Divorce Solicitors Manchester
The decision to separate is never easy. Our highly-skilled and compassionate divorce solicitors in Manchester are here to help you navigate the process and provide clear, honest legal support through your separation.
Talk to one of our team members on 0330 111 3131
We’ll support you through your divorce
We recognise the prospect of a divorce can be daunting for those in an unhappy marriage. Our divorce solicitors cannot advise you on your relationship’s future, but we can provide reliable and valuable legal advice for your separation, divorce or dissolution.
Our helpful divorce lawyers are all members of Resolution, an organisation of lawyers and other professionals committed to the constructive settlement of family disputes.
This means that we will always make every effort to minimise any acrimony that could otherwise detract from your case and cause an avoidable delay in formalising your divorce and financial settlement.
Furthermore, we have a deep understanding of how concerned you may be about the impact of a divorce on your children, your well-being, your business, or your finances generally.
As such, we endeavour to ensure that all of our clients receive clear, tailored advice which enables you to consider all your options and ultimately help plan for your future.
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Our services
In addition to dealing with all the legal matters involved with conducting a divorce, we also offer a range of family law services to suit the individual requirements of your case. This includes:
- Divorce proceedings: We’ll support you through every step of the legal process in a divorce, whether there is a mutual agreement or the divorce is contested. We’ll protect your interests and guide you through – from submitting a statement to gaining a conditional order (formerly known as a Decree Nisi), followed by a final order (formerly known as a Decree Absolute). If required, we can provide representation in court.
- International proceedings: The divorce process can differ slightly for individuals and couples living in another country or holding assets abroad. We can help in such cases, and you can find out more about international divorce here.
- Jewish divorce: One of our team members specialises in divorce for Jewish families.
- Islamic divorce: One of our team members specialises in divorce for Muslim families.
- High-net-worth divorce: Those with considerable assets, public reputations or complex business arrangements may require specialist support from our high-net-worth divorce team.
- Financial settlements: We’ll help you agree and settle on a financial arrangement to end the marriage. We’ll account for all the assets owned by your partner and yourself, from pensions, businesses, investments, properties, and more. Find out more about financial settlements.
- Asset tracing: If your partner hides assets, you may not receive a fair financial settlement. We can help you uncover all of the assets owned by your partner to ensure everything is disclosed properly. Find out more about asset tracing.
- Child arrangements: If children are involved, we can help with sensitive issues such as where they live, maintenance payments, and parental rights (including grandparents). Find out more about child arrangements.
- Mediation: After you’ve agreed to separate, our mediation team can help you and your partner decide how to proceed. This can aid your post-separation relationship and future communications, with the practicalities of the divorce process often planned and agreed upon during the mediation sessions. Find out more about mediation.
- Arbitration: If there are contentious issues that you’re struggling to resolve as part of your divorce, you may want to consider bringing in an independent arbitrator. Arbitrators review the facts of the case, consider the issues, hear evidence, and then make a legally binding decision. It’s often quicker, easier and less expensive than going through the courts. We can act as arbitrators if required. Find out more about arbitration.
- Spousal maintenance: We can assist in making or defending any application for spousal maintenance during divorce proceedings. Find out more about spousal maintenance.
Furthermore, we will recommend other professionals when required. This may include actuaries regarding pension valuations, specialist forensic accountants to uncover any hidden assets your partner may have tried to conceal, or experienced financial advisers to help you plan for the future.
Our fees
We understand that divorce can be lengthy, stressful and costly, so we have an open approach to legal costs and aim to be as transparent as possible.
For uncontested divorces, our clients are offered a fixed fee of £650 plus VAT, plus court fees (for more information on court fees, see the FAQs below). You can usually recoup some or all of those costs from your spouse if you are the petitioner.
Where are we based
We have two offices across Greater Manchester, so you can meet one of our divorce solicitors at a location that best suits you.
In the city centre, we have an office on Deansgate, a 10-minute walk from Manchester Victoria train station, or just five minutes from the tram stops at Exchange Square and St Peter’s Square.
We also have an office in Sale, on Cross Street. We’ve previously had two other offices in Sale, and we’ve been an active part of the local community for over 100 years.
For those based elsewhere, we have several satellite offices that we operate on an appointment-only basis. This includes locations in Leeds, Liverpool, London, Sheffield, and York. These offices mean we can provide truly national coverage for our services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get divorced?
If you’ve been married for over a year, and the relationship has broken down, you are entitled to apply for a divorce. Bear in mind your marriage needs to be legally recognised in the UK, and one of you needs to live in the UK, too. The grounds for divorce are that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
Previously, couples had to provide evidence of one of the following to get a divorce:
- Adultery
- Unreasonable behaviour
- Desertion
- Separation for over two years (with written consent)
- Separation for at least five years (without consent)
However, this is no longer a legal requirement following the legalisation of ‘no-fault’ divorces in April 2022. You can now divorce with neither side being to blame.
Does my spouse have to agree to the divorce?
No, your spouse does not have to agree to the divorce. It can be easier if a mutual agreement exists, but spouses can no longer contest a divorce application. This follows a major reform of divorce law with the implementation of the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020.
Will I have to go to court for a divorce?
It’s possible to divorce without going to court. If you and your partner agree on the divorce terms, this is an uncontested divorce, which you can settle outside of court.
However, if you can’t agree on certain aspects of the separation, such as splitting childcare or financial assets, you will need to work with a divorce solicitor to negotiate on these aspects. Court intervention may be necessary if you and your partner cannot agree.
How long does a divorce take?
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a ‘quickie divorce’, as seen in the media. By law, a divorce will take a minimum of 26 weeks (around six months), so even the most amicable divorce will take a while to process.
After submitting a divorce statement (either solely or jointly), there is a 20-week ‘cooling-off’ period. During this time, couples are encouraged to reflect on their marriage and make any necessary arrangements regarding children, finances or assets.
At this point, you will apply for a conditional order. If it is granted, another waiting period begins. This time it lasts a minimum of 6 weeks. You may then need to submit a financial consent order to separate your finances legally.
Finally, after six weeks, you’ll apply for a final order, which confirms the legal end of the marriage.
Naturally, this is a best-case scenario where both sides are in full agreement throughout. If you have disagreements over certain issues (e.g. finances), you’ll need the support of a divorce solicitor.
Do both parties have to pay for a divorce?
The person who files for divorce (the ‘applicant’) will typically pay the court fees. However, couples can split the fees in a joint application.
How much does a divorce cost?
However you file for divorce, you’ll need to pay court fees. It costs £593 to apply for a divorce, plus a £53 fee to include a consent order (a legal document that secures your finances once you’ve finalised the divorce). Additional costs may occur if you seek private legal advice during the process. Many firms, us included, offer a fixed fee for dealing with a straightforward divorce. Our fixed fee is £650 plus VAT.
Highly rated and trusted by our customers
“My experience with Slater Heelis was a great one. I had one-on-one time with my solicitor, Amy, who made me feel heard and listened to what I wanted and helped me reach these goals easily. Throughout each stage, I was updated, and any questions I had were responded to quickly.” – Zenub
“Thanks for guiding me through a very difficult divorce process. The input was always timely and professional. The costs were transparent from the start. Ultimately a good outcome was achieved in what could have been a very messy protracted case.” – Suhail
“Very good solicitors for my divorce. Kim Aucott, over the course of several years, sensibly took me through my divorce settlement. She was clear with my expectations so that I could focus on the issues that mattered.” – Richard
Meet our divorce lawyers
With offices in Manchester and London, we work with couples across the UK and internationally, so contact us today to understand how our divorce solicitors can support you through the process from start to finish.
Talk to our team by filling out a contact form or calling on 0161 969 3131.
Related resources
Our team regularly publishes new articles and guides covering divorce and family law. Please find our most popular resources about divorce linked below, or head to our blog to see the latest posts.
Will an affair or adultery affect divorce settlement?
How to handle your business during a divorce