Divorce Solicitors Exeter

Going through a divorce or separation can raise important questions about your home, finances, children and future. At Divorce Solicitors, we provide clear and practical family law advice to individuals and families across Exeter who need support when a marriage comes to an end.

Whether you are considering divorce, have already separated from your spouse or have received a divorce application, our divorce solicitors in Exeter can help you understand the legal process and the wider financial and family matters that may need to be resolved.

We can advise on divorce applications, financial settlements, property, pensions, business interests, child arrangements, separation and other family law matters.

Our aim is to help you understand your legal position, protect your interests and make informed decisions about your next steps.

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Experienced Divorce Solicitors in Exeter

Every divorce is different. Some separating couples can agree many practical arrangements themselves, while others need legal advice and negotiation to resolve disagreements involving property, finances, pensions, businesses or children.

Our Exeter divorce solicitors can advise on the divorce process together with the financial and family law issues that commonly arise following separation.

We can help with:

  • Divorce applications
  • No-fault divorce
  • Sole and joint divorce applications
  • Divorce financial settlements
  • Consent orders
  • The family home
  • Additional properties
  • Savings and investments
  • Pensions
  • Businesses and company interests
  • Spousal maintenance
  • Child arrangements
  • Separation agreements
  • Judicial separation
  • Civil partnership dissolution
  • High-value divorce
  • Complex financial matters
  • Rural, agricultural and inherited assets where relevant

The legal divorce ends your marriage, but it does not automatically resolve how your finances should be divided or determine arrangements concerning your children.

Obtaining advice early can help identify the matters requiring attention and reduce the risk of overlooking important financial, property or pension issues.

If you are searching for family divorce solicitors in Exeter, contact Divorce Solicitors for a confidential discussion about your circumstances.

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How Our Exeter Divorce Solicitors Can Help

Divorce can involve much more than completing an application to legally end a marriage.

Depending on your circumstances, decisions may also need to be made about your family home, mortgages, savings, investments, pensions, businesses and arrangements for your children.

Our solicitors for divorce in Exeter can advise on these connected issues and help you understand the available options.

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Divorce Applications

Exeter follows the divorce law and procedure applying throughout England and Wales.

Under the current framework, divorce proceedings can be started by one spouse as a sole applicant or by both spouses through a joint application.

We can assist with:

  • Starting divorce proceedings
  • Sole divorce applications
  • Joint divorce applications
  • Responding to proceedings
  • Difficulties serving divorce documents
  • Conditional orders
  • Final orders
  • Understanding the divorce timetable

The divorce application itself should also be considered alongside any unresolved financial or family matters.

Divorce Financial Settlements

Getting divorced does not automatically determine what happens to your property, pensions, savings, investments or business interests.

The legal divorce and financial settlement are separate matters.

Our financial settlement advice can cover:

  • The family home
  • Additional property
  • Mortgages
  • Savings
  • Investments
  • Pensions
  • Businesses
  • Company shares
  • Partnership interests
  • Debts and liabilities
  • Spousal maintenance
  • Inherited assets
  • Other significant financial resources

Where you and your former spouse agree how finances should be divided, a consent order can be submitted to the court to make the agreed arrangements legally binding. Consent orders can cover property, pensions, savings, investments and maintenance.

Where agreement cannot be reached, the court can be asked to make a financial order determining how relevant assets should be dealt with.

Child Arrangements After Divorce

For parents, deciding how children will be cared for after separation can be one of the most important issues to resolve.

Our family law solicitors can advise on:

  • Where children will live
  • Time spent with each parent
  • Weekday arrangements
  • Weekends
  • School holidays
  • Birthdays and special occasions
  • Parental responsibility
  • Education
  • Medical treatment
  • Relocation
  • International travel
  • Child arrangements orders

Many parents can reach practical arrangements without contested court proceedings.

Where agreement is difficult, options may include solicitor negotiation, family mediation and, where necessary, Family Court proceedings.

Fixed Fee Divorce

Understanding legal costs before beginning proceedings can help you plan your next steps.

Where appropriate, our fixed fee divorce solicitors in Exeter can provide an agreed price for specified divorce work.

The cost of handling the divorce application itself should be distinguished from separate legal work relating to:

  • Financial settlements
  • Consent orders
  • Property disputes
  • Pension arrangements
  • Businesses
  • Child arrangements
  • Court proceedings
  • Complex negotiations

Where a fixed-fee service is available, we will explain what work is included before you proceed.

Divorce and Separation

You may need legal advice even if you have separated but are not yet ready to begin formal divorce proceedings.

Our divorce and separation solicitors in Exeter can advise on:

  • Divorce
  • Separation
  • Separation agreements
  • Financial arrangements
  • Property
  • Children
  • Judicial separation
  • Civil partnership dissolution

Receiving advice early can help you understand your position before making significant financial or family decisions.

High Net Worth and Complex Divorce

Some divorces involve substantial or complicated financial circumstances.

We can advise where relevant on matters involving:

  • High-value property
  • Multiple properties
  • Business ownership
  • Company shares
  • Investment portfolios
  • Significant pensions
  • Trust interests
  • Inherited wealth
  • Rural property
  • Agricultural assets
  • Overseas property
  • International investments
  • Complex income arrangements

Where assets are substantial or difficult to value, evidence from accountants, property valuers, pension specialists or other experts may sometimes be required.

How Does Divorce Work in Exeter?

There is no separate divorce procedure for Exeter. The same legal framework applies throughout England and Wales.

Step 1: Speak to a Divorce Solicitor

Before beginning proceedings, it can be useful to consider the wider consequences of separation.

These may include:

  • Your family home
  • Other properties
  • Savings
  • Investments
  • Pensions
  • Businesses
  • Debts
  • Maintenance
  • Children

Our Exeter divorce solicitors can help identify which issues may need attention alongside the divorce itself.

Step 2: Submit the Divorce Application

A divorce application can be made by one spouse alone or jointly by both spouses.

Once the application has been issued by the court, the formal statutory timetable begins.

Step 3: Apply for the Conditional Order

For applications issued on or after 6 April 2022, you normally need to wait 20 weeks after the divorce application has been issued by the court before applying for the conditional order.

The conditional order confirms that the court sees no legal reason why the divorce cannot proceed.

You remain legally married at this stage.

Step 4: Resolve Financial Matters

Before completing your divorce, it is important to consider whether financial issues remain outstanding.

These may include:

  • Property
  • Savings
  • Investments
  • Pensions
  • Businesses
  • Debts
  • Maintenance

If you have reached an agreement, it may be appropriate to formalise the terms through a consent order.

The court cannot approve a consent order before the conditional order. GOV.UK also explains that obtaining approval before the final order is generally simpler because applying afterwards may have financial consequences, particularly in relation to pensions.

Step 5: Apply for the Final Order

The final order legally ends your marriage.

You can normally apply from 6 weeks and 1 day after the conditional order has been granted. Current HMCTS guidance also advises considering whether financial remedy proceedings are needed before applying for the final order.

For Divorce advice, call us at

0333 050 5381

Helping people across the UK
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Divorce Financial Settlement Solicitors in Exeter

For many separating couples, resolving finances is one of the most significant parts of divorce.

Our divorce financial settlement solicitors in Exeter can help identify relevant assets and liabilities and advise you on working towards an appropriate settlement.

If agreement cannot be reached, the court can make a financial order covering matters such as property, pensions, savings, investments and maintenance.

For many couples, the family home is their largest financial asset.

Common questions include:

  • Will our home need to be sold?
  • Can one spouse remain in the property?
  • Can ownership be transferred?
  • Who will continue paying the mortgage?
  • What happens if the property is registered in one spouse’s name?
  • How will children’s housing needs be considered?

There is no automatic solution that applies to every divorce.

Possible arrangements may include selling the property, transferring ownership, refinancing or considering its value alongside pensions, savings and other assets.

Our Exeter divorce solicitors can advise on the family home within your wider financial settlement.

Savings and investments can form an important part of the overall financial position.

Relevant assets may include:

  • Bank savings
  • ISAs
  • Shares
  • Bonds
  • Investment funds
  • Managed portfolios
  • Employee share arrangements
  • Other financial investments

Full financial disclosure can help establish what assets exist and their value.

Pensions can represent a substantial proportion of family wealth, particularly following a longer marriage.

They should not be ignored simply because pension benefits may not be immediately accessible.

Relevant arrangements may include:

  • Workplace pensions
  • Personal pensions
  • Defined benefit schemes
  • Defined contribution schemes
  • Executive pension arrangements
  • Other retirement benefits

More complicated pension arrangements may require specialist pension or actuarial advice.

Divorce can become more complicated where one or both spouses own or have an interest in a business.

Relevant matters can include:

  • Limited companies
  • Partnerships
  • Family businesses
  • Company shares
  • Commercial premises
  • Director remuneration
  • Dividends
  • Retained profits
  • Business valuations

Where a business interest is significant or its value is disputed, independent valuation evidence may sometimes be required.

Our solicitors can advise on how business interests fit within the wider financial settlement.

Some cases involve questions about whether one former spouse should provide ongoing financial support to the other.

Whether spousal maintenance is appropriate depends on the individual circumstances, including:

  • Income
  • Financial needs
  • Earning capacity
  • Housing requirements
  • Other available resources
  • The wider financial settlement

Our solicitors can explain how maintenance may fit into your overall financial arrangements.

An informal financial agreement does not provide the same certainty as a legally binding court order.

Where you and your former spouse have reached agreement, a consent order can formally record the terms concerning:

  • Property
  • Pensions
  • Savings
  • Investments
  • Maintenance
  • Other agreed financial arrangements

A judge considers the proposed order before approval, and a court-approved consent order provides a legally binding framework for the settlement.

Speak to our experienced divorce solicitors today for confidential legal advice and trusted support throughout your divorce process.

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Children and Divorce in Exeter

Divorce and separation can create significant changes for children as well as parents.

Our family law divorce solicitors can help parents understand their options and work towards practical arrangements that reflect their children’s circumstances.

Where Will the Children Live?

Parents may need to decide where children will primarily live following separation.

There is no standard arrangement suitable for every family.

The welfare and individual circumstances of the children should remain central to discussions.

Time With Each Parent

Parents may need to agree arrangements covering:

  • Weekdays
  • Weekends
  • School holidays
  • Birthdays
  • Christmas and other holidays
  • Telephone and video communication
  • Collection and drop-off arrangements

Where parents can agree arrangements themselves, contested court proceedings may not be required.

Child Arrangements Orders

Where parents cannot reach agreement, an application to the Family Court may sometimes become necessary.

A child arrangements order can address where a child lives and how they spend time with each parent.

Our solicitors can explain the process and help you understand your options.

Parental Responsibility

Disagreements may also arise concerning significant decisions about a child’s upbringing.

These can include:

  • Education
  • Medical treatment
  • Relocation
  • International travel
  • Change of name
  • Other important decisions

Legal advice can help identify the appropriate route depending on the nature of the disagreement.

Speak to our experienced divorce solicitors today for trusted legal advice and confidential family law support.

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Divorce and the Family Home in Exeter

Deciding what happens to the family home can be one of the most difficult financial aspects of divorce.

You may be concerned about whether you can remain in the property, whether the home needs to be sold, how the mortgage will be managed or how alternative accommodation will be funded.

Possible arrangements can include:

  • Selling the family home
  • Transferring ownership
  • One spouse remaining in the property
  • Refinancing
  • Offsetting property value against other assets
  • Arrangements taking account of children’s housing requirements

Property should be considered as part of the complete financial picture rather than in isolation.

Our Exeter divorce solicitors can advise on property within your wider financial settlement.

Fixed Fee Divorce Solicitors in Exeter

Knowing the likely legal costs can make it easier to plan your divorce.

Where appropriate, our fixed fee divorce solicitors in Exeter can provide a clear price for specified divorce work.

A fixed fee relating to the basic divorce application may not include separate legal work concerning:

  • Financial settlements
  • Consent orders
  • Property
  • Pensions
  • Businesses
  • Child arrangements
  • Court proceedings
  • Complex financial negotiations

We will explain what is included within any fixed-fee service before you decide whether to proceed.

Get expert guidance from UK divorce solicitors and start your divorce process with confidence today.

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Why Choose Divorce Solicitors in Exeter?

Choosing the right solicitor can help you understand your legal position and approach important decisions with greater clarity.

Divorce and Family Law Advice

Our team can advise on divorce together with the financial and family law issues arising from separation.

Financial Settlement Support

We can provide advice concerning property, savings, investments, pensions, businesses and other financial assets.

Advice About Children

Where children are involved, we can help parents understand their options and work towards practical arrangements.

Clear and Practical Advice

We aim to explain your legal position in straightforward language so that you understand the choices available.

Transparent Costs

The scope of the legal work and applicable fees will be explained before you decide whether to proceed.

Straightforward and Complex Matters

Different divorces require different levels of legal assistance.

We can help identify the issues relevant to your circumstances and the support that may be required.

Confidential Legal Advice

Your personal, family and financial circumstances will be handled professionally and confidentially.

How Much Does a Divorce Solicitor Cost in Exeter?

The cost of instructing a divorce solicitor in Exeter depends on the nature and complexity of the legal work required.

A straightforward divorce application may involve considerably less legal work than a case requiring extensive financial negotiations or contested proceedings.

Potential costs can include:

  • Solicitor’s legal fees
  • Court fees
  • Financial settlement work
  • Consent order preparation
  • Property advice
  • Pension advice
  • Business valuations
  • Property or land valuations
  • Expert evidence
  • Barrister’s fees where required
  • Court representation

It is important to distinguish the cost of legally ending the marriage from the separate work needed to resolve financial or child-related matters.

Where fixed-fee services are available, we will explain what the agreed fee covers before work begins.

Choosing the Best Divorce Solicitor in Exeter

If you are searching for the best divorce solicitors in Exeter, compare solicitors according to the experience relevant to your circumstances rather than relying only on promotional claims.

Useful factors to consider include:

  • Divorce and family law experience
  • Financial settlement expertise
  • Property knowledge
  • Pension experience
  • Business and company experience
  • Experience involving rural or inherited assets where relevant
  • Children law knowledge
  • Professional credentials
  • Clear communication
  • Transparent costs
  • Genuine client feedback
  • Experience relevant to complex cases

Someone requiring help with a straightforward divorce application may need very different support from someone whose separation involves businesses, several properties, land, investments or substantial pension assets.

The solicitor you choose should understand the issues involved and explain your options clearly.

Areas Our Exeter Divorce Solicitors Serve

Divorce Solicitors provides family law advice to clients throughout Exeter and surrounding areas, including:

  • Exeter City Centre
  • St Leonard’s
  • Heavitree
  • Pennsylvania
  • St Thomas
  • Alphington
  • Exwick
  • Pinhoe
  • Countess Wear
  • Newtown
  • Topsham
  • Clyst St Mary

Potential geographic internal links include:

  • Divorce Solicitors Exmouth
  • Divorce Solicitors Crediton
  • Divorce Solicitors Tiverton
  • Divorce Solicitors Honiton
  • Divorce Solicitors Sidmouth
  • Divorce Solicitors Newton Abbot
  • Divorce Solicitors Torquay

View All Divorce Solicitor Locations

Speak to a Divorce Solicitor in Exeter Today

If you are considering divorce, have already separated or need advice concerning finances, property or children, obtaining legal advice can help you understand your options before making important decisions.

Our divorce solicitors in Exeter can advise on:

  • Divorce applications
  • No-fault divorce
  • Separation
  • Financial settlements
  • Property
  • Pensions
  • Businesses
  • Consent orders
  • Child arrangements
  • Complex financial matters

Contact Divorce Solicitors today for a confidential discussion about your circumstances.

Call: 0333 050 5381 | Speak to a Divorce Solicitor | Request a Callback

Frequently asked questions

Look for a solicitor whose experience matches the issues involved in your case.

Consider their experience with divorce, financial settlements, property, pensions, businesses and children, together with professional credentials, communication and transparency about costs.

Where substantial property, businesses, rural assets or complicated pensions are involved, relevant financial divorce experience may be particularly important.

The cost depends on the amount and complexity of legal work required.

A straightforward divorce may involve less legal work than a case involving financial settlements, several properties, pensions, businesses, children or contested proceedings.

Contact Divorce Solicitors on 0333 050 5381 to discuss your circumstances.

Where fixed-fee services are available, we will explain exactly what work is included before you proceed.

Financial settlement work, consent orders, child-related matters and contested proceedings may involve separate legal fees.

Exeter follows the same statutory divorce timetable as the rest of England and Wales.

You normally need to wait 20 weeks after the court issues the divorce application before applying for the conditional order. After the conditional order has been granted, you must normally wait at least 6 weeks and 1 day before applying for the final order.

Administrative or procedural issues can make an individual case take longer.

You are not generally required to instruct a solicitor simply to submit a divorce application.

Legal advice may nevertheless be particularly useful where your separation involves:

  • Property
  • Pensions
  • Businesses
  • Savings
  • Investments
  • Debts
  • Maintenance
  • Children
  • Rural or agricultural assets
  • Overseas assets
  • Disagreements concerning finances
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