Bishop's Stortford divorce lawyers & family solicitors, Hertfordshire

No. You don’t legally need a solicitor to get divorced in the UK. Many people complete the application themselves. The legal part of ending the marriage is usually straightforward.
It often becomes more complicated once finances, pensions, property or children are involved. These issues are dealt with under separate legal rules.
That’s usually where doubts come in, or where informal arrangements later turn out not to be binding. It can help to understand how the divorce process in England and Wales works in practice.
At Stowe Family Law, our divorce lawyers in Bishop’s Stortford often speak to people who just want to be sure they’re not overlooking something important.

There isn’t an automatic right to a fixed share of money or assets. Instead, the focus is on what is fair, based on your situation. These include housing needs, income, pensions, how long you were married and whether there are children.

Being open about finances is essential. Because the detail matters so much, it’s often hard to know what you may receive without advice that’s specific to you.

No. A 50/50 split during divorce does not automatically happen. While equality can be a starting point, it is not a rule.
In real life, outcomes are often adjusted to reflect practical needs. In particular, where children are involved, or one person earns much less.
What looks fair on paper does not always work day to day. Each case is considered on its own circumstances.

The family home does not have a set outcome when you divorce. It may be sold, transferred to one person, or kept for a time, often to give children stability.

A lot depends on whether the home is affordable and what housing is needed in the future. This is why property in divorce is often one of the most complex issues to resolve. Making quick decisions, such as moving out without advice, can affect your position later.

This is something our Bishop’s Stortford team often helps clients pause and think through carefully.

Everything begins with the child’s welfare, which the law treats as the overriding consideration. The court looks at factors such as the child’s safety, routine, emotional needs and relationships with both parents.

There is no automatic preference for one parent. Parents are expected to try to reach an agreement where possible, but if that does not happen, decisions are still made within this welfare framework rather than on what either parent wants.

A solicitor can explain how these factors are usually weighed in practice.

We believe that providing expert family law advice goes hand-in-hand with being an active part of the Bishop’s Stortford community. We are proud members of the Bishop’s Stortford Chamber of Commerce and partners of the Bishop’s Stortford Town Council.

Through these partnerships, we aim to play a role in strengthening the community and helping local families find the stability they need to move forward with confidence.

To find out more about our work in the area, please visit our local Bishop’s Stortford partnerships page.

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