Divorce Lawyer

Divorce Solicitors in London

If you’re going through a divorce or relationship breakdown you need to know that you have the very best divorce solicitors on your side. We are recognised as one of the top divorce teams in London. Our highly experienced solicitors are approachable, diligent and experts in divorce, working hard to protect your interests and fighting hard to get the results you want.

Specialist Divorce Expertise

With one of the largest divorce law teams in London, Osbornes Law attracts talented lawyers who care about making a positive difference to the lives of our clients. We will support you through applying for a divorce, responding to divorce proceedings and represent you during a hearing. Our team of solicitors include independently accredited specialists in divorce, matrimonial finance and children law as well as matters relating to prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, cohabitation, child abduction and adoption.

Our lawyers are recommended for being excellent strategists, highly intelligent and incisive. Our divorce lawyers are sensitive to the needs of your family and work hard towards delivering fair settlements for our clients. We have expertise in every area relating to divorce including advising on property, complex financial arrangements, international divorce and business assets.

Our lawyers will talk you through all aspects of your case – both the legal context and your personal circumstances and aims, and provide guidance as to where you go from here/your next steps.

We also draw on a longstanding network of professionals in disciplines such as forensic accounting, company valuations and tax investigation.

Divorce Process

To obtain a divorce you need to demonstrate to the court that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. This needs to be for one of the following ‘factual’ reasons:

• That your spouse has committed adultery
• That your spouse has acted in such a way that it is unreasonable for you to be expected to continue living with them
• That your spouse has deserted you for two years
• That you and your spouse have lived apart for two years and your spouse consents to the divorce
• That you and your spouse have lived apart for five years, whether or not your spouse consents to the divorce

We recognise that going to court can be expensive and make the process longer, as well as more distressing for everyone involved. Where possible we will always aim to achieve a settlement outside of court. If your divorce does go to court, as your lawyers, we will fight to ensure that you achieve the result that is in the best interests for you and your family.

London Divorce Lawyers

Our divorce lawyers are based in our Camden and Hampstead offices. Our Camden office is a 4-minute walk away from Camden Town underground station. Our Hampstead divorce lawyers are located on Hampstead High Street.

HNW Divorce Lawyers

Clients include London, UK and international residents from a wide range of backgrounds and professions. Our lawyers are renowned for dealing with complex divorce cases which involve tracking down complex assets, company valuations and international trusts.

Related Divorce Services

• Cohabitation disputes
• Arrangements for children
• Divorce finances
• International divorce
• Mediation
• Domestic violence

Why Choose Osbornes Law Divorce Solicitors?

Our specialist hnw divorce lawyers are recognised in the Spears Family Law Index of leading lawyers. We have also featured in the Times ‘Best Law Firms’ guide for the last 3 years with particular recognition for our work with high net worth clients. We are ranked as leading divorce lawyers in peer-review directories including Chambers UK, Chambers High Net Worth and Legal 500.

All members of the Osbornes Law divorce team are accredited by Resolution – the association for family lawyers committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes – and many sit on the Law Society’s Children Law Panel.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are grounds for divorce?

To obtain a divorce you need to demonstrate to the court that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. This needs to be for one of the following ‘facts’:

• That your spouse has committed adultery
• That your spouse has acted in such a way that it is unreasonable for you to be expected to continue living with them
• That your spouse has deserted you for two years
• That you and your spouse have lived apart for two years and your spouse consents to the divorce
• That you and your spouse have lived apart for five years, whether or not your spouse consents to the divorce

How do I start a divorce petition?

The first thing to do is to contact us. We’ll explain the divorce process and be able to advise on all the decisions that need to be made, as well as how long things are likely to take.

Petitioning for divorce is the first step in the process. This is where you apply to the court to file for divorce. Exactly where and how you do this may depend on where you are living, and we will be able to advise on the best options. You’ll include your grounds for divorce, supported by one of the five ‘facts’ set out in the previous question.

You can complete the divorce petition form online (or we can do this for you). In this, you’ll include details of the date of the marriage, the address where you last lived together as a couple, the present addresses and occupations of both parties, the names and birth dates of any children, details of any previous court proceedings relating to the marriage or property and the fact being relied upon demonstrating that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. You’ll also include a request for the marriage to be dissolved and if you wish the court to decide matters concerning children, money and property.

How do I reply to a divorce petition?

We understand that being served with divorce papers can come as a shock. If this happens the first thing to do is to contact us. We’ll explain the divorce process and be able to advise on all the decisions that need to be made, as well as how long things are likely to take.

If your spouse has filed for divorce, you will need to decide how you want to respond. You can agree with the divorce, ask for amendments, defend the petition (if you don’t agree with it) or file for your own divorce.

Not responding will not stop the divorce from progressing.

What are my rights in a divorce?

You have a right to be divorced and you need to think carefully about what fact to cite if you think your spouse may not cooperate.

The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced the presumption that, unless the contrary is shown, the continued involvement of a parent in a child’s life will be beneficial to that child.

Article 8 of the Human Rights protects your right to your family life. With regards to a financial settlement on divorce, the court seeks to be fair, which can often mean a 50/50 split of the matrimonial assets, unless needs mean one party has a claim for more.

How long does a divorce take?

As a general rule, if your divorce is uncomplicated and you are in agreement, it could take as little as six months to complete. If you need to resolve matters relating to finances, children, businesses or property, this could take longer. The average divorce in the UK takes a year to complete and to agree a financial settlement, but can be as short as 4 months if agreement is reached quickly.

Our lawyers will do their best to work to your timeframe, however, you can be confident that we will always work hard to deliver the best results possible for you and your family.

How much will my divorce cost?

We know from experience that you can’t put a price on peace of mind or ensuring you get the settlement you need.  But we also understand that people can worry about the cost of getting divorced spiralling out of control if not handled properly.

Each divorce is different and the cost can vary greatly, depending on your circumstances and their complexity. With one of the largest divorce law teams in London, we’re able to support even the most complicated divorce in a practical and cost-effective manner. In short, we’ll build your legal team to suit your needs and budget.

If your divorce is uncomplicated and uncontested, however, we’re committed to making things even simpler. As long as your divorce does not involve international, children or financial issues, and your spouse is easily available to serve, we offer a fixed fee divorce, with costs starting at £999 inclusive of VAT.

In addition to this fee, you will be responsible for the Court fee which is currently £550. Any additional disbursements such as obtaining a translation of your marriage certificate are not included in the fixed fee.