Divorce Solicitors in Norwich & Norfolk
Divorce can be highly stressful, but our experienced family law team in Norwich, Aylsham and North Walsham is here to guide you through the process, so you can move on with your life. Call us on 01603 615 731 or get in touch online.
Norwich & Norfolk's trusted divorce solicitors.
Since no-fault divorce was introduced, the legal process is more straightforward than it used to be. Even so, it can be fraught and stressful, with emotions running high. If you're going through a divorce, you don't have to do it alone. Our family law solicitors will guide you through it carefully and sensitively. Clients all over Norwich and Norfolk have trusted us to support them through this difficult time. Whatever your family is going through, we can help.
How our divorce solicitors can help
Hansells is a Norfolk law firm with years of experience helping clients through their divorces. Whether you want to start a divorce or you've received divorce papers, we can help you: apply for a divorce, on your own or jointly with your spouse; respond if your spouse has applied; resolve disagreements over money, property and pensions; and agree arrangements for your children. We'll take the time to understand your situation and handle all the details, so you can focus on helping your family move on.
Working things out together: our One Goal service
If you and your spouse want to separate amicably, One Goal, our Resolution Together service, means one lawyer can advise you both together. Emma meets each of you separately first to check it's right for you. She then gives you both the same legal advice on your finances and arrangements for your children, and records what you agree in a legal agreement, without going to court. One Goal isn't suitable where there are concerns about controlling or abusive behaviour. If it stops working for either of you, we'll tell you straight away and suggest you each take separate advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can apply to the Family Court for a divorce if you’ve been married or in a civil partnership for a year or more. Since 6 April 2022, a ‘no-fault’ divorce system has replaced the old procedure. You no longer need to give a reason for the breakdown of the marriage, or blame either party. Instead, you simply give the court a statement confirming that your marriage or civil partnership has broken down irretrievably.
The main steps are:
1. You, or you and your spouse together, apply to the court.
2. If you apply on your own, your spouse has 14 days from receiving the application to respond.
3. After at least 20 weeks, you can apply for a conditional order.
4. At least 6 weeks and 1 day after the conditional order, you can apply for the final order, which legally ends the marriage.
The whole process takes around 6–8 months. It’s usually sensible to hold off finalising the divorce until your finances have been dealt with. If they’re complex and you’re struggling to reach an agreement, delaying is often the best option. However, you may still be able to make a financial claim on your former partner even once you have divorced.
Every family’s circumstances are different, so we don’t typically offer fixed-fee packages for divorce. Once we understand your situation and the best course of action, we’ll give you a clear estimate of the likely costs.
You’ll also need to pay a court fee (currently £628) when the divorce application is sent. For more about our charges, see our Transparency in Pricing page.
Usually not. Attending court for a divorce is rare. Generally, the applicant and the respondent agree that the divorce should go ahead, so nobody needs to attend court. If, however, the other person is defending the divorce, or there’s a disagreement over the cost of the divorce, it may become necessary. To find out more about the process and discuss your situation, get in touch with our friendly team.
You can apply for a divorce online yourself. A solicitor can make sure the application is right first time and, just as importantly, help you sort out money, property and arrangements for children, which the divorce itself doesn’t settle.
Experienced family law solicitors for your divorce
Our divorce solicitors include Emma Gallant, who has over 15 years’ experience in family law and is accredited to advise couples together through Resolution Together (our One Goal service), and Neil Stubbs, a consultant solicitor at our North Walsham office and a long-standing member of the Law Society Family Law Panel. Supported by our family department assistant, Louise Farrow, the team has helped clients in a wide range of circumstances unpick their joint affairs. Whether it’s a simple, uncontested divorce or a more complicated situation, we have the experience to deal with it and help your family reach a resolution.
Speak to a divorce solicitor in Norfolk
To find out more or to get started, contact our friendly team: Norwich 01603 615 731, Aylsham 01263 734 313, North Walsham 01692 404 351, or send us an enquiry online.
