Family law solicitors & divorce lawyers Preston

After discussing your case with you, your solicitor will be able to provide an individually tailored cost estimate based on the details of your case. Divorce costs vary depending on the issues to be resolved, especially if there are financial settlements, property concerns, or arrangements for children. For additional guidance, please see our guide to divorce costs and family law fees guide. We also offer a fixed-fee divorce service for straightforward divorces.

Yes. Most cases are resolved out of court, but if a hearing is required you will attend Preston County Court and Family Court at The Law Courts. Our solicitors will ensure you are fully prepared and supported throughout the process.

Preston County Court and Family Court is located at The Law Courts on Openshaw Place, close to St George’s Shopping Centre, Preston Guild Hall and Ring Way in Preston city centre. It is around a 10–15 minute walk from Preston Station via Fishergate towards the city centre.

From our Preston office at Albert Edward House (PR2 2YB), the court is approximately a 10–15 minute drive via the A6 towards Ring Way and Openshaw Place. Nearby cafés include Starbucks on Fishergate, Costa Coffee in St George’s Shopping Centre and Rise on Lune Street if you arrive early. There is parking available at St George’s and Fishergate shopping centre car parks. For more detail, see our guide on attending Preston County Court and Family Court.

You are not legally required to use a solicitor to apply for a divorce in England and Wales. Many people handle the divorce application themselves, particularly when the situation is straightforward.
Legal advice is often highly recommended where finances, property, or arrangements for children need to be resolved. Any agreement about money needs to reflect how divorce finances are assessed in practice. This can include needs, income, and future arrangements, to be effective and legally binding.
Our divorce solicitors in Preston regularly advise people who want to understand the implications of decisions before they are finalised.

Divorce in England and Wales is now based on a no-fault system. This means you do not need to blame your spouse or explain why the marriage ended.
The application simply states that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, and the court accepts this without asking for evidence or further detail. This change forms part of the modern divorce process in England and Wales. It also applies to the dissolution of civil partnerships.
While the process no longer focuses on blame, it does not change how financial matters or child arrangements are decided.

Divorce follows a set legal timetable. This means it cannot be completed immediately, even where both people agree. In most cases, the minimum timeframe from application to final order is around six months.
Timescales are often longer where finances or arrangements for children still need to be agreed. Delays can also arise if one person does not engage fully with the process.
This is why issues around how long a spouse can delay a divorce often relate to cooperation and unresolved matters rather than the divorce paperwork itself.

There is no fixed financial entitlement in a divorce. Instead, the law requires a fair outcome based on specific factors.
These include income, property, pensions, future needs, and the length of the marriage. This approach reflects how divorce finances are assessed, focusing on fairness and practicality rather than promises of a particular share.
Children’s needs are given particular weight where relevant. A family law solicitor can advise based on individual circumstances.

No. There is no automatic rule that assets are divided equally in a divorce.
Rather than starting from a 50/50 position, the court looks at what is fair in the circumstances, including needs, available resources, and any children involved.
This is why everything is not automatically split 50/50 in divorce, even though equal division may be appropriate in some cases.

You may be unsure about the size of the matrimonial pot because you suspect your spouse is hiding assets. Or you may just want to avoid a 28% capital gains tax on the family home, or a property or business portfolio or other assets.

Whatever your situation, as part of our divorce service you will have access to our in-house accounting team, who’s extensive experience of tax, property, valuations, business assets, shares, trusts and funds, accounts and pensions, will ensure you have a clear picture of the finances and assets from the outset. This is also key to achieving a fair settlement.

While our family solicitors are knowledgeable and experienced in all family law matters.  Some of them have been involved in cases with unique elements or case law that could be more relevant to your situation. For example some of our family law solicitors have a very strong focus on child law including special guardianship orders, international child abduction and Hague Convention. Some of our solicitors have dealt in matters with cryptocurrency elements and offshore trusts. Others are specialists in assisting professional sports people or families with farming and agricultural businesses.

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.

In England & Wales, for straightforward divorce cases, the process can take between 6 – 8 months. On average, the whole process takes approximately one year. Longer than 12 months is common for cases where there are drawn out disagreements on child and financial matters. It is impossible to predict exactly how long a divorce will take, though a good a divorce lawyer will help give you an educated estimate.

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.

Our local Preston partnerships

Single Parent & Post Divorce Resources In Preston

What Is The Divorce Rate In Preston?

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