Family Lawyers in Manchester

A family lawyer in Manchester spends most days on divorce, money after separation and arrangements for children. Cases from the city and much of Greater Manchester are heard at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre on Bridge Street West, the large glass building that houses the family court. Cohabiting couples who split, grandparents seeking contact and parents planning to move abroad with a child also make up a steady share of the work.

Divorce in England and Wales is now no fault and starts online, with a 20 week wait before the conditional order. The harder questions are usually about the house, pensions and who the children live with. Before most court applications about children or finances, you must attend a mediation information meeting, known as a MIAM, unless an exemption applies. Family solicitors in Manchester are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and the Law Society's Find a Solicitor tool lets you confirm that a name is on the roll. Membership of Resolution signals a commitment to a non-confrontational approach.

Fees are mostly hourly, although many firms offer a fixed fee for the divorce paperwork or a first meeting. Legal aid is limited to cases involving domestic abuse or child protection, subject to means. No win no fee deals are not allowed in family proceedings. Bring your marriage certificate, a rough list of assets and debts and any existing court orders to the first appointment, and ask the family lawyer in Manchester for an estimate by stage. Compare the firms below and contact them directly.