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Call local rate: 0117 3751780 - Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Divorce Lawyers in Bristol,
Clevedon, and Portishead
We understand how hard divorce can feel.
When separation turns your life upside down, we’ll help you make sense of your options and your future, and work with you for the best possible result.
If you already have an informal “kitchen table” agreement with your spouse, we can draft the documents needed to make it legally binding and grant you protection, clarity, and a clean slate.
If you’re not in agreement or if there is conflict over finances, property, or children, we can support you through negotiation, mediation, collaborative practice, or court proceedings if it comes to it. At Harbour Family Law, we focus on constructive and fair outcomes, and work to reduce conflict and protect ongoing family relationships, especially where children are involved.
We are happy to work alongside trusted third-party professionals like pension experts, valuers, family consultants, and financial advisers. We care about making sure you have the right support circle around you as you go through this time.
Specialists and Experts in Divorce Law
Our divorce solicitors have a combined 90+ years’ experience across a wide range of relationship breakdown and divorce cases. We are an authorised, accredited practice, recognised by the Law Society and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Katy Zikking founded Harbour Family Law in 2013. She is well known and recognised as an experienced specialist within Family Law groups in Bristol and the surrounding area, having had over 25 years’ experience in supporting people through relationship breakdown, divorce, financial settlements and child arrangements.
All Harbour Family Law solicitors are members of Resolution, a community of family justice professionals committed to a low-conflict code of conduct. Our Directors include both the current and former Chair of the Bristol Resolution Committee. Other team members include accredited collaborative practitioners, and a solicitor who holds a Doctorate in Family Law, with published work in the Family Law Journal.
Your Initial Consultation
Whatever point you are at in your divorce, you can always speak to us for assistance and legal guidance.
In the first meeting, we’ll sit down over a hot cup of tea or coffee and listen to your journey and situation. We ask a few questions, get a sense of what is going on, and what you need help with most. From there, we’ll talk you through where you stand legally, what choices are open to you, and what happens next. We will always be honest with you if your intentions might backfire, and we cover fees early on, so there are never any nasty surprises.
Your initial consultation will run for up to 90 minutes, for a discounted 60-minute flat rate.
The Divorce Process: Step-by-Step
In England and Wales, the divorce process usually takes 6-12 months, depending on how quickly the paperwork moves through the court and whether there are finances or child arrangements to agree. The legal end point is a Final Order, which formally ends the marriage.
You can only apply for divorce if you have been married for a year or longer, and you and/or your partner primarily reside in the UK. Since 2022, the only ground for Divorce is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Under the no-fault system, you do not need to prove blame or rely on the old “five facts”. A statement from one or both spouses is enough.
Applying for Divorce
You can apply for divorce either together or on your own. If your spouse starts the process, you may receive an Acknowledgement of Service. We can explain what this means, and what you need to do next.
We can also handle the paperwork for you, or guide you through it, including applying for a Conditional Order. At this stage, the court confirms there is no legal reason the divorce cannot go ahead.
Negotiation and Agreement
Divorce is not just paperwork. You also need to agree with your spouse on what happens with finances, property, pensions, and child arrangements, so you can move on with certainty that your assets are yours and are protected.
Some couples work these things out between themselves first. If that is you, we can put the right documents in place to make it formal and legally binding. If there isn’t an agreement, we’ll support you through mediation and collaborative practice. Court is there if it has to be, but we treat it as a last resort and make sure you feel prepared, empowered, and properly represented.
Finalising a Divorce
Once you have your Conditional Order, there is a minimum wait, or ‘reflection period’, of 6 weeks before you can apply for the Final Order. Acceptance of your application will formally end your marriage.
We advise resolving all financial matters before you apply for the Final Order. If anything changes or complications come up along the way, we’ll support you to make informed choices and keep moving forward.
''Ros acted with compassion and sound advice as I navigated my way through my divorce. My ex-husband and I were keen to keep things as amicable as possible whilst completing the divorce as swiftly as we could. We achieved this through the advice and support of Ros who understood our situation and acted in the best way to achieve this. Our divorce concluded within 5 months and to this day my ex-husband and I remain good friends. I am very grateful to Ros for easing the way through a very difficult time.''
Other Considerations During Divorce
Divorce is only part of the picture. You may also need to work through finances, child arrangements, mediation, and costs. We can provide support in all of these areas.
Financial Settlement
Before you can agree on how assets are split, you need an understanding what there is and what it is worth. Assets can include property, savings, pensions, businesses, and investments, and some assets require a proper valuation. We can advise on when to bring in specialists such as pension actuaries or property surveyors.
Once valuations are in place, we’ll help you negotiate a settlement. This can be done in round-table meetings with solicitors present, or through written negotiation, depending on what approach fits your situation, and what you are comfortable with.
Child Arrangements
Even when both parents mean well, emotions run high when it comes to children, and it’s difficult to find a way forward that feels right. We’ll be there to listen and guide you through the legal matters with an empathetic hand. Your child comes first, so we will always keep the focus on what is best for them, and fair for everyone. You can read more about our child arrangement services here.
Mediation
Mediation is a structured conversation with an independent party with the objective of helping couples work through divorce considerations without going to court. The mediator does not take sides or make decisions but rather creates space for both of you to have a fair discussion and see whether agreement is possible.
Unless there is domestic abuse or a serious power imbalance, you are usually expected to attend a MIAM (a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) before making certain court applications. For more information, we have written a blog on mediation.
Legal Aid for Divorce Fees
Public funding was withdrawn from most aspects of family law in 2013. If you are facing homelessness or domestic abuse, you may still be eligible, but unfortunately most clients will need to fund their legal fees privately. We know fees can be a worry, so we will always be transparent and provide you with an estimate following your initial consultation. You can find out more on our Fees page.
If You’re Ending a Civil Partnership
The dissolution of a marriage and a civil partnership are very similar, but there are some differences. You can find out more information here.
Divorce FAQs
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How much does a divorce cost?
The average cost of a divorce in the UK is £14,561, including lifestyle expenses. However, this can vary widely. Divorces including court proceedings often cost significantly more than those settled out of court, for example.
Read our blog on reducing the cost of divorce here.
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How long does a divorce take?
The minimum length of a UK divorce is 26 weeks (approx. 6 months) as it includes an obligatory “cooling off” period. When divorces take a significantly longer time than this to complete, it is often due to the time taken to make a financial or child arrangement agreement. Find out more on our blog.
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How many couples end up divorcing?
It’s thought that around 40% of marriages in the UK end in divorce. However, this varies between opposite and same sex marriages, as well as second marriages. Read our blog on divorce statistics to find out more.
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How do I start divorce proceedings?
First you need to check you are able to apply, then you can fill in the online application form for divorce, along with submitting the legal fees.
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Can I receive legal aid for my divorce?
Much of the legal aid available for family law cases has been withdrawn as of 2013, but you may be entitled to financial help for certain parts of the process if you have been a victim of domestic abuse or meet other criteria. In the case of a divorce, you may also be able to make a “legal services order” to compel your spouse to make provision for your legal costs. Find out more about legal fees and what we offer here.