Family, Children & Separation

Our highly skilled team of lawyers are expertly placed to advise on all the legal aspects of relationship and family breakdown providing personalised, practical solutions at a time when people feel at their most vulnerable.

Talk to one of our friendly and experienced team on 01442 872311

Divorce & Separation Financial Matters Children Mediation High Net Worth Individuals Separation Agreements Surrogacy Adoption (Including Contested Adoption) Civil Partnership Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements Living Together & Cohabiting Couples Collaborative Law Injunctions & Personal Protection Care Proceedings Family Carers Annulment Divorce and the Family Business Military Service Persons View all services

Family law solicitors with a high standard of excellence

Accredited to a high standard of excellence, the team includes members of the Law Society Family Law Advanced Panel, Law Society Children’s Panel, Resolution Accredited Specialists, qualified collaborative lawyers and accredited mediators.

This enables us to offer a full range of legal services from mediation to court proceedings, acting for UK and international clients.

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Family solicitors with top tier recognition

Recognised as ‘Top Tier’ in the Legal 500 directory, the team has an outstanding reputation but don’t just take our word for this. Have a look at our testimonials.

We are experts at what we do and understand the complexities and challenges you face. Our team is focused on finding the right solution for every individual situation.

Don't take our word for it

It's a fantastic team with a fantastic level of service.

Chambers and Partners 2024

Kathryn Ainsworth and Richard Phillips are both outstanding. They have a constructive and approachable manner which encourages successful negotiations. Both parties benefit from such an approach.

Legal 500 2024

A fabulous family team. Very proficient, strong and with an excellent reputation. They are an excellent team of solicitors with a strong wealth of experience in all areas of family law. They are always a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend them.

Legal 500 2024

Covering all areas of Family Law, Machins have unrivalled expertise at all levels of seniority. Calm and measured, whilst fighting their clients’ corner with a level of commitment that is hard to match. They are courteous and professional. The family team have a great depth of experience and knowledge.

Legal 500 2024

They have a strong team of lawyers with a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of family law. Machins is a fantastic unit that stands apart from other firms by virtue of the exceptional quality and diligence they provide, alongside phenomenal client care. They work tirelessly to ensure the processes are flawless, facilitating the best outcomes for clients.

Legal 500 2024

Kathryn and Tom have been extremely proficient, professional, and supportive throughout a long and stressful period.

I had a brilliant solicitor who helped me achieve the best outcome for the case

A fantastic firm that upholds the value of truly serving and protecting the most vulnerable in society.

Legal 500 2023

Excellent team of solicitors who go the extra mile for the clients. Would highly recommend them. Always happy to work late and assist in drafting documents to ensure everything is fully prepped.

Legal 500 2023

Machins has a strong family team with a wealth of experience in all areas of family law. They are able to provide advice and in-house representation to adults, children and professional clients. They maintain a commitment to legal aid work where many local solicitors have ceased to undertake it.

Legal 500 2023

So very happy with the team at Machins. Immensely grateful for the support and guidance I received throughout the whole of my Divorce process.

I cannot tell you how lucky I feel in dealing with professional people with such high moral standards and impeccable business practices. It has been an absolute pleasure dealing with you, your staff & colleagues, even though my personal circumstances were somewhat difficult, you at least made it bearable, which is indeed an immense skill.

The team at Machins are warm, friendly, and good to work with. I am always pleased to have them on a case because I know it will be handled sensibly and proactively.

A highly experienced and skilled team in respect of representing parents and children in care proceedings. The team at Machins stand out from their competitors in respect of their outstanding service to their clients.

Legal 500 2022

Machins is a very personable and hardworking family team. Their approach towards the instruction of counsel is fair and their involvement of counsel in case management is superb: and such ensures the delivery of the best quality legal services for the lay and professional client.

Legal 500 2022

Both Kathryn Ainsworth and Richard Phillips are sensible, practical, and constructive solicitors to have on the other side of a case.

Legal 500 2022

Machins Solicitors have a phenomenally professional approach, their service is expedient and diligent. Their key capability is being able to provide a high-quality service whilst doing so in an approachable and flexible manner.

Legal 500 2022

Very dynamic, forward-looking, and forward-thinking.

Chambers and Partners 2022

Our Family, Children & Separation Team

Our Family, Children & Divorce Services

Our team offers pragmatic and clear advice within a full range of services from mediation to court proceedings

Divorce & Separation

The prospect of divorce can be daunting. All our divorce lawyers are fully qualified, experienced and understanding. Our aim is to ensure we provide a pragmatic and sensitive approach.

Financial Matters

Arranging and dividing your finances following separation can be complicated and stressful. We can advise you of the process, factors to be considered and help you negotiate a settlement.

Children

The welfare of a child is the primary consideration when a family breaks up. We provide advice on disputes concerning children and our aim is to assist parties to achieve an outcome which in the best interests of the children.

Mediation

A Court process can be long and costly. We offer an alternative to court proceedings through mediation.

High Net Worth Individuals

The family team at Machins Solicitors LLP have experience in assisting high net worth individuals with their divorce and subsequent financial settlements.

Separation Agreements

If you do not wish to divorce, you may consider legal separation. There are two types of separation – Judicial Separation which involves the courts, and a Separation Agreement.

Surrogacy

We are specialists in all aspects of children’s law and have a team of four family law solicitors who have the knowledge and expertise in the legal aspects of surrogacy and are qualified to offer bespoke advice to assist you.

Adoption (Including Contested Adoption)

We are specialists in all aspects of children’s law and have a team of four family law solicitors who have the knowledge and expertise in the legal aspects of adoption and are qualified to offer bespoke advice to assist you.

Civil Partnership

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 gives same-sex couples who have entered a Civil Partnership the same rights and responsibilities as married couples during their relationship and upon subsequent separation. The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Death (Registration Etc.) Act 2019, also allows heterosexuals couples to enter a Civil Partnership.

Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements

We can advise and draft a pre-nuptial agreement if you are intending to marry and need advice regarding a pre-marital agreement and the possibility of protecting assets that you have acquired before marriage.

Living Together & Cohabiting Couples

Our divorce and family lawyers are able to advise former cohabitees as to their respective entitlements on the breakdown of their relationship.

Collaborative Law

Collaborative Law is a co-operative approach between solicitors and clients where they work together to resolve the problems arising from the breakdown of the relationship.

Injunctions & Personal Protection

If you or your children been threatened or hurt, or you live in fear of violence or harassment, be sure to contact the police immediately

Care Proceedings

We have a highly respected team of children law solicitors with extensive experience of representing parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and children who are involved with social services.

Family Carers

Machins have a team of expert children lawyers with experience in representing grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members in understanding the legal implications of the options available so they can secure the placement of a family child in their care under the most appropriate order.

Annulment

The family team at Machins Solicitors LLP have experience in assisting individuals with their annulment and subsequent agreements and financial matters.

Divorce and the Family Business

Latest Government figures show that 42% of people now get divorced. Frequently, one or both partners will have an interest in a business. Divorce can have a disastrous impact. It is therefore important to take good legal advice.

Military Service Persons

Machins Solicitors LLP have experience in providing bespoke and tailored legal advice to those who serve or have served in the military.

Price and Service Information for Family, Children & Divorce

This page will give you up to date information in relation to our pricing structure and timescales for our Family, Children & Divorce services.

Click Here to view the Divorce Course

The prospect of divorce can be daunting – but we are here to help. Here you can access a number of useful resources at a time that suits you. Work through them at your own pace and when you are ready to. We hope you find them useful.

Find out more

Get in touch with us

Our experienced solicitors are on hand to give you advice and assistance.

Call our team on 01442 872311 or Contact Us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

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Why should you use Machins Solicitors?

Machins Solicitors are accredited to a high standard of excellence. As members of key associations and professional legal bodies we are able to offer a full range of legal services from mediation and advocacy to court proceedings.

Related news & events

View all related news View all events

Are cohabitation agreements and nuptial agreements worth it?

20 November 2024 By Victoria Grant Family, Children & Divorce

With nearly a quarter of couples in the UK now choosing to live together unmarried, the need for cohabitation agreements for couples in the UK has become increasingly relevant. In 2022, according to the Office of National Statistics 22.7% of people aged 16 or older were cohabiting, a rate that reflects the trend toward committed