When a marriage breaks down, many people wonder whether they genuinely need divorce solicitors at all, particularly now that the process has been simplified and the application itself can be completed online.
It is an entirely reasonable question to ask, and for a small number of couples, the answer may be that they need very little specialist legal help. For most people, however, the value of a solicitor lies not in the paperwork that ends the marriage but in everything that sits alongside it. This article explains what divorce solicitors actually do, and when instructing one is the sensible course.
Reach out to Birch & Co’s specialist and supportive team today. Call us on 0191 284 5030 or complete a Free Online Enquiry now to get a bespoke fixed price estimate.
“I would definitely recommend you to others – Thank you very much” (P Laskey)
What Does A Divorce Solicitor Do?
The document that legally ends a marriage is only a small part of a divorce solicitor’s work. Most of what we do concerns the two things that matter most to people going through a separation, namely their financial assets and their children.
On the financial side, our divorce solicitors establish what assets there are, work out what they are worth, and negotiate a settlement that reflects the family’s circumstances. That usually involves examining the disclosure provided by the other side, questioning valuations, considering how pensions should be dealt with, and thinking about how a settlement will work in practice over the years ahead rather than only on the day it is signed.
Where children are concerned, we work closely with the parents to agree arrangements that suit the children, and represent you effectively when agreement cannot be reached.
Do You Have To Use A Solicitor?
There is no rule requiring you to instruct a divorce solicitor. If your marriage was short, there are no children, no property, and no pensions worth speaking of, and if you and your spouse agree on everything, you may need little more than some guidance to check that nothing has been missed.
However, many divorces are not that simple, and many cases necessitate expert legal advice. Instructing a solicitor is sensible where there are pensions of any significance, since these are frequently the largest asset after the family home and are regularly overlooked by people dealing with matters themselves. The same applies where one spouse owns a business or has assets overseas, where property was owned before the marriage or inherited, where there is a real difference in income or earning capacity, and where one of you gave up work to raise children.
The Value Of A Specialist
Family law is a specialist field of legal practice. Solicitors with experience in this area are adept at recognising the patterns in cases swiftly, anticipating difficulties before they arise, and knowing how the local courts work in practice.
At Birch & Co, our team specialises in all areas of family law, from divorce and financial settlements to arrangements for children, cohabitation disputes, protective injunctions, and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. That breadth of experience means we recognise when one issue affects another, so that a decision about the family home, for example, is not taken without weighing its effect on the couple’s pensions or the children.
What To Expect When You Instruct Us
Once you decide to instruct our divorce solicitors, the step should feel like a weight being lifted rather than added. We begin by listening to your situation and giving you an honest assessment of where you stand. We explain the options in plain language rather than legal terminology, and we set out clearly your options and what the next steps in the process involve.
From there, we take on as much or as little of the work as you need. Where you want us to, we can run the entire case, including preparing and submitting the documentation, keeping track of the deadlines, and dealing with the court and with the other side’s solicitors. We understand that going through a divorce can be daunting, and we guide and support you at every stage.
Our divorce solicitors are committed to resolving matters sensibly, and we strive to resolve matters as constructively and cost-efficiently as possible. We look first at whether your matter can be settled through negotiation, and we make good use of mediation where it will produce a result more quickly and at less expense than court proceedings.
Speak To Birch & Co
Whether you simply want to check that you are not missing anything or you need a solicitor to take the whole matter in hand, our experienced divorce solicitors are on hand to help.
Reach out to Birch & Co’s specialist and supportive team today. Call us on 0191 284 5030 or complete a Free Online Enquiry now to get a bespoke fixed price estimate.
“I cannot fault the professionalism and helpfulness throughout what has been a difficult time. I would not hesitate to use your services again and would recommend you to others.” (Mrs Surtees)