We are successful family solicitors in Ipswich, with extensive expertise advising and acting in all aspects of family law. Our clients range from high-net-worth individuals with complex finances to local professionals – no matter your circumstances, we’re here to help.
We’re proud to be recognised as a ‘Leading Firm’ by Legal 500. Managing Partner Phoebe Turner leads our Ipswich experts and is recognised as a Key Lawyer. They also say:
“What makes [Stowe Family Law] stand out in the industry is that they specialise exclusively in Family Law, which brings with it many advantages.”
Our team of Ipswich solicitors are highly experienced in handling all types of family law disputes. We aim to manage every situation constructively and encourage agreement between both parties. As a result, over 80% of our cases are settled outside of court. We’ll be by your side every step of the way.
Divorce and separation
Pre and postnuptial agreements
Finances
Children’s solicitors
Fertility law
Cohabitation agreements
Domestic abuse support
Our Ipswich divorce lawyers have over 25 years of experience in helping clients across Suffolk. We advise on fixed-fee, high-net-worth, and religious divorces, as well as civil partnership dissolution and separation agreements. Whether you are having an amicable separation or a complex case requiring representation at the Ipswich County Court, our team ensures you have the clarity and support needed at every stage.
Divorce solicitors
Filomena Sterkaj is a Resolution member and one of our lawyers for prenuptial contracts and postnuptial agreements. She’ll listen to your circumstances and ensure your agreement is tailored to your needs. Whether you need to discuss inherited wealth, overseas assets, agricultural land, or established companies, our experts will ensure your future is protected.
Prenuptial agreement solicitors
Our financial settlement solicitors can assist you with complex financial remedies and help you split your finances during divorce. We work meticulously for clients in Woodbridge and Felixstowe, ensuring your divorce settlement is fair and covers the family home, child and spousal maintenance, and the division of pensions. Our priority is to secure your financial foundation, so you have everything you need to move forward with confidence
Financial settlement solicitors
Maya Bhatiani is a Resolution member, recognised for her specialist expertise in children’s law matters, especially where multifaceted issues and high-conflict need to be resolved. We aid families across Ipswich with child arrangement orders (formerly known as child custody), care proceedings, and rights for grandparents, keeping your child’s wellbeing at the forefront of all decisions made. We provide both legal representation in court as well as negotiating in alternative dispute resolution solutions, like mediation.
Child law solicitors
Our fertility solicitors can provide legal support and guidance on all aspects of growing a family, including donor conception, assisted reproduction, and adoption. We will ensure all legal frameworks are solid, allowing you to turn your attention to the joy of your new chapter with absolute peace of mind.
Fertility lawyers
Our Ipswich cohabitation solicitors can draft a living together agreement that provides couples who live together in Kesgrave or Martlesham, but aren’t married, with certain legal protection. Common law marriage is a myth in the UK law, meaning a cohabitation contract is essential. We’ll listen to your unique situation and tailor your agreement to your specific needs. This way, your interests are protected even if your relationship status changes.
Cohabitation lawyers
It’s important to have a domestic abuse lawyer who supports you, and our Ipswich team will do what it takes to ensure you feel safe again. We work with clients who have experienced coercive control, physical and sexual violence, as well as tech and economic abuse. Our family lawyers can quickly draft non-molestation and occupation orders to prioritise your safety.
Domestic abuse solicitors
Suite 422
Franciscan House
51 Princes St
Ipswich
IP1 1UR
All in-office appointments are by pre-arrangement only.
Choose a date & time that suits you for a no-obligation callback
Stowe Family Law is a nationwide firm with a huge number of extremely talented family lawyers. They are efficient and price sensitive and capable of servicing the needs of the whole spectrum of family cases.
You can find our Ipswich law office at:
Franciscan House, 51 Princes Street, Ipswich IP1 1UR
Our Ipswich office sits just across from Portman Road Stadium and is easily accessible from the A1022 if travelling by car. Parking is available nearby at New Portman Road Car Park. If travelling by public transport, the St Clare House bus stop is directly outside, and the office is only a 7-minute walk from Ipswich train station.
The office is wheelchair accessible and has lift access to all floors. Accessible facilities are available on site, and reception staff can assist visitors if needed.
Our phone lines are open from 8:30am – 7pm, Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Our Ipswich office helps clients across Suffolk and Essex, including Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, and Harwich. For an alternative location nearby, we also have an office in Colchester. Appointments are available both in person and remotely.
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Here at Stowe Family Law, we understand that family law matters can involve complex issues, which is why we also work with specialists across different fields. Our in-house accounting experts have years of experience in reaching fair financial settlements for all parties.
From tax and real estate to valuations and pensions, our team has the skills to support you even in the most complicated financial situations.
Divorce costs are influenced by the complexity of your case. After an initial consultation, your solicitor will be able to give you an estimate tailored to your situation. Where finances, property, or child arrangements must be agreed, the process may require additional work, which can impact fees. Our divorce costs and pricing guides provide more detailed information. A fixed-fee divorce option is available for straightforward divorces.
Yes. Most cases are resolved out of court, but if a hearing is required you will attend Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre at 8 Arcade Street (IP1 1EJ).
From our Ipswich office at Franciscan House (IP1 1UR), the court is within easy walking distance towards the Buttermarket and Arcade Street.
Ipswich County Court and Family Hearing Centre is located at 8 Arcade Street near Ipswich town centre. It is around a 15–20 minute walk from Ipswich Station via Princes Street towards the Buttermarket and Cornhill, close to Ipswich Town Hall and Ipswich Library. There are cafés nearby including Starbucks in the Buttermarket, Costa Coffee on Tavern Street and Applaud Coffee on St Nicholas Street if you arrive early.
You do not legally need to use a solicitor to get divorced in England and Wales; some people do manage the process themselves.
Seeking legal advice is recommended to handle financial settlements, pension sharing and child arrangements to ensure they are legally binding and approved by the court. And if there is disagreement about child arrangements, the process can become more formal quite quickly.
We often speak to people who began the divorce process alone, but want reassurance before finalising anything. We will explain what you can manage yourself and where legal advice may protect you in the longer term.
To choose the right family law solicitor in Ipswich, you should focus on expert solicitors with relevant experience, specialising in your specific needs, checking for accreditations like Resolution or the Law Society, and verifying their reputation through reviews.
Family law is specialist work. You want someone who deals with divorce, financial settlements and child arrangements every day, not occasionally. You should expect straight answers about your options, the likely range of outcomes and the possible cost.
Our divorce lawyers are skilled in all aspects of family law, highly accredited and members of Resolution. This allows us to give practical, realistic advice from the outset.
The divorce process begins with an application stating that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. It can be made individually or jointly. There is then a 20-week period before you can apply for the Conditional Order, followed by six weeks before the Final Order.
To get started, we would usually need your marriage certificate, basic personal details and an outline of your financial circumstances. If there are children, we would also discuss the current arrangements.
From there, the steps are explained clearly so you understand what happens next and when. A divorce solicitor can advise based on your individual circumstances.
The court decides child arrangements based on one principle: the child’s welfare.
There is no automatic 50/50 split rule, and the law does not favour mothers over fathers. If a father has parental responsibility, he has the same legal status as the mother. What matters is what arrangement best supports the child’s day-to-day life, stability and safety.
In practice, we help parents focus on what a court is likely to consider rather than assumptions about rights. A family law solicitor can explain how these principles apply to your particular situation.
Finances in a divorce are handled by dividing assets (property, pensions, savings) and debts; they are dealt with separately from the divorce itself. Both parties are required to provide full financial disclosure before a settlement can be agreed.
The court often aims for a fair split, especially in longer marriages. It then considers housing needs, income, pensions, childcare responsibilities and the overall financial picture. The outcome depends on those details.
We regularly support clients in Ipswich to reach an agreement through negotiation or mediation, without the need for a contested court hearing. If a court is necessary, the stages and likely timescales are explained carefully from the outset. A divorce solicitor can advise on the approach that best fits your circumstances.
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