Family law solicitors & divorce lawyers Durham, County Durham

You cannot begin divorce proceedings until you have been married for at least a year.

To start, you need to submit an application to the court (Form D8) with a declaration that your marriage has broken down irretrievably.

This is usually made online via a court portal (although you can make a paper application) and requires a payment of £612.

You can apply for a divorce by yourself (sole applicant) or make a joint application with your ex-spouse (joint applicants).

Alternatively, if you receive a divorce application from your spouse, you are called the respondent in the legal process.

Getting this part right early is important in that it will help you to save time and money throughout your divorce process. As any family lawyer or family law solicitor will tell you, it can also make the entire process more amicable as you, and your partner, are clear from the start.

Here at Stowe, our Durham family law solicitors will support you through the process and offer professional guidance and advice to make your divorce or civil partnership dissolution as quick and convenient as possible. For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our local family firm today.

The length of the divorce proceedings depends on a range of factors, including any financial issues, childcare concerns or other complexities.

An experienced family lawyer from Stowe can offer advice to help you speed up the process, and expedite everything we can to get you through this difficult period of your life.

Most divorces take around 6 – 9 months to complete, barring any serious complexities. If you’re looking for a quick divorce from Durham’s leading family law firm, don’t hesitate to get in touch today. From specialist family law advice to practical support throughout your divorce proceedings, the Stowe team are here for you.

If you’ve been served with a divorce application in Durham it’s sometimes unclear as to how you should respond; you’ll be presented with a lot of legal wording and expressions that do more to create frustration than they do to provide clarity.

Our Durham family law solicitors can help you to respond to a divorce application while preparing you to get the best possible outcome for you, and for your family.

If you’re looking for a family law team in your local area, don’t hesitate to get in touch today. Our family law firm in Durham can help to guide you through one of the most difficult periods of your life in a calm, understanding manner.

The overall cost of a divorce will vary depending on your circumstances, particularly where finances, property, or child arrangements are involved. Once your solicitor has a clear understanding of your situation, they will be able to provide an initial cost estimate. You can find further information in our guide on divorce costs and our pricing information. For straightforward divorces, a fixed-fee divorce option is also available.

Yes. Most cases are resolved outside of court, but if a hearing is required you will attend Durham Family Justice Centre at Durham County Court on Green Lane. Our solicitors will ensure you are fully prepared and supported throughout the process.

Durham Family Justice Centre at Durham County Court is located on Green Lane, close to Durham Cathedral, The Riverwalk and Durham city centre. It is around a 15-minute walk from Durham Station via North Road towards the city centre and cathedral area.

From our office at Durham Workspace on Abbey Road (DH1 5JZ), the court is approximately a 10–15 minute drive via the A167 and A690 towards Green Lane. Nearby cafés include Starbucks at The Riverwalk, Costa Coffee on North Road and Flat White Kitchen on Saddler Street if you arrive early.

No. You do not have to use a solicitor to apply for a divorce in England and Wales. Some people complete the application themselves.

What often causes problems is not the divorce itself but the decisions made around it. Finances, property, pensions and children can all be affected by early choices. Our Durham divorce solicitors often speak to people before anything starts, simply to help them understand what usually matters and what can wait.

For most people, the first step is not starting the divorce but getting a clear picture of where they stand. That usually means thinking about money, housing and day-to-day arrangements for children.
This matters because early decisions can be hard to undo. Moving out or agreeing things informally can shape what happens later. Many people speak to a family law solicitor at this stage just to sense-check their position before doing anything else.

No. There is no rule that everything is split equally in a divorce. The law looks at what is fair in the circumstances rather than starting from a 50/50 position.
That difference is important because fairness is about whether the outcome works in real life. Housing needs, income, pensions and children’s needs can all affect the result. Much of the confusion comes from the belief that everything is split 50/50 in divorce, when the law is really focused on reaching a practical outcome.

There is no fixed entitlement based on being a wife. Divorce law in England and Wales applies in the same way to both spouses.
This matters because assumptions about entitlement often cause unnecessary tension. In practice, the court looks at needs, contributions and future financial security. Once people understand this, discussions tend to focus more on what is workable rather than what someone believes they are owed.

The law does not favour mothers or fathers. Decisions about child arrangements are based on what is best for the child.
This is important because many fathers worry they will be treated unfairly from the start. In reality, the focus is on the child’s welfare and maintaining relationships where it is safe to do so. Difficulties often arise not from the law but from conflict, especially where one spouse does not properly engage with the divorce process, and discussions about children stall.

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