Family law solicitors & divorce lawyers Wimbledon

If your divorce involves negotiating financial matters or child arrangements, costs can vary depending on your personal circumstances. You can find out more in our guide on divorce costs and our pricing information. Your solicitor will also provide an initial estimate once they understand the details of your situation. For couples who are separating amicably and have a straightforward divorce, we offer a fixed-fee divorce package.

If you are based in Wimbledon or the surrounding area and a hearing is required, your case will usually be heard at Wandsworth County Court and Family Court on Garratt Lane (SW15 2SU) in Wandsworth. Our solicitors will ensure you are fully prepared and supported throughout the process.

Wandsworth County Court and Family Court is located on Garratt Lane, close to Wandsworth Town Centre, Southside Shopping Centre and King George’s Park. The court is around a 10-minute walk from Wandsworth Town Station via Old York Road and Garratt Lane.

From our Wimbledon office at the Old town hall on Queens Road (SW19 8YB), it is approximately a 15–20 minute drive via Wimbledon Hill Road and the A218 towards Wandsworth. Nearby cafés include Starbucks and Costa Coffee in Southside Shopping Centre and independent favourite Story Coffee on St Ann’s Hill if you arrive early.

If driving, parking is available at Southside Shopping Centre car park.

You are not legally required to use a solicitor to get divorced in England and Wales. Some people manage the application themselves, particularly where matters are straightforward.
However, the divorce process only ends the marriage. Financial claims remain open unless they are formally resolved. If there are children involved, or assets such as property, pensions or business interests, legal advice can help ensure matters are properly addressed. Issues around divorce finances often extend beyond what people initially expect.
At Stowe Family Law in Wimbledon, we regularly advise clients who want clarity on whether they need representation or simply guidance at key stages. The right approach depends on your individual circumstances.

The first step is checking that you meet the eligibility requirements. You must have been married for at least one year, and England and Wales must be the correct jurisdiction.
You then submit a divorce application, either solely or jointly. The court sets a timetable under the no-fault system. It is sensible at this stage to consider financial arrangements and any plans for children, as these are dealt with separately from the divorce itself.
Taking advice from a divorce solicitor early can help you understand the wider implications before taking formal steps.

No. There is no automatic rule that everything is divided equally in a UK divorce.
Rather than applying a fixed percentage, the court looks at what is fair in the circumstances. This includes housing needs, income, earning capacity, the length of the marriage and whether there are children. In some cases, an equal division is appropriate; in others, it is not. Much of the confusion comes from the idea that assets are split 50/50 in divorce, when the legal approach is based on fairness.
Each case depends on its own facts, and legal advice can help clarify how the principles may apply to you.

Yes. The law does not give automatic preference to mothers or fathers.

Decisions about children are based on the child’s welfare. Where both parents have parental responsibility, they are legally equal in that respect. The court considers practical arrangements, including where a child lives and how time is shared, in the child’s best interests.
Where disagreements arise, understanding how conflict during separation and divorce affects children can provide helpful context. If needed, family law solicitors at our Wimbledon office can advise on your specific position.

You are not required to instruct a divorce solicitor simply because your spouse has started divorce proceedings. Under the no-fault system, there is usually little benefit in contesting the divorce itself.
However, you must respond within the required timeframe, and financial matters still need to be resolved separately. These issues remain open unless formally settled through a financial order. Questions about timing are addressed in how long a spouse can drag out a divorce.
Even where the process appears straightforward, early legal advice can help you understand your position before agreements are reached.

Alternative routes to court (arbitration, divorce mediation and collaborative law) encourage ex-partners to find solutions through dialogue, often reducing conflict and expense later.  That’s mainly due to litigation often being required when the parties are at odds on child arrangements (formerly known as child custody) and how finances should be divided.  Waiting for a hearing at the Family Court certainly won’t speed things up and will require more of your divorce lawyer’s time – which in turn will have a bearing on cost. It’s for these reasons that we recommend that family disputes be managed in a non-confrontational way. For more information on the methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that are open to you, we’ve outlined each in our guide to out of court settlements.

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