Divorce Solicitors Camden

Osbornes Law is a London law firm with offices in Camden and Hampstead. Our family law team is ranked in Chambers UK and Legal 500 and holds membership with Resolution, the professional body for family lawyers committed to resolving disputes constructively.

How does no-fault divorce work?

Since April 2022, couples in England and Wales can divorce without one party having to blame the other. Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, the only ground for divorce is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. You no longer need to cite adultery, unreasonable behaviour, or separation.

Either or both spouses can apply. The process involves two stages: a conditional order (formerly the decree nisi) and a final order (formerly the decree absolute). There is a mandatory 20-week waiting period after the application is issued before you can apply for the conditional order, and a further six weeks before the final order.

The court fee to apply for a divorce is currently £593. We can advise you on the full process, handle the application on your behalf, and make sure your financial and children arrangements are resolved alongside the divorce itself.

Financial settlement on divorce

The divorce application ends the marriage — but it does not automatically divide your assets. Reaching a financial settlement is a separate process, and it is one of the most important things you will deal with.

A financial settlement covers everything from property and savings to pensions, investments, and business interests. Until a court order is in place, neither of you is protected. A former spouse can make a financial claim against you years after the divorce if no order has been agreed.

We advise on all aspects of financial settlement, including:

• Division of the family home, including situations where one party wants to remain in the property
• Pension sharing and pension offsetting orders
• Spousal maintenance, both during and after the divorce
• Business valuations and the treatment of pre-marital assets
• Nuptial agreements, where one was entered into before or during the marriage

Our solicitors will negotiate on your behalf to reach a fair outcome without unnecessary conflict. Where agreement cannot be reached, we represent clients in financial dispute resolution (FDR) hearings and contested financial remedy proceedings.

Mark Freedman, a senior member of our family team, is described by Chambers UK as someone who “takes on high-value financial and children proceedings that involve complex tax, trust and accounting issues” and is “experienced in FDR proceedings.” Lisa Pepper is noted for being “always looking for a solution” with “a very sympathetic approach to clients.”

Arrangements for children

Decisions about where children live and how much time they spend with each parent are separate from the financial settlement and the divorce itself. They require careful handling.

We help parents reach arrangements that work for their children, whether through negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings if necessary. For more detail on child arrangement orders, specific issue orders, relocation applications, and other children law matters, see our Camden family solicitors page.

Mediation and non-court options

Since March 2024, most people applying to the family court must first attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM), where a mediator will assess whether your dispute is suitable for family mediation or another form of non-court dispute resolution (NCDR).

Mediation is not right for every case — particularly where there is a significant power imbalance or history of domestic abuse — but where it is appropriate, it can resolve disputes faster and at lower cost than contested proceedings.

Lisa Pepper is recognised by Chambers UK for her collaborative law practice and mediation work. We can advise you on whether mediation or collaborative law is suitable in your situation, prepare you for the process, and help turn any agreement reached into a binding consent order.

High-net-worth and complex divorce

Where significant assets are involved — including property portfolios, business interests, offshore assets, or inherited wealth — a high-net-worth divorce requires specialist expertise.

Ed Taylor, a partner in our family team, is described by Chambers UK as “fantastic on complex cases, collaborative, brings insights and has a very good view as to strategy.” We act for high-net-worth individuals across north London and internationally, and are experienced in cases involving non-disclosure of assets, forensic accounting, and complex trust structures.

Why choose Osbornes Law’s Camden divorce solicitors?

Our divorce solicitors are ranked in Chambers UK and Legal 500, two of the leading independent legal directories. Chambers UK describes Mark Freedman as “tenacious and determined” — someone clients “really feel is fighting their corner.”

We are members of Resolution, whose code of practice commits us to resolving family disputes in a constructive way wherever possible. For most clients, this means reaching a fair settlement without going to court — protecting both your finances and, where children are involved, your relationship with your former spouse.

Our offices are in Camden and Hampstead, and we advise clients across north London and beyond.

Areas we cover

We advise divorce clients across Camden and the surrounding area, including:

• NW1 (Camden Town, Regent’s Park, Marylebone)
• NW3 (Hampstead, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage)
• NW5 (Kentish Town, Tufnell Park)
• NW6 (West Hampstead, Kilburn)
• N1 (Islington, Angel, King’s Cross)
• N7 (Holloway, Barnsbury)

If you are based elsewhere in London or across England and Wales, we can advise you remotely or in person at either of our offices.

Speak to a divorce solicitor in Camden

Call us on 020 7485 8811 or fill in the contact form below to arrange an initial conversation with one of our divorce solicitors.

FAQ

How long does a divorce take in England and Wales?

The minimum time from application to final order is around six months, based on the mandatory 20-week waiting period before the conditional order and a further six weeks before the final order. In practice, most divorces take longer because the financial settlement takes time to negotiate and finalise. Contested financial proceedings can take 12 to 18 months or more.

How much does it cost to get divorced?

The court fee to apply for a divorce is £593. Solicitor costs depend on how complex your case is and whether it is contested. An uncontested divorce where both parties agree on everything is significantly cheaper than contested financial proceedings. We will give you a clear costs estimate at the outset.

Do I need a solicitor to get divorced?

You can apply for a divorce without a solicitor, but we strongly recommend taking legal advice if you have assets, property, pensions, or children to consider. Agreeing the divorce itself is straightforward under no-fault divorce; reaching a binding financial settlement is not. Without a court order, you remain financially exposed to claims from your former spouse.

What is a no-fault divorce?

No-fault divorce, introduced in April 2022, allows couples to divorce without one party having to blame the other for the breakdown of the marriage. You simply state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. This removes the need to rely on behaviour or separation, and significantly reduces conflict at the outset of the process.

What is a financial remedy order?

A financial remedy order (sometimes called a consent order) is a court order that sets out how your assets will be divided on divorce. It is legally binding and enforceable. Without one in place, neither party is protected from future financial claims by the other. We always recommend finalising a financial remedy order alongside the divorce, not after.

How are pensions divided on divorce?

Pensions are often the most valuable asset in a divorce after the family home, but they are frequently overlooked. A pension sharing order transfers a percentage of one spouse’s pension into a separate pension in the other’s name. Alternatively, pension offsetting allows one party to keep their pension in exchange for a larger share of other assets. We advise on both approaches and work with pension actuaries where needed.

Can I divorce if my spouse does not agree?

Yes. Under no-fault divorce, your spouse cannot contest the divorce itself. They can raise procedural points and dispute the financial settlement, but they cannot prevent the divorce from proceeding if you want it to.

What is the difference between separation and divorce?

A legal separation (formally a judicial separation) allows you and your spouse to live apart and divide your finances without ending the marriage. It may be appropriate for religious or other reasons. A divorce ends the marriage entirely and allows both parties to remarry. We can advise on which is more appropriate for your situation. See our blog post: Legal Separation vs Divorce