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Can You Use The Same Lawyer In A Divorce?

OK, so this is a question that we hope we will soon never have to ask again – because the … Read More

Friendly Divorces On The Rise In The UK: A YouGov Poll’s Insight

In recent years, the landscape of divorce in the United Kingdom has undergone a significant transformation. A recent YouGov poll, … Read More

Navigating Your First Christmas After You Separate

Christmas can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Don’t imagine everyone else is having a great … Read More

Co-Parenting During Divorce: Navigating the Challenges for the Sake of Your Children

Divorce can be a challenging time for the entire family, especially for children. Amidst the emotional turmoil and legal complexities, … Read More

How Do You Know Each Side Is Being Honest On Divorce?

Each of you must give a financial disclosure, It must be full, frank and clear. Having confidence in each other’s … Read More

Navigating The Holidays: 10 Tips For Hibernating From Divorce this Christmas

The holiday season, particularly Christmas, is a time of joy and family gatherings. However, for those who are going through … Read More

Where Do We Start… When Agreeing A Plan For Our Children?

Separation is overwhelming. And if you have children, there is an additional burden of navigating it in a way which … Read More

Do All Divorce Cases Go To Court?

Divorce is a legal process… But handled right there should be no need at all to find yourself anywhere near … Read More

Good And Bad Delays On Divorce

Taking your time is fine. It isn’t a delay itself which is a problem, it’s being stuck in prolonged conflict … Read More

The Impact of Divorce on Friendships and Extended Family

Divorce is not just a significant shift in the lives of the couple involved, but it also reverberates through their … Read More

How Does The Court Make Sure Financial Needs Are Met After Divorce?

For most people, this will be the fundamental question – two households are more expensive than one, so how will … Read More

Divorce Etiquette: Understanding The Complexities & Social Dynamics

Divorce etiquette refers to the unwritten rules and guidelines that help individuals navigate divorce, both during after the separation process. … Read More

Divorce Statistics and Trends in the UK (Updated Nov 2023)

Divorce reflects broader societal trends and shifts. An analysis of recent divorce data in the UK sheds light on these … Read More

How Do I Cope With Divorce Stress?

Here are some top tips: 1. Please know that it is completely normal to find divorce stressful. It is stressful. … Read More

Isn’t It Just 50/50?

If only it were that simple! We understand that financial negotiations can be a scary prospect… but understanding the court’s … Read More

Can You Have a Quickie Divorce?

Newspapers love talking about ‘quickie’ divorces. We hear of celebs who seem to fast-track the system and get a divorce … Read More

The Cost Of Living Crisis And Divorce

How does the rising cost of living affect divorce? Cases can be harder to settle, meaning its even more vital … Read More

What Is A Blended Family?

This feels like a controversial thing to say. But it really shouldn’t be. For some families, divorce can be the … Read More

We’re Divorced And I Want To Move With Our Child

Can the other parent stop me? What do I need to know? Relocations are some of the hardest cases, as … Read More

Family Loans: Should You Borrow From Family During A Divorce?

The issue of ‘family loans’ comes up time and again in the cases we see. Money is often very tight … Read More

Does It Matter If My Name Is On My Child’s Birth Certificate?

From a legal perspective, it can do, Yes… If you and your fellow co-parent were not married or in a … Read More

Who Gets What In A Divorce?

Assuming you don’t have a ‘prenup’ to give you an answer, then it’s 50-50 right? Wrong. Cases where the capital … Read More

The Positive Effects On Divorce

This feels like a controversial thing to say. But it really shouldn’t be. For some families, divorce can be the … Read More

How To Pick A Divorce Lawyer…

It’s so important to do your research before you start. Make sure your legal team shares your values – do … Read More

New Term, New Start?

As we come into September, that new school term feeling can cause reflections on many aspects of life, including relationships. … Read More

Do You Need Legal Advice On Divorce?

The law has been developed over centuries to guarantee your rights upon divorce. So, you should be highly suspicious of … Read More

Feeling Stuck In Court Proceedings?

Many people don’t realise that family judges can adjourn cases if you ask them to, so you can have a … Read More

Don’t Know Where To Start With Your Finances?

We can help you find out the basics, so you can decide what help you will need. Most couples who … Read More

Positive Impacts Of Divorce For Couples

Divorce is hard. Of course it is. Any separation is tough, and the human emotions involved can feel overwhelming at … Read More

What If We Have Business Assets To Divide?

Your essential guide to the court’s approach and when you will and wont need expert legal advice. One of the … Read More

Help! We Can’t Agree On Our Summer Holiday Plans

It is not unusual for parents to disagree about where and for how long their children should spend on holiday … Read More

How Do We Get Divorced?

It can be daunting knowing where to start… so we have done the hard work for you! It’s been more … Read More

Why Tax Matters…

You need to be able to pay when due and you can’t come to a fair settlement without understanding your … Read More

Children’s Views Matter

Involving children in decisions which affect them is encouraged by child professionals and the courts. But that’s NOT the same … Read More

Who Keeps The Dog? Petnups In Divorce

Would you consider a ‘Petnup’? As a nation of animal lovers, you won’t be surprised to hear that the issue … Read More

The Overriding Objective

The Overriding Objective is set out at the start of the Family Procedure Rules, and sets out a blueprint for … Read More

Are You Allowed To Help Yourself?

Are you allowed to help yourself to your spouse’s financial information when you divorce? Probably not, but it depends… Be … Read More

The ‘No Order Principle’

The ‘no order principle’ is a principle family judges have to apply in every case concerning children which comes before … Read More

Blended Families…Let’s Celebrate Them!

There are more and more blended families out there showing us all how you can navigate divorce and remain a … Read More

‘Breadmaker’ Or ‘Homemaker’ – Does It Matter?

It sounds obvious, but it took until White v White in 2001 for the courts to spell out that discrimination … Read More

Three Tips For An Amicable Divorce

When you’re getting divorced, you can be overwhelmed with advice (all well-meaning, but too much to process). So here’s our … Read More

What Is a ‘Clean Break’?

It is the dismissal of one’s spouse’s financial claim against the other on divorce. It can be in relation to … Read More

How Long Does A Divorce Take

It depends on how you approach it… The minimum is 6 months, but if you end up in court you’re … Read More

We Need To Talk About Spousal Maintenance…

How much, and how long? and how do we agree on an outcome? In England & Wales, It’s fair to … Read More

Can You Have a Good Divorce?

Yes! And don’t be put off by the word ‘good’ in this context, the divorce process can be a tough … Read More

Choosing A School

Schooling choices are challenging at the best of times. Analysing catchment areas, navigating the 11+ and working out which school … Read More

Changing Your Child’s Name

Divorce can be a catalyst to revert to your maiden name.  But what does that mean for your children? What … Read More

What Is a Judge Trying To Do In A Money Case?

The court is simply trying to be fair. Sounds beguilingly simple, doesn’t it? But being fair to both parties isn’t … Read More

Stigma And Divorce

Divorce still carries so much stigma, but we need it to STOP. 42% of marriages end in divorce, and we … Read More

Why Is Settling A Good Idea?

It is obvious that settling is good because it’s cheaper and quicker than the alternative, which is having an outcome … Read More

What Does Research Say About Divorce And Children?

We regularly post the latest news and research on our feed. But sometimes it’s helpful to have a recap. And … Read More

What Is The Child Maintenance Service (CMS)?

It’s what used to be called the CSA. It assesses and collects child maintenance in England and Wales, some of … Read More

In-Laws and Divorce

Sounds like a terrible mix? but, it doesn’t have to be! Don’t let assumptions about divorce define your relationships with … Read More

What Are ‘Needs’ In Financial Cases?

 There is no one size fits all answer… There is no one ‘needs’, like beauty, they are in the … Read More

Hibernate From Divorce Over Christmas

Unless it’s a genuine emergency, give yourselves a break from lawyers, divorce and everything that goes with it. You can … Read More

Divorcing Well In 2023

We all approach New Year with a particular zest for renewal. Eat better, exercise more, live well. Frame of mind … Read More

First Christmas As Separated Parents?

It’s normal to find it hard, it’s normal to find it overwhelming, the more you can plan and prepare, the … Read More

How Do We Stop Divorce Costs Breaking The Bank?

It’s simple… share a lawyer wherever possible, and insist on fixed fees before you start. It hardly needs to be … Read More

The Number Of Unmarried Couples Is Growing

The number of unmarried couples is growing hugely… but, family law has not caught up… there is NO SUCH THING … Read More

What Is The Biggest Mistake You Can Make On Divorce?

It’s starting with the wrong mindset. If you start a divorce thinking it’s going to be a battle, that you … Read More

What Is Parental Responsibility?

Parental responsibility is the legal relationship between an adult and a child. It encapsulates all the decision-making power and authority … Read More

Do You Ever ‘Check Out’ Of Your Divorce?

If not, you should… Think of your divorce as a work project… The more it consumes you, the harder it … Read More

Will My Former Spouse Have Any Claim Against My Inheritance?

We get asked about inheritances all the time. People often instinctively feel that inherited wealth should be left out of … Read More

We’re Divorced And I Want To Move To A Different County

Divorce is often a catalyst to reassess everything about your life, and where you live is a big one. For … Read More

How Do We Make Our Financial Deal Legally Binding?

If you are agreed you want to resolve your finances once and for all, then the best way forward is … Read More

Is It A Choice Between A Good Divorce Or Getting Legal Advice?

It’s a terrible state of affairs that many divorcing couples are scared to get legal advice because they think getting … Read More

How Long Do Court Proceedings About Finances Last

A recent report said that the Family Court are ‘in crisis’, reflecting the ever-increasing length of time it is taking … Read More

Can You Be Friends With An Ex-Partner?

Humans are complex creatures. Relationships don’t have clean endings. Often, the ending of an intimate relationship means the start of … Read More

Divorce Doesn’t Mean You Have Bad Judgement

A fear on divorce which can really consume people is the idea that they should have seen the divorce coming, … Read More

Is Talking About Divorce A Taboo? Should It Be?

We are all so much better than we were a decade ago when it comes to talking about mental health. … Read More

What Are ‘Prenups’?

Prenups are legal documents entered into before marriage with the aim of regulating what happens to your finances if you … Read More

It’s Easy To Fall Out

Working together isn’t easy. When your relationship is ending, and you realise that your futures lie in different directions, instinctively … Read More

Further Research Shows Damaging Impact Of Court Proceedings On Children’s Mental Health

Again and again research is showing the damaging impact of Family Court proceedings on the children involved. It’s easy just … Read More

Family Court Proceedings Are Always Held In Private, Right?

People are often shocked to discover that privacy is not guaranteed to litigants in the Family Court. There is a … Read More

Divorce At Work

It’s often said that it takes at least a year to recover from a close bereavement, but recovery from a … Read More

Are Your Friends A Help Or A Hindrance?

In times of crisis, we turn to our friends. Divorce, whether you instigated it or not, is a massive life … Read More

What Is A Form E?

The reasonableness of any financial settlement is dependent on the quality of the disclosure which you’ve each given. Because if … Read More

Breaking The Stigma: The Art Of Untying The Knot

Separating, or contemplating divorce, can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. But know this: it … Read More

How Often Have You Heard The Term ‘Broken Family’?

If you break something it can be repaired, but it will never be ‘perfect’ again. Which is why the term … Read More

What Do Family Lawyers Think About Divorce?

Family lawyers are often unfairly described as being in it for themselves. But you may well be surprised to know … Read More

What Are My Options? Just A Solicitor Or Mediator, Right..?

This is your divorce. And there is no ‘one size fits all’. You know, better than anyone else, the things … Read More

Is A 60 Year Marriage The Gold Standard?

This is a huge issue for so many of the couples we see. The idea that the fact of their … Read More

Is There More Than One Kind Of Maintenance?

Maintenance can be one of the more difficult aspects of arranging your finances on separation. If you have children, most … Read More

How Many Parents End Up In Court Over The Arrangements For Their Children?

The 38% statistic came from a study by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory in 2019. And it caused a massive … Read More

Do You Think Family Judges Want You To Come To Court Or Stay Away?

Ask any family lawyer if they’d want to go to court to resolve the arrangements for their family and you’ll … Read More

Dealing With Divorce & Anxiety

Regardless of whether you are going through the most amicable divorce possible or not, you will likely experience a rollercoaster … Read More

5 Tips For A Healthy Separation

In any separation, frame of mind matters more than anything. It is the key to dealing with the many emotions … Read More

Do You See Divorce As A Shared Problem?

The real difficulty with divorce is that you start from a place of emotional distance. You may be reeling from … Read More

What Is A Clean Break?

When it comes to sorting out your finances, one question we often get asked is: will there be a ‘clean … Read More

Is Divorce Bad For Children?

So many of the divorcing couples we meet are riddled with guilt that their divorce is going to be bad … Read More

What’s The First Question To Ask Your Family Lawyer?

What you’ll find, when you develop a relationship with your solicitor or barrister, is that they will come to know … Read More

What Are The Positive Effects Of Divorce?

Getting divorced is a life-changing event, but it doesn’t need to be daunting. In fact, many married couples experience a … Read More

Moving On After Divorce

Divorce is a significant life change and knowing how to move on afterwards is essential to the entire process. But … Read More

What Is Our Divorce Story?

Most high profile and celebrity couples will issue a joint statement when they separate. They do it to set a … Read More

A New Start Often Means A New Home

Going through a separation or divorce presents a unique set of challenges. Not only are you dealing with the re-organisation … Read More

Samantha Woodham On ‘Divorce Day’

Today is known as ‘Divorce Day’ and so we asked our co-founder Samantha Woodham to speak about it (spoiler alert, she’s not … Read More

5 Tips On How To Heal After Divorce

Life after divorce is certainly different, and if the event is still fresh it might feel overwhelming at first. But … Read More

6 Tips For A Successful Co-Parenting Christmas

One of the most challenging events following a divorce is the first co-parenting Christmas. But while it will be a … Read More

How Employers Can Deal With The Impact Of Divorce In The Workplace

According to the Office for National Statistics, there were more than 100,000 divorces of opposite-sex couples in 2019. That equates … Read More

Dissolving A Civil Partnership

In the same way that a married couple can get a divorce, two people in a civil partnership can also … Read More

The Positive Effects Of Divorce On Children

Divorce can impact children in many different ways. But it’s important to understand that the impact isn’t always negative. In … Read More

The Positive Effects Of Divorce On Couples

While it’s often billed as a negative event, divorce can have many positive outcomes for couples. In this post, we … Read More

How To Support Your Child Through Your Divorce

Knowing how to talk to your child and how to understand their feelings are two of the most important things … Read More

How To Deal With A Stressful Divorce

Divorce can trigger a range of emotions, especially if the situation has taken you somewhat by surprise. But by keeping … Read More

6 Tips To Help Your Child When You Are Going Through A Divorce

Dealing with divorce is a difficult time for everyone, but when children are involved, there is the additional burden of … Read More

How To De-Escalate Conflict During Divorce?

While divorce is a difficult and emotional experience for all involved, it’s also, sadly, a rather common occurrence. Indeed, according … Read More

Practical Advice When Disagreeing About Divorce

Disagreeing about divorce is not unusual. While one spouse may have made up their mind and decided that permanent separation … Read More

Calling All Employers… Why It’s Time To Intrude On Private Grief

We have been pointing out in these pages for some time how divorce in the workplace remains a grossly underacknowledged … Read More

How Do You Tell Your Friends You Are Getting Divorced?

It sounds like such a simple question. But the way you tell your friends, family and colleagues that you are … Read More

Resolving Divorce Finances FAQs

Resolving Finances FAQs What is a financial settlement? What are you entitled to on divorce? How quickly can you reach … Read More

Finding Co-Parenting Hard?

If you’re finding co-parenting hard, that’s because it is hard. Parenting is hard. Human relationships always have ups and downs, … Read More

How To Divorce Better To Establish A Successful Co-parenting & Family Dynamic Going Forward

We have all heard the horror stories of a bad divorce – the battle, betrayal, pain, blame and shame; the … Read More

What Is No-Fault Divorce In The UK

The landmark Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 became law on 6 April 2022. The most significant change this brought … Read More

Untamed Divorce

Glennon Doyle’s bestselling book inspired us all to live Untamed. Barrister and Co-founder of The Divorce Surgery, Samantha Woodham, explains … Read More

How to Manage the Festive Season if you’re Facing Divorce

 Christmas, and many other festive periods, can be overwhelming at the best of times. There is so much expectation … Read More

How We Help Couples With No Fault Divorce

What is “no fault” divorce? The landmark Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 became law on 6 April 2022. The … Read More

Why Parents Working Together Just Became Non-Negotiable

Our inadequate system for helping families to separate with dignity and at proportionate cost has come into ever-clearer focus with … Read More

How To Get Through A Divorce Amicably: 4 Top Tips

Many couples (wrongly) believe that getting divorced has to be a long, emotional, costly affair. But the reality is that … Read More

Getting Divorced? Don’t Know Where To Start

Deciding to separate is for most people a momentous decision. But having taken the plunge, what are the practical steps … Read More

How Can We Do What Solicitors & Mediators Can’t? (& Why Do We Do It?)

Options are great. When it comes to restructuring your family unit after divorce or separation, and dividing up your finances, … Read More

Amicable Divorce UK Q&A

A short Q&A for those looking to divorce amicably in the UK What Does Amicable Divorce Mean? An amicable divorce … Read More

5 Tips On Divorce From A Psychological Perspective: Finding Light At The End Of The Tunnel

Philippa Richardson, ex-lawyer, divorcee and Founder of The Circle Line, explores the process of divorce from a psychological perspective. Never … Read More

What If Henry VIII Had Known About The Divorce Surgery?

In the first, and in all probability last, in our series about how the course of the world might have … Read More

Silver Splitters: 5 Tips To Consider If Divorcing Over 65

The majority of issues affecting divorcing couples have no relevance to their age whatsoever. Treating divorce as a shared problem, … Read More

How Does Furlough Or Redundancy Affect Maintenance?

Many readers will be surveying the gloomy economic outlook with trepidation over the summer. Job losses are forecast to rise sharply … Read More

Divorce Doesn’t Need To Be A Battle

Why you really do need to think about getting divorced in a non-adversarial way… Divorce has a terrible reputation. Say … Read More

What is Co-parenting and How Can We Do it Well?

At The Divorce Surgery you won’t be surprised to hear we see a lot of separating families. It is obvious … Read More

5 Tips For Dating Through Divorce

Dating and divorce aren’t words you often see in the same sentence. But the reality is that they often come … Read More

How to Help your Friends Divorce Well

You probably don’t realise it, but if you have a close friend going through a divorce then you are going … Read More

The Changing Face of Family Law and What It Means for You

‘Divorce is riven with high emotion and often irrational behaviour. It is by its nature combative, but lawyers are increasingly … Read More

5 Top Tips At The Beginning Of A Relationship Breakdown

At The Divorce Surgery we encourage all our couples to access help from the right experts at the right time. … Read More

All You Need to Know about the Financial Cost of Getting Divorced

Everyone knows that divorce is expensive, and particularly the financial aspects of divorce. The chances are that one of you … Read More

Should children be moving between their parents’ homes during the Coronavirus?

UPDATE: 02/11/20 – As England enters a second lockdown on Thursday we wanted to remind co-parents that the guidance in respect … Read More

How Employers Can Support Employees Going Through Divorce?

Divorce is a reality which affects many couples. 42% of marriages end in divorce. But some employers do not engage … Read More

How To Progress Your Divorce During Coronavirus

There seems to be an assumption that every aspect of human life is in the deep freeze until we emerge … Read More

Myth Busting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Whilst the President of the Family Division has made it clear that the Court’s key aim over coming weeks is … Read More

Divorce & Co-parenting In The Age Of Coronavirus

Thanks to coronavirus, parents are being asked to make significant changes to the way that their family functions. With children … Read More

Second Time Around Dating – How To Find Love Again After A Divorce

At The Divorce Surgery we encourage all our couples to access help from the right experts at the right time. … Read More

My Family Court Hearing Has Been Adjourned Due To The Coronavirus – What Can I Do?

The Coronavirus is impacting every aspect of our daily lives, in ways which would have been inconceivable just a few … Read More

BBC One’s The Split: A Fair Reflection of Divorce?

The Split, a BBC One drama which follows the personal and legal challenges faced by the Defoes (a family of … Read More

The Family Home: What Happens To It On Divorce?

When a couple divorce, a question of key concern is what will happen to our family home? This is because … Read More

Understanding The Divorce Process In The UK?

Here at The Divorce Surgery, we are regularly contacted by couples who know they want to get a divorce and … Read More

Child Maintenance Calculations And The CMS

When parents separate, one of the first issues they must address is how they will provide financially for their children … Read More

Spousal Maintenance: How Much & How Long Will It Last?

The question of how assets and finances will be divided upon divorce is one of the key issues in family

How Long Does A Divorce Take?

When a marriage breaks down, starting the divorce process can be daunting. It can seem like there is a lot … Read More

How Does A Judge Decide Who Gets What In A Divorce?

The question most frequently asked by divorcing couples is what would be a fair settlement of our financial situation on … Read More

What Is A Single Lawyer?

A Single Lawyer or a Single Lawyer Provider is the same as a One Couple One Lawyer service: it enables … Read More

What Is One Couple One Lawyer?

One Couple One Lawyer is a service which enables a separating couple to jointly instruct one impartial barrister who can … Read More

The Legal Steps Of Divorce / Dissolving A Civil Partnership

Step 1: The Divorce/ Dissolution Petition The following must apply to you: You must have been married or in a … Read More

Grounds For Divorce: A Handy Guide

Although campaigners have been working hard to reform the divorce law in England and Wales for some time now, no-fault … Read More

Filling In A Form E

The majority of our work at The Divorce Surgery involves assisting couples with negotiating a fair and amicable settlement of … Read More

Financial Disclosure & The Divorce Surgery

The majority of our work at The Divorce Surgery involves assisting couples with negotiating a fair and amicable settlement of … Read More

What Is A Clean Break?

We are often asked by our clients: what does a clean break in divorce mean? This blog will answer just … Read More

Will Marriage Story Spark A Debate About Family Justice?

Marriage Story, released recently on Netflix, is a compellingly accurate, often painful to watch, account of the fallout when a … Read More

What Does Conduct Mean In The Form E?

Many couples who complete their Forms E are frankly a little confused by the following text at part 4.4: “Bad … Read More

Do I Have To Go To Court To Get A Divorce?

In short, no. The court is an integral part of the process but you do not have to attend at … Read More

Can A Divorcing Couple Share One Lawyer?

Traditionally, when a marriage or civil partnership breaks down, each side instructs a lawyer to represent their interests when dividing … Read More

What Is The Divorce Surgery?

Founded by experienced and specialist family law barristers Samantha Woodham and Harry Gates, The Divorce Surgery has won awards for … Read More

What Are Child Arrangements?

When a relationship breaks down, are a number of difficult decisions have to be made. Where there are children involved, … Read More