Family law solicitors & divorce lawyers Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

We recommend having a solicitor with you when you attend family court because this is an extremely stressful time. It can be taxing on the whole family, so having an expert by your side can provide comfort knowing you’re in safe hands with them.

Family hearings are heard at Stoke-on-Trent Combined Court, located on Bethesda Street in Hanley, close to Potteries Shopping Centre, the Regent Theatre and Hanley Bus Station. It is around a 10–15 minute drive from Stoke-on-Trent Station via the A500.

From our Stoke-on-Trent office at Trent House the court is approximately a 10–15 minute drive via the A500 towards Hanley and Bethesda Street. Nearby cafés include Starbucks and Costa Coffee in the Potteries Centre and Café Museo inside the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery if you arrive early, with parking available at Potteries Shopping Centre and Bethesda Street car parks.

For more detail on the process, see our guide on what to expect at Stoke-on-Trent Combined Court. 

A family law solicitor helps you understand where you stand and what happens next.
Divorce isn’t just a form to fill in. It affects your finances, your home, and sometimes your children. A family law solicitor can deal with the paperwork, make sure financial information is properly shared, explain your options for reaching a settlement and speak on your behalf in negotiations.
If going to court becomes necessary, they represent you. But in most cases, the aim is to resolve things sensibly and avoid unnecessary conflict.
Our family lawyers in Stoke-on-Trent regularly advise clients on divorce and separation, and the financial divorce settlements that follow. Getting clear advice early can make the divorce process feel more manageable.

The divorce process in England and Wales now works on a no-fault basis. You don’t need to prove that either of you did something wrong.
One or both spouses apply to the court. There is then a minimum 20-week reflection period before you can apply for a Conditional Order. Six weeks after that, you can apply for the Final Order, which legally ends the marriage.
What often surprises people is that sorting out money and arrangements for children is separate. The divorce itself may be finalised, but financial matters can continue afterwards. Our guide to divorce in England and Wales explains each stage in more detail if you’d like a clearer picture of how it works in practice.

There’s no automatic rule that everything is split equally in a divorce.
The court’s aim is fairness. Sometimes that means an equal split. Sometimes it doesn’t. The judge will look first at children’s needs, then consider income, housing needs, the length of the marriage, what each person contributed, and what they are likely to earn in the future.
Assets can include the family home, other property, pensions, savings and business interests. Both people are expected to give full and honest details about their finances. If you’d like a clearer explanation of how judges approach needs and sharing, our article on divorce finances explains this in practical terms.

In many cases, parents can make arrangements between themselves. That’s generally encouraged.
If agreement isn’t possible, mediation may be considered before court proceedings begin. And if the court does become involved, the child’s welfare is the most important factor. The judge uses a legal checklist, looking at the child’s needs, their wishes (depending on age and understanding), and whether there is any risk of harm.
A child arrangements order can set out where a child lives and how time is shared. Court is usually the last step, not the starting point.

Parental responsibility means the legal right to make important decisions about a child’s life.

Mothers automatically have it. Fathers usually have it if they were married to the mother when the child was born or are named on the birth certificate. It can also be obtained by agreement or by court order.

It allows you to be involved in decisions about education, medical treatment and religion, among other things. If you’re unsure about your position, a family law solicitor can explain whether you already have parental responsibility or whether steps may be needed to obtain it.

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