Family Law solicitors in Dorset

An uncontested divorce in England and Wales typically takes between six and twelve months from application to final order. The timetable is driven less by the divorce itself than by sorting out financial arrangements, which can run longer if pensions, property or business assets are disputed.

Usually not. Most parents reach an agreement through negotiation or mediation, and a solicitor can formalise it in a consent order. Court applications are the fallback where agreement is impossible or where a child's safety is at risk. Courts increasingly expect parents to have attempted mediation first.

There is no fixed formula. The court weighs needs, the welfare of any children, the length of the marriage, contributions and available resources, aiming for a fair outcome rather than an automatic 50/50 split. A solicitor will map your assets, pensions and income and negotiate from that evidence.

Legal aid still exists for family cases involving domestic abuse or the protection of children, subject to evidence and means tests. It is not generally available for ordinary divorce or private children disputes, so most people fund those privately or use mediation to keep costs down.