Family Law Solicitors

Our experienced family law solicitors have an outstanding reputation in the local community, having provided an excellent legal service across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas for many years.

When you work with us, you’ll find our legal team to be client-focused, friendly and sensitive. We will make sure that we handle your legal needs as proactively and efficiently as possible, reducing the stress of your situation where we can.

We know that hiring a solicitor can feel daunting, particularly for delicate family matters. Be assured that our team will handle your case respectfully, ensuring you are well-supported at every stage.

At Fraser Dawbarns, our specialist family solicitors can support you with all manner of family law matters, including:

• Divorce
• Civil partnership dissolution
• Separation
• Children law
• Financial settlements
• Cohabitation agreements
• Prenuptial agreements
• Postnuptial agreements

Get in touch with our family law solicitors in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire today

To discuss your needs with our family law solicitors today, please get in touch. You can contact your local office in Kings Lynn, Ely, Wisbech, March or Downham Market.

Alternatively, you can complete the enquiry form at the bottom of the contact page, and a lawyer will be in touch.

“Fraser Dawbarns has a prominent family law practice that serves West Norfolk and East Cambridgeshire. The team frequently handles high-value divorce and pre-nuptial agreements, complex children matters including guardianship orders, cohabitation agreements, and TOLATA applications.” Legal 500 (2024) Family Law.

Why choose Fraser Dawbarns as your family law solicitors?

At Fraser Dawbarns, we are both highly experienced and incredibly passionate about what we do. Over many years, we have built up an excellent reputation in our local community and beyond. When you work with us, you’ll receive compassionate support; our team will always closely consider your unique needs, ensuring that you feel as confident about the processes as possible.

We know that legal support should be accessible rather than confusing, which is why our team ensures that the necessary processes are seamless and stress-free.

Our firm is recognised by the Legal 500 for several of our practice areas, demonstrating our top-quality service and high levels of client care. We are also recognised by various other organisations for our expertise, including being accredited by the Law Society for Family Law.

To learn more about our team, please contact our family solicitors today.

Our family law services

Divorce

We appreciate that going through a divorce can be emotional and confusing and that dealing with the practical elements isn’t always easy. When you work with us, we will ensure that you receive sensitive support and guidance, ensuring that the divorce process is as simple as possible.

Our expert team can help you to apply for a divorce, or to respond to a divorce application from your spouse. We can assist you with every stage, such as obtaining a Conditional Order, and a Final Order, as well as helping with related matters, such as arrangements for children.

To discuss your options today, please get in touch with our specialist divorce solicitors at Fraser Dawbarns.

Civil partnership dissolution

Our family law solicitors can assist you if you need support to access a civil partnership dissolution. We can guide you through the process from start to finish, including completing the application, obtaining a Conditional Order and a Final Order, and reaching a financial settlement with your ex-partner.

We can provide specialist family law advice to help you protect your interests and will always treat your matter with sensitivity and care.

Separation

The laws on separation are prone to change. Under recent rewrites, you no longer have to be separated for two years before the divorce proceedings can start.

In the event of a separation without divorce, either because it is sensible to keep the marriage or because there never was one, we can make sure your interests are protected and that nobody is left in an unfair position.

Child law

Arranging legal matters involving your children can often feel delicate, and our solicitors have an in-depth understanding of this. You can trust us to remain empathetic and considerate, handling your needs as carefully as possible.

If you are in the process of getting a divorce or civil partnership dissolution and you have children, we can help you obtain a Child Arrangements Order. These agreements allow you to establish who your children will live with, how child care will be shared, and generally what type of child contact both parents will have with their children.

Our specialist child law solicitors can also help with various other child law matters, for instance:

Specific Issue Orders

When two parents cannot agree on an important aspect of their child’s upbringing, and they are unable to resolve the dispute between themselves, it may be necessary for them to seek legal intervention.

If you and your ex-spouse are in a dispute, regarding a matter related to your children, we can help you to apply for a Specific Issue Order. In this case, the Court will review both sides of the argument and make a decision with the child’s best interests in mind.

A Specific Issue Order may be used to decide matters such as whether or not a child can receive a certain type of medical treatment or go on a certain foreign holiday.

Prohibited Steps Order

When one parent wishes to stop the other from a certain action that involves their child, for example, moving with them to a distant location, they will have the opportunity to apply for a Prohibited Steps Order. The Order can be used to stop the other parent from making this decision.

The Court will then review the circumstances of the case and make a decision based on the child’s best interests.

If you need to apply for a Prohibited Steps Order or your child’s other parent is applying for one and you require legal advice, please contact our specialist family law solicitors at Fraser Dawbarns.

Divorce financial settlements

When you go through a divorce, reaching a financial settlement is a crucially important aspect of the process. We realise that you may be feeling concerned about the impact on your finances, but rest assured, we will provide comprehensive support to help you protect your interests.

We will attempt to help you and your ex-spouse come to a voluntary financial settlement, discussing matters between yourselves, without needing Court proceedings. For instance, you may be able to reach a settlement through mediation processes.

Our team can also help you to access a Clean Break Order, meaning that, you will no longer be financially linked to your ex-spouse in any way, and a future claim on one another’s finances will not be possible.

If a financial settlement cannot be reached out of Court, we can help you reach one through Court processes. We appreciate that the idea of going through Court proceedings can feel tense, and we will ensure that you receive all of the sensitive and practical support that you need.

Cohabitation agreements

Many couples choose to move in together without getting married. Unfortunately, if a cohabiting couple ends their relationship, this can cause issues and disputes regarding financial contributions and asset ownership.

Cohabitation agreements outline arrangements for property, children, and finances while the couple is living together and establish how these things will be dealt with if the couple later separates.

Putting a cohabitation agreement in place can help you and your cohabiting partner to protect your property, assets and rights, as well as potentially preventing disputes if you were to split up later on.

To learn more, please contact our specialist cohabitation agreement solicitors at Fraser Dawbarns.

Prenuptial agreements

A prenuptial agreement is a legal agreement which a couple enters into prior to getting married. The agreement is used to establish ownership of assets, financial responsibilities and debts, and how assets would be split if the couple were to later get divorced.

Our prenuptial agreement solicitors at Fraser Dawbarns have worked with a wide range of clients and can help you to draft a prenup that perfectly represents your needs.

Postnuptial agreements solicitors

A postnuptial agreement serves the same purpose as a prenup; however, it is entered into once the couple are already married.

If you are married, and you would like to establish financial responsibilities between yourself and your spouse, including, how your finances would be divided on divorce, our local family law solicitors can help you.

Frequently asked questions about family law

What do family law solicitors do?

Family law solicitors can support families with matters that might require legal intervention, such as divorce, civil partnership dissolution, or entering into a prenuptial agreement.

These solicitors can provide legal advice and, if necessary, support families to resolve disputes or reach legal agreements, using out of Court processes such as mediation or negotiation. If family issues and disputes cannot be solved out of Court, family law specialists can guide clients through Court proceedings.

Do I need a solicitor for family court?

It is possible to go to family Court without a solicitor; however, to ensure the best outcome for your circumstances and that your rights are protected, it is advisable that you seek legal advice and representation.

Why would you need a family law solicitor?

You might need the assistance of a family law solicitor in various different circumstances, including:

• You would like to get divorced or dissolve your civil partnership
• You need support to reach a financial settlement in the aftermath of a divorce or civil partnership dissolution
• You need support with child arrangements in the aftermath of a divorce or dissolution
• You need support with some other aspect of child law, for example, to obtain a Specific Issue or Preventative Steps Order
• You would like to enter into a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.

Get in touch with our family law solicitors in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire today

To discuss your needs with our family law solicitors today, please get in touch. You can contact your local office in Kings Lynn, Ely, Wisbech, March and Downham Market.

Alternatively, you can complete the enquiry form at the bottom of the contact page, and a solicitor will be in touch.