Family Law Solicitors in Scunthorpe

A separation, a divorce or a disagreement about the children is one of the hardest things a family goes through. Our family team works from our office at 2 Park Square in the centre of Scunthorpe, and helps people across North Lincolnshire sort out the legal side calmly and practically, so you can concentrate on everything else.

Our family solicitors are members of Resolution, the national network of family lawyers committed to removing unnecessary conflict from divorce and separation. That means we look for agreement first, using negotiation and mediation wherever possible, and go to court only when it is genuinely the right step. You can meet us face to face in Scunthorpe, or work with us by phone, video call and email if that suits you better.

Since April 2022 divorce in England and Wales has been no fault. Nobody has to be blamed, either of you can apply on your own or you can apply together, and a divorce can only be disputed on very limited grounds. The process has fixed stages: the application, a 20 week reflection period, the conditional order, then at least six weeks and a day before the final order ends the marriage. Civil partnerships are dissolved in the same way.

For a straightforward divorce we charge a fixed fee of £500 plus VAT (£600), plus the court fee. That covers everything from preparing the application to obtaining your final order. Read more about divorce, no fault divorce and what a divorce costs.

Getting divorced does not end the financial ties between you. Without a court order, either of you could make a claim against the other in the future, even years later. A financial order, usually agreed and then approved by the court as a consent order, settles who keeps the home, how savings, pensions and any business are divided, and whether there will be ongoing maintenance. Where it is right for you, a clean break order ends financial claims for good.

It is usually wise to have your finances agreed before the final order is made. We advise on the options, negotiate on your behalf and, if agreement cannot be reached, represent you in financial proceedings.

When parents separate, the arrangements for the children matter most. We help you agree where the children will live, how they will spend time with each parent, holidays and the big decisions about schooling and health. Most arrangements are agreed between parents, sometimes with the help of mediation. Before applying to court for a child arrangements order you will usually need to attend a mediation information meeting, unless an exemption such as domestic abuse applies.

Where social services are involved, our team also acts in care proceedings, where Legal Aid is available to parents.

If you or your children are at risk, we can act quickly. We advise on and apply for non-molestation orders and occupation orders, which can protect you and decide who lives in the family home. Legal Aid is often available in domestic abuse cases. Read more about how we help with domestic abuse.

A prenuptial or cohabitation agreement sets out what should happen to your money and property if the relationship ends. Unmarried couples have far fewer rights than married couples when they separate, whatever people say about common law marriage, so an agreement can save a great deal of worry later. If you are separating but not divorcing, we can also prepare a separation agreement.

1. 1
   A free initial chat

   Call us or send your details. We will talk through your situation and the options, with no obligation.

2. 2
   Clear advice and costs

   We explain where you stand, what we recommend and what it will cost, before any work starts.

3. 3
   Agreement first

   We negotiate on your behalf and use mediation where it can help, to keep costs and conflict down.

4. 4
   Court only if needed

   If agreement is not possible, we prepare your case and represent you at every hearing.

A no fault divorce takes at least 26 weeks

1. Application issued Week 1
2. 20 week reflection period Weeks 1 to 20
3. Conditional order From week 20
4. Six weeks and a day Weeks 21 to 27
5. Final order From week 27

These are the legal minimums. If your finances or arrangements for the children take longer to agree, it often makes sense to wait before applying for the final order.

We offer fixed fees where we can and hourly rates where the work depends on how a case develops. Court fees and other third-party costs are extra.

Legal Aid. We provide Legal Aid for both private law and public law family matters. It is means tested and mostly available in cases involving domestic abuse or the protection of children. You can check whether you may be eligible on GOV.UK, or ask our family team.

A divorce stops being a fixed fee matter if it becomes contested or the other person has to be served personally. Full details are on our family law pricing page.

Experienced family lawyers, based in Scunthorpe, who will explain things plainly and stay with you from the first call to the final order.

Tracy TalbotAssociate SolicitorQualified as a solicitor in 2003 and has specialised in family law for most of her career. A trained collaborative family lawyer.Adrian CoggonConsultantAdvises on all areas of family law and is a Family Mediation Council accredited mediator, helping separating couples agree finances and arrangements for children.Kiran SarkariaAssociate SolicitorOver 10 years in private family law, specialising in divorce, financial matters and children.

For a straightforward no fault divorce we charge a fixed fee of £500 plus VAT (£600), plus the court fee. That covers everything from the application to the final order. Most of the cost of separating is in sorting out finances or arrangements for the children. That is charged at hourly rates and can run to several thousand pounds, or more if it goes to court, so we always give you an estimate first. See our realistic guide to what a divorce costs.

At least 26 weeks from when the application is issued. The law requires a 20 week reflection period before the conditional order, then at least six weeks and a day before the final order. It can take longer if your finances are still being agreed.

No. Under the no fault rules either of you can apply alone, and a divorce can only be disputed on very limited grounds, such as whether the courts of England and Wales can deal with it. You can also apply jointly if you both want to.

Yes, it is strongly advisable. Until a financial order is made by the court, either of you could make a financial claim against the other in the future, even after the divorce. A consent order makes your agreement legally binding.

We provide Legal Aid for private and public law family matters. It is means tested and generally limited to cases involving domestic abuse, child abduction or the protection of children. Ask our family team and we will help you check.

Most family matters are settled without a contested hearing. Before applying to court about children or finances you will usually need to attend a mediation information meeting, unless an exemption such as domestic abuse applies. We go to court only when it is genuinely needed.

Resolution is a national network of family lawyers who commit to a constructive, non-confrontational approach. In practice we try to reduce conflict, use mediation and negotiation where we can, and keep the children’s interests at the centre.

Yes. Our family team is based at our office at 2 Park Square, Laneham Street, Scunthorpe, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. We can also work with you by phone, video call and email.