Independent Financial Advice

Bringing Clarity and Confidence to Your Next Chapter

Helping to achieve fair, balanced and sustainable financial outcomes

Financial change is often one of the most significant aspects of divorce or separation. Understanding your position and planning for what comes next, can feel overwhelming without the right guidance. That’s where thoughtful, independent financial advice can make a real difference.

During the process, working alongside a financial adviser can support mediation and our One Couple One Solicitor approach by helping you both understand the full picture. From assets and income to pensions and future needs, clear, informed insight often leads to more balanced, realistic agreements and smoother discussions.

Looking ahead, financial advice plays an equally important role in helping you rebuild with confidence. Whether you’re planning a new home, restructuring finances or thinking longer-term about security and stability, the right support helps you make decisions with clarity and control.

We introduce clients to experienced, independent financial professionals we trust. People we’ve worked alongside who share our commitment to transparency, care and a genuinely client-focused approach. Their role is to support you in creating a strong, sustainable foundation for the future, so you can move forward feeling informed, secure and ready for what’s next.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find answers to frequently asked questions about our services and legal processes.
Still have questions?
Yes, separation is distinct from divorce. Separation involves living apart, while divorce is the legal end of a marriage. Some couples no longer feel able to live under the same roof but do not feel ready to embark on the significant step of divorce. Although the formal divorce process can be deferred, or avoided altogether if you have no wish to legally end your marriage, there will still be all the practicalities of separating the household to consider and we can help you sort these arrangements and draft a separation agreement which clearly outlines what has been agreed in order to prevent misunderstandings during the separation period.

This provides a formal recognition by the court that a couple is no longer living together and enables the court to make orders in respect of finances (other than pension orders) while still maintaining the legal marital status. It isnu2019t often advised as any financial order made during judicial separation is not automatically binding in any subsequent divorce. However, it can be helpful in circumstances where there is a religious or moral obligation to stay married or where pension rights, that would be lost on divorce, want to be preserved.

In the context of a civil partnership, a dissolution is the equivalent of a divorce for married couples. It is a legal process that formally ends the partnership, addressing matters like finances and children in the same way as divorce does for married couples. The difference lies in the terminology used; dissolution is applied to civil partnerships and divorce is used for marriage.

In April 2022, significant changes were introduced to divorce law in the UK. Couples can now divorce without proving that one party was at fault, making the process less adversarial. The grounds for divorce and dissolution are now the same; both proceed on the basis that the marriage/civil partnership has irretrievably broken down and they have been legally together for at least 12 months.

Whilst the changes to a No-Fault process in April 2022 streamlined the application process it did also extend the time frame for divorce proceedings and couples now have to wait 20 weeks form the date the divorce petition is issued until they can obtain the Conditional Order (Decree Nisi). There is then a further 6 week and 1 day u201ccooling offu201d period from the granting of the Conditional Order until the Final Order (Decree Absolute) can be applied for.

However, in practice divorce usually takes longer than 26 weeks as there are many practical issues to reach agreement on. Understanding the timeline is important and we will help you harmonise crucial elements like financial settlements and children matters seamlessly within the divorce process.

The court fee for filing the divorce is u00a3593. However, the total cost of the divorce will depend on individual circumstances and the complexity of the case. Our fees are better explained in our pricing section, but the overall cost will be contingent on the specific work required and the unique aspects of the case.

We can give you a clearer estimate of likely fees at an initial meeting once we better know your personal situation.

An annulment is a legal declaration that a marriage is void, making it as if the marriage never existed. Unlike divorce, which ends a valid marriage, an annulment implies that the marriage was invalid from the beginning due to certain legal grounds. Grounds for annulment may include issues such as non-consummation, bigamy, lack of consent, or one party being underage. Annulments are rare but contact us for an initial chat if you feel you may have valid grounds.

Yes! Although it may all seem insurmountable now, weu2019re here to deal with the necessary legalities, and provide a sensitive, steady hand to guide you at every step of the way.

Contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Expert Family Law Services

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Heads of Two National Family Law Teams Join One Family Law Solicitors as Firm Enters Next Phase of Strength and Growth

One Family Law Solicitors has announced the appointment of two exceptionally renowned heavyweight family law partners, Samantha Newton and Caroline Fell, who will join the firm from 1 May as partners.

With these strategic appointments, One Family Law Solicitors continues to strengthen its position as a leading voice in modern family law, offering clients a more constructive, compassionate alternative at one of life’s most challenging times.