Legal Expertise for your Divorce or Separation
Divorce and separation are never easy, regardless of the reasons why a relationship has broken down. This can be among the most difficult experiences a person faces. Alongside the emotional impact, there are often important questions about your children, finances, home and future that need to be addressed.
Every separation is unique, no two family situations are the same. That's why our specialist family law solicitors take the time to understand your circumstances, concerns and priorities before advising on the best way forward.
Whether you are worried about what will happen to your family home, how assets will be divided, or arrangements for your children, our experienced family law and divorce solicitors will provide clear, straightforward advice tailored to your situation.
We are committed to helping clients achieve practical and constructive outcomes while protecting their long-term interests. From the initial consultation through to final resolution, we will ensure you understand your options and remain fully informed throughout the process.
Under the current no-fault divorce system, couples can apply for divorce after being married for at least 12 months. Neither party is required to apportion blame for the breakdown of the marriage, helping to reduce conflict and create a more constructive foundation for resolving financial and child-related issues
Expert Guidance from our Divorce Solicitors
Our highly experienced Legal 500 recommended family law and divorce solicitors understand that every family situation is different. We provide practical legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances, helping you navigate the process with confidence and clarity.
Where possible, we focus on achieving negotiated and amicable settlements that minimise stress, reduce conflict and avoid unnecessary court proceedings. However, where court action becomes necessary, you can be assured of robust representation from a team with extensive experience in complex family law matters.
With family law specialists based in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Dronfield and Mansfield, we are trusted by individuals and families across the region to provide expert support during some of life's most challenging moments.
Download our free divorce guide to learn more about the divorce process and how our team can help
We know you will have many questions about your specific situation, and our family law specialists in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Dronfield and Mansfield are here to support and guide you every step of the way. Download our free guide to learn more about what you can expect from the divorce process and how we can help.
Download our free divorce guide
Separation Agreements
When a relationship comes to an end, there is often uncertainty about what happens next. A separation agreement can help provide clarity and stability by recording the arrangements you and your partner have reached regarding your finances, property and ongoing responsibilities.
Prepared by a family law solicitor and agreed by both parties, a separation agreement can be used by both married and unmarried couples. It is often an effective way of protecting everyone's interests, reducing the potential for future disagreements and allowing time for important decisions to be made without unnecessary pressure.
Mediation
Mediation can be an effective way of resolving disputes following a separation or divorce without the time, cost and stress often associated with court proceedings. While Banner Jones does not provide mediation services directly, we can recommend trusted local mediators and advise you throughout the process.
A mediator is an independent, impartial professional who helps both parties discuss issues constructively and explore options for reaching an agreement. Mediation provides a neutral environment in which you can focus on finding practical solutions for the future, particularly where children are involved.
Mediation may help you reach agreement on:
- Divorce and separation matters
- Arrangements for your children
- Financial settlements
- The family home and other assets
- Ongoing financial support and maintenance
- Any other issues arising from your separation
Our family law solicitors in Sheffield, Chesterfield, Dronfield and Mansfield regularly advise clients before, during and after mediation. We can help you understand your legal position, review any proposals that are made and, where agreement is reached, prepare the necessary legal documents to formalise the outcome.
Understanding the Cost of Divorce
We believe that making informed decisions starts with understanding the likely costs involved. While many people think of divorce as simply the legal process of ending a marriage, the overall cost will often depend on the wider issues that need to be resolved.
The introduction of no-fault divorce has helped to reduce conflict and encourage more constructive discussions, which can often keep costs to a minimum. However, every family's circumstances are different, and the complexity of your case will influence the level of legal support required.
There are typically three key elements to consider:
The Divorce Process:
This is the legal procedure for formally ending your marriage. We offer fixed-fee divorce services, providing cost certainty and helping you budget from the outset.
Finances and Property:
This involves reaching agreement on issues such as the family home, savings, pensions, investments, business interests and ongoing financial support. The more complex the assets involved, the more work may be required to achieve a fair settlement.
Arrangements for Children:
This includes deciding where your children will live, how much time they will spend with each parent, and any financial arrangements for their ongoing care and welfare.
Divorce with Significant Assets
Where a divorce involves substantial assets, business interests, investments, pensions or complex financial arrangements, specialist legal advice is essential.
Our experienced family law solicitors regularly advise business owners, professionals and high-net-worth individuals on protecting their interests while achieving fair and practical financial settlements. We understand the complexities involved in valuing and dividing significant assets and work closely with financial experts where necessary to ensure all relevant resources are properly identified and assessed.
Whether your case involves a family business, investment portfolio, multiple properties, inherited wealth or complex pension arrangements, we will provide clear, strategic advice tailored to your circumstances.
We are committed to resolving matters as efficiently and discreetly as possible, helping you safeguard your financial future while minimising unnecessary conflict and disruption. For more complex cases, our team has the expertise and experience needed to guide you through every stage of the process with confidence.
Why choose Banner Jones?
1. Over 150 Years of Family Law Experience
Our family law team has been helping individuals and families resolve relationship breakdowns for generations. From straightforward divorces to complex financial disputes, we have the experience to guide you effectively.
2. Specialist Family Law Expertise
Family law is all we do. Our solicitors regularly advise on divorce, separation, financial settlements, child arrangements, cohabitation disputes, nuptial agreements and high-net-worth cases. All solicitors in the team have been recommended by the Legal 500.
3. Practical Solutions, Not Conflict
We believe that most families benefit from constructive, non-confrontational solutions wherever possible. We focus on achieving positive outcomes while minimising unnecessary stress, delay and expense.
4. Clear Advice You Can Trust
Legal matters can feel overwhelming. We explain your options in plain English, provide realistic advice, and ensure you understand the likely outcomes before making important decisions.
5. Transparent Pricing
We offer fixed-fee initial appointments and clear information about costs from the outset, allowing you to make informed decisions with confidence.
6. Local Offices, Regional Reputation
With offices in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Dronfield and Mansfield, our team combines local accessibility with a reputation for delivering exceptional family law advice across the region.
Get in touch with our team today
Speak to an Experienced Family Law and Divorce Solicitor in Sheffield, Chesterfield or Mansfield today. If you need advice about divorce, separation, finances or arrangements for your children, our specialist family law solicitors are here to help.
Call 0344 649 6343 or contact your nearest office in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Dronfield or Mansfield to arrange an appointment with one of our experienced family law specialists.
Case Study
Complex Divorce With Multiple Properties
In this case I represented the husband, who was the sole earner of the household, earning between £350,000 and £450,000 per annum.
The couple were originally from Derbyshire, had been married for 10 years and had two dependent children. Due to the husband’s job they owned properties in London and Derbyshire. London was the main family home, as this is where husband worked and where the children attended school, however, the parties lived together as a family at the Derbyshire property during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Difficulties arose in the marriage during the COVID-19 lockdown. Husband was extremely busy at work throughout the pandemic; and additional pressures of all being at home together; home schooling the children; and the fact that the cleaner was no longer able to attend the property had created a pressured environment. The wife decided to end the marriage.
The value of both properties was in the region of £1.365mn, with equity of around £730,000. The husband paid the mortgage repayments on both because the wife did not work and was financially reliant on her husband.
In terms of other assets, the husband’s pension had an approximate value of £500,000. He also had a cash ISA in his sole name containing approximately £100,000. The wife had no pension provision or savings despite having a degree and working in event management previously.
There is a limited company of which both parties are directors, with one buy to let property worth approximately £100,000 in the portfolio. The husband unusually wants the parties to remain jointly as directors to receive a small income from the business to be used for school fees and leave as a legacy for their children.
This was an unusual case in that husband required two properties, one in London for work and one in Derbyshire, as the wife planned to relocate back to Derbyshire with the Children. My client’s aim was to retain both of the current properties and buy the wife a mortgage free property.
The wife over time will benefit as she will have more equity in her one property then he will have in the two as he will have to re-mortgage to achieve this.
Following negotiations we finally agreed maintenance at £1200 per month.
Given the nature of my client’s work, the ability to call me early in the morning when his office was quieter, was really important to him and it meant that he could get straight on with his day.
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You may well have heard in the news that the government are reforming the divorce process to introduce the so called ‘no fault divorce’ . This shall remove the element of fault and blame from the current divorce process and it is hoped that this will assist separating couples, making the court process less fraught and upsetting.
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The ongoing pandemic has placed many pressures on our personal lives, with one in five relationships struggling to survive according to research by University College London. It’s a further regrettable statistic from the past two years, but if divorce is inevitable, couples who work together to shape their separate futures are likely to have a more positive experience than couples who go into battle over financial and childcare arrangements.
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The Future of Divorce
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Court departs from the ‘sharing principle’ in a divorce settlement
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