Family Law
Key Legal Services Offered – Family Law
Forest & Co provides expert legal advice and representation in Family Law, ensuring compassionate, confidential, and strategic support for individuals navigating complex family matters. Our solicitors focus on securing the best possible outcomes for clients while minimising stress and conflict.
Ending a marriage or long-term relationship is one of life’s most difficult transitions. At Forest & Co, we provide compassionate and strategic legal support to guide you through divorce or separation with clarity and confidence.
We assist clients with:
- Divorce applications under the no-fault divorce system
- Judicial separation (for those not ready or eligible for divorce)
- Legal separation for unmarried partners
- Negotiating child arrangements and financial matters during separation
Our approach is tailored to your situation — whether you are seeking a straightforward dissolution or dealing with a more complex case involving children, business assets, or international issues. We aim to resolve matters constructively but will act firmly and decisively when court proceedings are necessary.
We also advise clients experiencing:
- Emotional or financial pressure during separation
- Non-cooperative or abusive former partners
- The need for urgent interim orders or injunctions
With a focus on minimising stress and conflict, we help you take the next step forward while protecting your rights, your children, and your financial future.
When a relationship ends, dividing finances can be one of the most complex and contentious aspects of the process. At Forest & Co, we offer clear, strategic advice to help you reach a fair and secure financial settlement — whether through negotiation, mediation, or the court process.
We assist with:
- Division of property, savings, and pensions
- Business assets and self-employment income
- Spousal maintenance and lump sum payments
- Financial orders in divorce or civil partnership dissolution
- Enforcement of existing financial agreements or court orders
We tailor our advice to your specific circumstances, including cases involving high-value assets, inherited wealth, or financial misconduct (such as hidden assets or non-disclosure). We work closely with forensic accountants, valuers, and pension experts when necessary to ensure full transparency and fairness.
Whether you are the financially stronger party or in a more vulnerable position, our priority is to protect your long-term financial wellbeing and secure the outcome you are entitled to.
Forest & Co is committed to achieving practical, cost-effective results while maintaining sensitivity during what can be a highly emotional process.
When parents separate, ensuring the wellbeing of the children is the most important priority. At Forest & Co, we help clients resolve disputes about where children will live, how much time they will spend with each parent, and how decisions about their upbringing are made.
We provide advice and representation in matters involving:
- Child Arrangements Orders (formerly residence and contact orders)
- Shared care and relocation disputes
- Parental responsibility and decision-making rights
- Disputes over education, medical treatment, or religion
- Grandparents’ contact rights
We always encourage cooperative solutions that focus on the child’s best interests. However, where agreement is not possible, we are experienced in taking swift and decisive action through the courts to protect both your relationship with your child and their welfare.
We also support parents dealing with:
- Allegations of parental alienation or coercive control
- Complex safeguarding concerns
- Urgent applications for prohibited steps or specific issue orders
Whether your case is straightforward or highly contested, our team provides balanced, child-focused legal guidance every step of the way.
While no couple enters into marriage expecting separation, planning ahead can provide clarity, reduce conflict, and protect assets in the future. At Forest & Co, we help individuals and couples prepare Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements that are fair, transparent, and legally robust.
We assist with:
- Drafting prenuptial agreements before marriage or civil partnership
- Postnuptial agreements for couples already married
- Advice on protecting inherited wealth, business interests, or overseas assets
- Negotiating terms in a constructive, non-adversarial manner
- Reviewing or updating existing agreements
These agreements are particularly valuable in situations where:
- One party has significantly more wealth or assets
- There are children from previous relationships
- Family property or business interests need to be preserved
- There is a desire to avoid uncertainty and costly litigation in the event of divorce
While not automatically binding, properly prepared nuptial agreements carry significant weight in English courts, especially when both parties have had independent legal advice and full financial disclosure has taken place.
Whether you are planning a marriage or reviewing your financial arrangements, Forest & Co offers discreet and practical guidance to help you protect what matters most.
Not every family dispute needs to end up in court. At Forest & Co, we actively promote mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as effective, respectful ways of resolving issues related to divorce, finances, and children — while saving time, money, and emotional strain.
We assist clients by:
- Providing legal advice alongside family mediation
- Referring clients to trusted, accredited family mediators
- Preparing for mediation sessions and reviewing proposals
- Drafting legally binding agreements following successful mediation
- Representing clients in solicitor-led negotiations (roundtable meetings, collaborative law)
Mediation is especially useful in resolving:
- Child arrangements and parenting plans
- Division of assets and financial settlements
- Communication difficulties between separating partners
- Disputes involving extended family or co-parenting across households
In most family law cases, attempting mediation is now a legal requirement before applying to court (unless exemptions apply). Even where court proceedings have begun, mediation or negotiation can still help narrow the issues and promote more amicable outcomes.
We ensure that throughout the ADR process, your legal position is protected and that any agreement reached reflects your rights and best interests. Should mediation fail or become unsuitable, we are ready to take firm legal action when required.
Child abduction is one of the most urgent and emotionally distressing areas of family law. If a child has been wrongfully removed from the UK, or kept abroad without consent, immediate legal action is often required. At Forest & Co, we provide specialist advice and representation in both international and domestic child abduction cases.
We assist with:
- Applications under the Hague Convention for the return of abducted children
- Emergency Prohibited Steps Orders to prevent removal from the UK
- Cases involving non-Hague countries and complex jurisdictional issues
- Situations where one parent refuses to return a child after a holiday or visit abroad
- Allegations of wrongful retention by a parent or family member
These cases are time-sensitive, and the court expects swift action. Our team is experienced in bringing urgent High Court applications, gathering supporting evidence, and working with foreign authorities when necessary.
We also support parents who are:
- Falsely accused of child abduction
- Seeking contact with a child living abroad
- Trying to relocate legally with a child to another country
We understand that these cases are deeply personal, often involving fears for a child’s safety and international legal complexity. Forest & Co is committed to acting quickly, clearly, and effectively to protect your rights and your child’s welfare.
If you or your children are experiencing domestic abuse — whether physical, emotional, financial, or coercive control — it is crucial to seek legal protection. At Forest & Co, we provide fast, compassionate, and confidential legal support to help you secure safety and peace of mind.
We assist with:
- Non-Molestation Orders – to protect you from harassment, threats, or violence
- Occupation Orders – to exclude an abusive partner from the family home
- Emergency applications and court representation
- Ongoing support in linked family law matters (e.g. divorce or child contact)
We understand the urgency of these situations and act quickly to obtain protection from the court, often on the same day where necessary. We will also guide you through what to expect at each stage and help you gather the evidence needed to support your application.
Our team is also experienced in defending against unfair or false allegations of abuse, ensuring that your rights and reputation are safeguarded.
Every situation is unique, and we provide a sensitive, non-judgmental approach to help you move forward safely and with confidence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Under the no-fault divorce system in England and Wales, the process usually takes a minimum of six months, provided both parties cooperate. However, financial matters or disputes involving children may extend the overall timeline.
Not necessarily. Many cases are resolved through negotiation, mediation, or solicitor-led discussions. Court is usually a last resort, though sometimes necessary if there is conflict or urgency.
There is no fixed formula. The court considers a range of factors, including income, assets, needs, contributions, and the welfare of any children. We can advise you on likely outcomes based on your circumstances and help negotiate a fair agreement.
f you are concerned about child abduction or unauthorised travel, you can apply for a Prohibited Steps Order. If your child has already been taken, urgent legal action — including High Court proceedings — may be required. We can assist with both.
A Child Arrangements Order sets out where a child will live and how much time they will spend with each parent. It can also include holiday contact, handover arrangements, and other practical matters.
While not strictly binding under UK law, prenuptial agreements carry significant weight if properly prepared — including legal advice and full financial disclosure. Courts are likely to uphold them if they are fair and reasonable.
You may be eligible for a Non-Molestation Order (to stop harassment or threats) or an Occupation Order (to exclude the abuser from your home). We can advise and apply for protection urgently, often without the other person being notified initially.
Mediation is a process where a neutral third party helps separating couples reach agreement. It is voluntary but usually required before starting court proceedings unless an exemption applies (e.g. domestic abuse). We can help prepare you and offer legal support alongside the mediation process.
