Family law, in plain English.
Divorce, finances, children, cohabiting couples, domestic abuse protection and prenuptial agreements — explained against the law of England & Wales, current to 2026. Family matters are high-stakes and court-based, so this is information to act on, never a substitute for a solicitor or mediator.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24/7 on 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge). The Counsel is an information tool, not an emergency service.
Understand your situation
Describe what is happening and get a plain-English read of the law and your options for England & Wales.
Review a family document
Upload a consent order, agreement or letter to see what it means before you respond or sign.
Prepare a solicitor handoff
Package the facts and questions so advice or mediation is faster and focused — we do not conduct proceedings.
How No-Fault Divorce Works in England and Wales
A clear guide to the no-fault divorce process under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, from application to final order.
Dividing Finances on Divorce in England and Wales
How courts approach financial settlements on divorce, including the section 25 factors, consent orders, pension sharing, and the clean break.
Child Arrangements After Separation in England and Wales
How the law decides where children live and how much time they spend with each parent, including the welfare checklist, mediation, and court orders.
Rights of Cohabiting Couples in England and Wales
What the law actually says about unmarried couples' rights to property and financial provision — and why the 'common-law marriage' myth can be costly.
Domestic Abuse Protective Orders in England and Wales
How non-molestation orders, occupation orders, and the new domestic abuse protection orders work, and where to get urgent help.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements in England and Wales
Whether pre- and post-nuptial agreements are binding in England and Wales, and what courts look for when deciding how much weight to give them.
Can The Counsel handle my divorce or family case?
No. Family matters are court-based: The Counsel does not conduct proceedings, represent you, or replace a family solicitor or mediator. It explains the law and your options in plain English and helps you prepare — the decisions and the case itself stay with you and your adviser.
Do I need a solicitor for a family matter?
Not always for the basics — a no-fault divorce can be applied for online without one. But finances, arrangements for children, and anything contested are complex and high-stakes, and specialist advice (or family mediation) genuinely changes outcomes. Use The Counsel to understand the ground and prepare.
Is this up to date with current family law?
Yes — the guides reflect the 2026 position, including no-fault divorce, the section 25 financial factors, the Children Act welfare checklist, and protective orders. Where reform is only proposed (financial remedies, cohabitation, the new domestic abuse protection orders), the guides say what is actually in force.
I'm experiencing domestic abuse — where can I get help?
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge) is free and open 24/7 on 0808 2000 247. The Counsel can explain protective orders, but it is not an emergency service — please reach out to those services first.
The Counsel is an AI tool for England & Wales. It provides legal information, not legal advice, does not conduct family proceedings, and does not replace a solicitor or mediator. For anything contested or high-stakes, prepare a solicitor handoff and take advice.