Family Law Solicitors & Divorce Lawyers Leicester

You do not need to be separated before starting a divorce in England and Wales. There is no minimum separation period under the current no-fault divorce law.
Divorce legally ends the marriage. Separation simply means you are living apart, whether formally or informally. Some couples separate for practical or financial reasons before divorcing, but it is not a legal requirement.
Our divorce lawyers often speak to people in Leicester who assume they must wait. In reality, you can begin the divorce process even if you are still living under the same roof. A divorce solicitor can advise on what is appropriate in your situation.

To start the divorce process in the UK, you submit an application stating that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. It can be made individually or jointly and is usually completed online.
The first practical step is gathering key documents, including your marriage certificate, and thinking about finances and any arrangements for children. Once the application is issued, there is a 20-week period before you can apply for the Conditional Order.
When clients come to us, we talk through the wider picture at the outset, not just the form itself. A divorce solicitor can help you understand what should be dealt with alongside the divorce, so nothing is overlooked. We explain everything you need to know in our beginner’s guide to divorce.

You are not required to stay in the marital home during a divorce. Deciding whether to leave is usually a practical and financial decision rather than a legal one.
Moving out does not mean you lose your financial interest in the property. The family home is still taken into account when finances are resolved. That said, leaving can affect day-to-day arrangements, especially where children are involved.
Before making any decision, it is sensible to understand the financial and practical implications. We regularly advise clients in Leicester on how a move might affect their position. A divorce solicitor can explain the likely impact in your particular circumstances.

Finances and assets are not automatically split 50/50 in divorce, although equal sharing is often the starting point in longer marriages.
The court looks at housing needs, income, pensions, childcare responsibilities and the overall financial picture. The aim is fairness, which does not always mean equality. In some cases, one person may receive a larger share to meet housing or income needs.
We guide clients through full financial disclosure and realistic settlement discussions from the outset. A divorce lawyer can advise on how the court is likely to approach your individual circumstances.

After separation, parents can agree on child arrangements between themselves, use mediation, or apply to the court if an agreement is not possible.
The law does not favour mothers over fathers. If both parents have parental responsibility, they have equal legal status. The court’s focus is always the child’s welfare and what arrangement best supports their day-to-day life, stability and safety.
In many cases, arrangements are resolved without a final hearing. We work with parents to keep matters practical and child-focused wherever possible. A family solicitor can explain how a court would assess your specific situation.

Wherever possible, the UK courts ask that we try to support you in settling family law disputes with out-of-court services, such as mediation. If legal action is required, we have the knowledge and experience to achieve the right result, but reaching an agreement outside of this setting will typically save you both money and time. Bear in mind that during divorce and separation cases, particularly in the eyes of a Family Court Judge, the wellbeing of the children comes first.

Our Leicester family solicitors offer arbitration, guided mediation, and collaborative law as alternatives to litigation.

Should the parties’ negotiations fail, our divorce lawyers are skilled litigators.

We act for clients across the East Midlands, with offices in Leicester, and other local cities including Nottingham, Derby and Lincoln.

Areas we cover include:

• Leicester city centre
• Oadby
• Wigston
• Knighton
• Beaumont Leys
• Market Harborough
• Birstall

We also offer virtual meetings upon request.

Yes. Most cases are resolved out of court, but if a hearing is required you will attend Leicester County Court and Family Court on Wellington Street. Our solicitors will ensure you are fully prepared and supported throughout the process.

Leicester County Court and Family Court is located on Wellington Street in Leicester city centre, close to the Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower, Leicester Cathedral, Highcross Shopping Centre and Curve Theatre. It is around a 10-minute walk from Leicester Station via

From our Leicester office at 38 Market Street (LE1 7EA), the court is approximately a 5–7 minute walk via the Clock Tower towards Wellington Street. Nearby cafés include Starbucks in Highcross, Costa Coffee on Granby Street and independent favourite 200 Degrees Coffee on Market Street if you arrive early.

If driving, parking is available at Highcross John Lewis car park and NCP Rutland Centre.

You may be concerned about the amount of the marital pot because you believe your partner is concealing assets. A 28% capital gains tax on the family home, a property, a business portfolio, or other assets may simply be something you wish to avoid.

Whatever your circumstance, you will have access to our in-house accounting team as part of our divorce service. With their extensive knowledge of tax, property, valuations, business assets, shares, trusts and funds, accounts, and pensions, they will make sure you have a clear picture of the finances and assets from the start. This is essential to getting a fair settlement as well.

While our family solicitors are trained and skilled in all areas of family law, some of them have experience with unusual cases or case law that may be more applicable to your circumstance. For instance, a number of our family law solicitors have a particular emphasis on child law, including the Hague Convention, special guardianship orders, and international child abduction. Some of our lawyers have experience handling cases involving offshore trusts and cryptocurrency. Others specialise in helping families that own farms or other agricultural companies or professional athletes.

Because this law firm specialises in divorce and separation, and with so many family solicitors across the country, your solicitor has an unrivalled support network to tap into if needed.

Under current UK court guidelines, all family law disputes are to be first taken to mediation to be settled out-of-court. Depending on the complexity and hostility of your case, this can be an excellent way to keep costs down and expediate the family law process. Out of court settlements can sometimes take as little as 4-6 months.

If matters need to be settled outside of court however, the process will slow down. The average divorce in the UK takes around 12 months, but our lawyers will need to know the details of your case before providing an accurate estimate.

For an uncontested/straightforward divorce where both parties agree, you’ll pay the standard court fee of £612 plus any solicitor fees you choose.

Stowe’s fixed-fee guidance is £612 for the court application and typical fixed fees of £750 + VAT (complex finances/children are extra).

See Fixed-fee divorce and How much does a divorce cost for details.

No. Under no-fault divorce, one person can apply (a sole application) by stating the marriage has irretrievably broken down; a joint application is optional.

For a plain-English explainer of the process and timelines, see Stowe’s no-fault divorce guide.

You can file a DIY/online divorce, but there are common pitfalls to this. These include errors in paperwork, and (crucially) thinking your finances are settled when they’re not legally binding due to lacking a court-approved consent order.

We are committed to being an active partner in the Leicester community through our partnerships and charity involvement.

Our team works closely with local organisations like Leicestershire Cares, where we recently provided a £250 donation to support their work in mentoring care leavers. We are also proud members of the Charity Link Partners in Business scheme.

We also support the NACCC, a charity that facilitates safe and secure environments for separated families to get together. We value the essential role these local centres play in helping children and parents stay in touch following a separation. Their centres include Leicester Family Contact Centre, conveniently located on Peacock Lane, directly opposite Leicester Cathedral.

To learn more about our community involvement, please visit our Leicester partnerships page.

Useful resources 

Our guide on how to get divorced 

A more detailed look at how long divorce takes in the UK 

The Divorce Directory – a resource full of support professionals to help you through relationship breakdown and rebuilding 

Frequently asked questions 

The most useful resources are our solicitors so please get in touch should you need advice on any urgent or serious family matter. 

Single Parent & Post Divorce Resources In Leicester 

What Is The Divorce Rate In Leicester? 

Family law case studies Leicester 

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