Divorce Lawyers
At Cullimore Dutton, our Divorce Solicitors help you bring structure to the uncertainty that follows a divorce. We will listen carefully, explain your options clearly, and help you understand what needs to happen next, so the process feels more manageable from the outset.
Divorce has a way of making even familiar parts of life feel uncertain. Decisions that may once have felt manageable can become harder when emotions are high and the future feels unsettled. We will help you approach those decisions carefully, with a steady view of both the immediate issues and the longer-term consequences, so you can move forward with greater confidence.
Our Family Law team is led by Brenda Spain, who is a member of The Law Society’s Family Law Accreditation Scheme, a recognised quality standard for family law practitioners. Your matter will be handled with care, discretion and professional judgement, with clear communication throughout so you are not left guessing.
Cullimore Dutton is one of the few firms able to provide legal and financial advice under one roof. In divorce matters, this joined-up approach can be especially helpful, because choices about settlement, property, pensions and long-term security often benefit from both a legal and financial perspective.
To access support with divorce, please call us on 01244 356789, or fill out the enquiry form on our home page, and a member of our team will contact you as soon as possible.
Our divorce service
Divorce
At Cullimore Dutton, we understand that divorce is a deeply personal and often challenging experience. Managing the legal and practical aspects can feel overwhelming during such an emotional time.
As of April 2022, couples can obtain a no-fault divorce, allowing them to state that their relationship has ‘irretrievably broken down’ without having to provide any other grounds for divorce or lay blame on their spouse.
With extensive experience in supporting individuals through divorce, we are here to guide you every step of the way. From preparing the initial application to securing a Conditional Order and Final Order, we’ll ensure the legal process to end your marriage is handled efficiently and with the utmost care.
By working with us, you can rest assured that every aspect of your divorce will be expertly managed. We’ll provide clear guidance and unwavering support, ensuring you fully understand each stage of the process.
Divorce financial settlements
Securing a fair financial settlement is a critical aspect of any divorce, and protecting your financial interests is important during this time.
Our experienced team often helps clients reach voluntary agreements outside of court using alternative dispute methods such as negotiation and mediation. We provide robust representation where court proceedings become necessary to ensure assets are divided fairly and appropriately.
When you choose us as your divorce lawyers, you’ll receive more personalisation, more sensitivity, and more expertise. Please get in touch to discuss financial arrangements today.
Child arrangements
For divorcing parents, concerns about the impact on their children can understandably be one of the most significant worries.
You must agree on arrangements for your child’s living situation, deciding who they will live with and how contact with the other parent will be managed. Whether children stay primarily with one parent or share their time between both, these decisions can be challenging.
Our solicitors for divorce are highly experienced in child arrangements, supporting parents through these discussions. We can help you reach an agreement with your ex-spouse through alternative dispute resolution methods, promoting cooperation and reducing conflict.
If an agreement cannot be reached outside of court, we can assist you in applying for a Child Arrangements Order to ensure your child’s best interests are protected.
High net worth divorce
For high net worth couples, we offer expert guidance in navigating the intricacies of complex financial arrangements.
Our team can assist in identifying and valuing various assets, including property portfolios, businesses, investments, and offshore accounts. Once all assets have been disclosed, we will work with you to negotiate a financial settlement that protects your interests and secures your future.
If you believe your ex-spouse may be hiding assets, we can provide strong legal representation to uncover and address these issues.
To find out more and access specialist divorce legal advice, please get in touch with our team at Cullimore Dutton.
Why choose Cullimore Dutton for your divorce solicitors in Chester?
Cullimore Dutton has a distinguished history dating back to 1792. Over the years, our dedication and expertise have established us as a trusted presence in the local community.
As one of the handful of firms offering both legal and financial services under one roof, we provide a seamless and cohesive approach. This integrated service enables us to deliver well-rounded guidance and support, ensuring well-informed decisions, particularly in complex divorce matters.
We know that divorce is often a challenging and emotional journey. That’s why we approach every case with sensitivity, professionalism, and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for you and your family.
By choosing our specialist divorce lawyers, you can expect more guidance, more care, and more professionalism.
Frequently asked questions about divorce
You can apply for divorce without a solicitor, but many people choose to take legal advice so they understand the process and avoid problems later.
A solicitor can explain what the divorce does and does not deal with, prepare or review documents, help with timings, and advise on any linked legal issues that may need to be considered alongside the divorce itself.
It is particularly sensible to take advice if there is property, a pension, a business, inherited wealth, significant savings, debt, or any disagreement about what should happen next.
How much solicitors charge for divorce legal support depends on the type of support that you need and the complexity of your divorce case.
At Cullimore Dutton, we will ensure that an accurate quote is provided at the beginning so that you are well informed about the type of support you receive.
Usually, each person going through the divorce will be responsible for covering their own legal fees, including the cost of receiving legal advice, and the Court fees.
If you are concerned about fees, and have questions, our divorce law experts can help you.
When you get divorced, you must reach a financial settlement with your ex-spouse, dividing all of your marital assets fairly between you. You may be legally required to share assets with your divorcing spouse, even where you are the sole owner of said asset, for example, in the case of a business.
It is difficult to determine which assets you might be required to share with your ex-spouse and, therefore, ‘lose’ a portion of. Each financial settlement is different and dependent on the circumstances.
A fair financial settlement is based on various factors, including each party’s income and financial resources, the duration of the marriage, the health of both parties, any children involved, and several other factors.
Working with an expert divorce solicitor is well-advised if you wish to protect your assets during the divorce financial settlement process.
No-fault divorce means you do not need to blame your spouse or prove wrongdoing to end the marriage. The application is based on a statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down.
This can make the legal process less confrontational, but it does not mean every part of the separation is automatically resolved. The divorce legally ends the marriage, while financial arrangements usually need to be dealt with separately.
Taking advice early can help you understand which issues are part of the divorce process and which need separate steps.
The divorce process usually starts with an application to the court. This can be made by one spouse alone or jointly by both spouses. Once the application has been issued, there is a waiting period before you can apply for the Conditional Order, which confirms that the court sees no reason why the divorce cannot proceed.
After a further waiting period, you can apply for the Final Order. The Final Order legally ends the marriage. We can guide you through each stage, help prepare the relevant documents, and advise on timing, particularly where financial arrangements have not yet been finalised.
A Conditional Order is the court’s confirmation that you are entitled to proceed with the divorce, but it does not end the marriage. The Final Order is the document that legally brings the marriage to an end.
The period between the two stages can be important. It may provide time to deal with financial arrangements before the marriage is formally ended. Depending on your circumstances, applying for the Final Order too soon can have practical consequences, so it is sensible to take advice before doing so.
In England and Wales, the divorce process usually takes at least 6 months from the date the application is issued by the court. This is because there is a 20-week waiting period before you can apply for the Conditional Order, followed by a further wait of 6 weeks and 1 day before you can apply for the Final Order. The Final Order is what legally ends the marriage.
In practice, many divorces take longer than the minimum period, particularly if there are delays with paperwork, difficulties with service, or financial arrangements still need to be resolved.
Once we understand your circumstances, we can explain the likely timeline and help you avoid unnecessary delay where possible.
In most cases, it is now much harder for one spouse to stop a divorce from going ahead. The no-fault system is designed to reduce disputes about whether the marriage has broken down.
There are limited circumstances where a divorce application may be challenged, for example if there is a question about the validity of the marriage, whether the court has jurisdiction, or whether the marriage has already legally ended.
These situations are uncommon, but if your spouse says they intend to dispute the divorce, we can advise you on the likely position and the options available.
If your spouse does not respond to the divorce application, there may still be ways to move the process forward. The right approach will depend on the circumstances, including whether they have received the papers and whether there is evidence of service.
In some cases, further steps may be needed to prove that the application has been brought to their attention, or to ask the court for permission to progress the matter in another way. We can advise on the available options and help you avoid unnecessary delay.
Key Contact
Get in touch with our expert divorce solicitors in Chester
For many people, one of the hardest aspects of divorce is not knowing what happens next. You may be concerned about how the process works, what it means for finances, whether arrangements for children also need to be addressed, or how to move matters forward without unnecessary confrontation. Good legal advice should not add to that uncertainty. It should help you understand the process, identify the key issues, and approach the next step with greater clarity and confidence.
Cullimore Dutton offers divorce solicitors in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Prestbury, Bowdon & Hale, with additional support available through our offices in Chester & Knutsford. As an established law firm in Cheshire, we aim to make the divorce process easier to understand, with advice that is clear, practical and grounded in the realities of what clients are facing.
To access support with divorce today please get in touch with our divorce solicitors at Cullimore Dutton.
You can give us a call on 01244 356789, or fill out the enquiry form on our home page, and a member of our team will contact you as soon as possible.