Divorce Solicitors
Guiding you through divorce to achieve the best possible outcome
Solicitors for divorce
Ending a marriage or relationship can be a daunting process. There are many practical arrangements needing to be made at a time when emotions are running high.
Our expert divorce solicitors – based across the East Midlands – can guide you through the divorce process and help you achieve the best possible outcome for your family.
We’re experts in alternative dispute resolution. This means that our divorce solicitors aim to reduce conflict in divorce and avoid court proceedings wherever possible. That said, we also have the necessary expertise to represent our clients in court if required. We’ll tailor our approach to you and your individual needs.
You may be worried about issues such as finances, the family home or what will happen to your dependents. Rest assured, we can support you in coming to an agreement about these matters. We’ll do our best to help you maintain amicable relationships throughout the process.
Our experts can help you with:
- Applying for and obtaining a divorce
- Reaching a financial settlement
- Making arrangements for children
- Dissolution of civil partnerships
Divorce lawyers
Where possible, we’ll suggest alternative dispute resolution methods. These might include mediation, negotiation or arbitration. This is so an agreement is reached which avoids the costs of going to court.
If court proceedings are unavoidable, we’ll be on hand throughout, supporting and guiding you. In cases where specialist divorce advice on tax, trusts, pensions and property is needed, we can also help.
Our family law team includes members of Resolution. We’re also Law Society Children Panel members, demonstrating our ability to handle even the most complex issues.
Our expertise also extends to assisting in:
- negotiating child arrangements after a divorce or separation
- injunction orders in cases of domestic violence
- business or commercial issues that may arise from divorce or separation
With offices in Nottingham, Leicestershire and Derby, we can meet you in person, or by phone, email or virtual meetings.
Our divorce services
If you’d like to end your marriage you can apply for a divorce. In the case of a civil partnership, you can apply for a dissolution. The process is broadly the same for both.
A ‘no-fault’ divorce process was introduced in April 2022, which means you no longer need to provide a reason for your divorce or dissolution. This removes the need to apportion blame to one party for the end of the relationship.
You need to have been married for one year to get a divorce or dissolution. If you’ve been married for less than a year you can create a separation agreement.
Only one divorce application needs to be made to get a no-fault divorce. Depending on your circumstances, you may wish to do this jointly with your partner or submit a sole application.
Our divorce solicitors can guide you through the process of applying for and obtaining a divorce. We provide clear and practical advice to help you finalise your divorce quickly and efficiently whilst maintaining an amicable relationship where possible.
The financial settlement can be one of the most challenging aspects of a divorce. It has the potential to lead to plenty of disagreements. A financial settlement can include plans for a range of assets including property, savings, shares, pensions, other assets and debts.
In many cases, it will be possible to agree on the details of a financial settlement voluntarily. This can be assisted through alternative dispute resolution methods: negotiation, arbitration, mediation or collaboration.
If you can make a voluntary agreement, applying for a consent order makes the terms of this agreement binding. This avoids the risk of your spouse changing their mind in future.
If you can’t reach an agreement out of court, our divorce solicitors need to apply to a court for a Financial Order. This will decide how your matrimonial assets should be divided.
This allows both parties to move on with their lives without the possibility of future financial claims being made.
Child arrangements can involve making plans for various aspects of your children’s lives. This could include where they live, contact, maintenance, relocation, grandparents’ rights and any other issues. It’s not just about ‘custody’.
As above, our divorce law solicitors can use alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation to help you settle these matters amicably.
If this isn’t possible, our divorce solicitors have the expertise to represent you during court proceedings. They’ll advocate for the best interests of you and your family.
Why choose Rothera Bray for divorce or separation?
- The issues surrounding family law can be sensitive and highly emotional; we know this. So we’ll put you in contact with a member of our team who is best-suited to advise you. They’ll work with you to find the best outcome.
- Our family solicitors will treat you with respect, honesty and empathy
- Eight local offices located across Nottingham, Leicestershire and Derby to meet at
- Communication in a way that suits you. Choose to be contacted by phone, email, face to face in our offices, or video call
- Online court systems for quick resolutions and we can even advise on DIY divorce services
- You’ll speak to a qualified family law fee earner from the outset
- Your first call to us is always free, and we provide honest and upfront fees and funding options
- Resolution-accredited members
- Family lawyers who are members of the Law Society’s Children Law Panel
- Alternative options to court proceedings, including mediation and arbitration
- Tailored service based on your needs to ensure we achieve the desired outcome
- A network of professional contacts including accountants, independent financial advisors and counsellors. Our family solicitors can put you in touch with them if you require additional advice.
Our family lawyers offer legal advice on:
Finances on divorce
Our divorce solicitors can guide you through the process of applying for and obtaining a divorce or separation agreement.
We can help you navigate the process quickly and efficiently.
We always focus on reaching an amicable resolution.
Civil partnerships
Ending a civil partnership is much the same as ending a marriage, but on this page we cover some of the questions you might have.
Children and divorce
Whether it’s a divorce or just breakdown in your relationship, we can help you bring about the best outcomes for your children.
Talking it out
Mediation is the process by which a couple can compromise and make agreements before a divorce case goes to court.
Child abduction/relocation
Find out ways to prevent your child being taken to live elsewhere or outside of the country.
Prohibited Steps Order
A Prohibited Steps Order can stop a parent from making sole decisions about about their child’s medical treatment, schooling, living arrangements or family name.
Family injunctions
An injunction is a protective order from the court, which can protect against violence or contact with named people.
A clean break
A consent order can be used to outline the financial agreement you have reached with your former spouse.
Divorce Solicitors FAQs
How do I apply for a divorce?
To start the divorce process, you begin by completing a divorce application. This application asks the court to grant the divorce and includes details about both parties. It will include a statement confirming the ‘irretrievable breakdown’ of the marriage, meaning there’s no chance of you getting back together.
If both spouses apply together, it’s called a joint application, and they’re known as joint applicants. If one spouse applies alone, they’re the applicant, and the other is the respondent.
The completed application, along with the marriage certificate and a court fee, is then sent to the court to begin the divorce proceedings.
If your spouse makes a sole application for divorce, you’ll be notified by the relevant court. You must reply within 14 days with an ‘acknowledgement of service’ form.
How much does a divorce cost?
If you’re getting divorced or dissolving your civil partnership, you or your ex-partner will need to pay the court fees.
You must pay whether you handle the divorce or dissolution yourself or use a solicitor.
The main court fees for a divorce in England and Wales include:
• An application to the court for a divorce or dissolution has a court fee of £628
• The court fee for a Consent Order to make your financial arrangements legally binding costs £62
• For a Financial Order – if you need the court to decide how your assets will be divided – you will be charged £321 by the courtWhat's the difference between a separation agreement and divorce?
If a marriage or civil partnership breaks down, you don’t have to have a divorce right away. Unlike a divorce, a separation agreement allows you to live apart but remain married.
Its purpose is to reach a voluntary joint agreement with your spouse. This could cover property, investments and children. You can incorporate this into a separation agreement or deed of separation to formalise the decisions.
Whilst they aren’t technically legally binding like a divorce, separation agreements are legal contracts. If the agreement has been negotiated fairly and written correctly, it could be upheld in court proceedings if challenged.
The Rothera Bray divorce lawyers can help draw up and negotiate a separation agreement.
What's the process of divorce?
Once a divorce application has been issued, there will be a minimum 20-week waiting period before you can apply for a Conditional Order. This ‘cooling-off’ period gives couples time to reflect on their decision and make any necessary choices.
After the cooling-off period, the court will issue a Conditional Order, which is a legal document that establishes that there are no barriers to your divorce. This is sometimes called the ‘decree nisi’.
After obtaining a Conditional Order, you must wait at least six weeks before applying for a Final Order. Once the court issues you with the Final Order, your marriage will be officially dissolved. The Final Order is sometimes called the ‘decree absolute’.
How long does a divorce take?
Under the no-fault divorce process, a divorce will take a minimum of 26 weeks to complete: 20 weeks for the Conditional Order and six weeks for the Final Order.
However, most divorces will take longer than this. This is because of the added complications or making arrangements for finances and children.
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