couples to reflect on their decision and seek counselling if necessary. But this is only a minimum timeframe. Many divorce cases can take longer, depending on the circumstances, such as disputes over money, property, or child custody, as the court will need to be involved and make decisions on these matters.

Another factor affecting the timeframe is the willingness of both parties to cooperate. If both parties are happy to negotiate and agree on all matters, the process can be much quicker. But if one or both parties are uncooperative or refuse to compromise, proceedings can become more complicated and last longer, potentially up to 12 months.

At Osbourne Pinner, we know every divorce case is different, and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ timeline. That’s why our divorce solicitors in London work closely with you to understand your situation and provide the support and guidance you need throughout the process so that you can move on with your life as soon as possible.

Divorce costs can vary depending on the complexity of your case and the type of legal support you need. At Osbourne Pinner, we believe in complete transparency from the outset. That’s why we offer both fixed fee and hourly rate options, so you know exactly what to expect.

For straightforward, uncontested divorces, we charge a fixed fee of £950 + VAT if you’re the person applying (the petitioner), or £850 + VAT if you’re responding (the respondent). This covers all the key legal steps involved in a simple divorce process.

If your case involves financial disputes, child arrangements or court appearances, our hourly rates range from £250 to £307 + VAT, depending on the complexity.

We also offer flexible payment options and may be able to arrange a Sears Tooth Agreement, which allows our fees to be paid from your settlement, rather than upfront.

To help you decide if we’re the right fit, we offer a free 30-minute consultation. There’s no obligation—just expert advice and clear guidance on what your next steps should be. Call 0203 983 5080, email [email protected]or book online to get started.