Top Family Law Firms

Top family law firms offer their clients deep, practical expertise across the full range of family law, so that whatever situation a client walks in with, their solicitor has handled it before.

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.

“Not in any way intimidating. Their positive attitude takes the stress out of situations.” (Ms Scott)

At Birch & Co, our expert family law solicitors have experience in all aspects of family law and practice. Just some of our areas of expertise include:

• Divorce And Separation

Divorce law in England and Wales changed significantly in April 2022 with the introduction of no-fault divorce. Couples no longer need to assign blame or wait years to begin proceedings. The only ground they need to cite is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Both spouses can even apply jointly if they choose.

However, the apparent legal simplicity of the new system does not mean the process is straightforward in practice. Divorce intersects with financial settlements, pension rights, property ownership, and child arrangements, all of which run on separate legal tracks and require careful management. A top family law firm handles all of those threads simultaneously, making sure nothing is missed and that the divorce itself does not close off financial claims that still need to be resolved.

Birch & Co routinely advises clients on all aspects of divorce and separation, from the initial application through to the Final Order and beyond.

• Financial Settlements

Dividing a couple’s assets can be one of the most complex issues to arise from a divorce. The court has wide discretion and considers a range of factors, including the parties’ relative incomes and earning capacity, the length of the marriage, the standard of living, contributions made by each party, and the needs of any children. There is no set formula; the outcome depends on the unique factors at play in each case.

Pensions are one of the most commonly overlooked assets in divorce. In many cases, pension wealth exceeds the value of the family home, yet it is frequently undervalued or ignored in negotiations. Top family law solicitors ensure pensions are properly valued and factored into any settlement, whether through pension sharing, pension offsetting, or a pension attachment order.

Where businesses, investment portfolios, or multiple properties are involved, the process often requires expert financial analysis alongside legal advice. Birch & Co handles high-asset financial disputes as well as straightforward cases, and brings the same level of attention to both.

• Children Matters

Disputes about children are among the most emotionally charged areas of family law. Where parents cannot agree on living arrangements or contact, the court’s starting point is always the welfare of the child as opposed to the preferences of either parent.

The court can make a range of orders in connection with child arrangements. Child Arrangements Orders set out where a child lives, and how much time they spend with each parent. Prohibited Steps Orders prevent a parent from taking specific actions, such as removing a child from the country, without the court’s permission. Specific Issue Orders resolve particular disagreements, such as which school a child should attend.

Where there are welfare concerns, the process becomes more involved still. CAFCASS will prepare a report, and in some cases a fact-finding hearing is needed before the court will make any arrangements order. Birch & Co handles the full range of child proceedings, from negotiated parenting plans to contested multi-day hearings, and we understand how to present a client’s case effectively at every stage.

• Domestic Abuse And Protective Orders

Where there is a risk of harm, the law can provide urgent protective measures. A Non-Molestation Order prevents an abusive partner from contacting or harassing you. An Occupation Order can exclude an abusive partner from the family home, even if they are named on the tenancy or mortgage. Both can be obtained quickly, and in genuine emergencies, within 24 hours.

This is an area where the quality and speed of legal advice is critical. Birch & Co has experience handling urgent injunction applications and understands the evidence and procedure required to obtain effective protection for clients and their children.

• Cohabitation And Unmarried Couples

Many people are surprised to learn that cohabiting couples have significantly fewer legal rights than married couples or civil partners on separation. There is no such thing as a common law marriage in English law. An unmarried partner has no automatic right to a share of the other’s property, no entitlement to maintenance, and no claim on assets held in the other’s name, regardless of how long the relationship lasted.

Disputes between separating cohabiting couples are notoriously complex and evidence- heavy. Birch & Co advises clients on cohabitation disputes, claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and the drafting of cohabitation agreements for couples who want to protect their position before a problem arises.

• Pre-Nuptial And Post-Nuptial Agreements

Pre-nuptial agreements offer couples a convenient means through which to record their agreement on what should happen to their assets in the event their relationship breaks down. They are not automatically legally binding in England and Wales, but courts give them significant weight when both parties took independent legal advice, the agreement was signed well in advance of the wedding, and full financial disclosure was made. Post-nuptial agreements, signed after marriage, are treated similarly.

For couples bringing significant assets into a marriage, or where they have existing families whose interests they need to protect, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements can provide valuable peace of mind. Birch & Co advises on and prepares both types of agreement, handling the drafting and the legal requirements that give agreements the best chance of being upheld.

What Else Do The Top Family Law Firms Offer?

Beyond specialist expertise, the top family law firms share a number of qualities, including:

Clear, honest advice about realistic outcomes.
Care and empathy so that clients feel heard and supported.
A constructive approach that prioritises negotiation and mediation over unnecessary litigation.
Direct and easy access to the same solicitor throughout the matter.
Transparent fee information from the outset, with regular cost updates throughout.
Plain language communication that keeps clients informed and in control.