Grandparents — how to reinstate access to grandchildren through the courts
Our family law team represented the paternal grandparents of three young children where contact had been stopped by the children’s parents.
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Family, Children & Relationships
Our experienced family law solicitors guide you through life's critical, stressful and unexpected moments.
Our experienced family law solicitors specialise in issues like divorce, child arrangements and fertility, as well as financial matters like pensions and pre- and post-nuptial agreements.
Family law sits at the intersection of legal complexity and people’s personal lives. It not only requires an expert eye, but a compassionate, empathetic and professional approach.
Our award-winning family law team — recognised in The Times Best Law Firms, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners — includes “lawyers at the very top of the profession”.
Trust us to offer practical advice tailored to your personal circumstances and focused on securing the very best possible outcome.
We’re proud to be a pioneer at the forefront of various fast-developing areas of law. Our leading team has particular specialist expertise in modern families, surrogacy and alternative dispute resolution.
We work with individuals and families from all types of backgrounds and routinely handle cases on behalf of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals in a discreet, efficient manner.
Whatever your needs, talk to us by calling 0333 004 4488, emailing family@brabners.com or completing our contact form.
“After a ten-year ordeal — spanning separation, divorce, child custody and financial disputes... The outcome is everything I'd hoped and prayed for — not just for me but for my girls, my future and the chance to finally move forward... [I prayed] for God to hand-pick not just any legal counsel but His very best for my case. And He chose YOU.”
Client feedback
“Brabners is an outstanding firm. The way in which you manage our family’s affairs gives us genuine confidence and peace of mind — we quite literally sleep easier at night knowing that matters are in your hands.”
Brabners Personal client
“Joe Ailion [has] a depth of understanding and empathy rarely seen in a solicitor... His honest and straightforward advice, coupled with a genuine warmth, created a sense of security for our family during a tumultuous time. For us, Joe is not just a solicitor — he’s a beacon of hope and reassurance.”
Family law client
Clear, practical family law advice when you need it most
We advise on a wide range of contentious family matters, drawing on deep expertise to find the solutions you need to reach a conclusive agreement and achieve peace of mind.
We offer support around divorce financial settlements, cohabitation and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. We also cover all aspects of child law, with our team containing some of the country’s few accredited international child abduction specialists.
As early adopters of the non-court dispute resolution model, we’re perfectly placed to help you achieve a timely, cost-effective result, even in complex family and financial disputes.
We’re also leaders in modern families — including fertility, surrogacy and parenthood — a fast-evolving area of family law where the legal considerations can be complex and dynamic.
We further advise on international family matters, including those with a cultural and religious aspect, and are supported by our trusted network of lawyers, professionals and translators across Europe and beyond.
One of the largest family law firms in the North
Our highly-regarded team routinely achieves top-tier rankings in national legal industry directories. Described as a “premier family law service” in the region by The Legal 500, we're also a Band 1 law firm for family matters according to Chambers and Partners — the highest possible category.
The team is led by Cara Nuttall, a Leading Partner and “one in a million” expert in child and modern families law according to The Legal 500.
She’s supported by an extensive team of specialists, each a leader in their respective field and recognised for market-leading work across financial, children and fertility law matters, with expertise often called on across the media.
As well as being Resolution-accredited, our family lawyers are members of numerous organisations and committees that champion change and best practice. We also have qualified arbitrators, collaborative lawyers and ‘one lawyer, one couple’ specialists.
With offices in Liverpool, Manchester, London, Leeds and Lancashire, we’re able to work with you in-person or remotely — whatever is most comfortable and convenient.
Trust our talented team to help you discover the very best solution to your issue.
Meet our family lawyers
Recognised by The Legal 500 2026
“Brabners has one of the North of England’s largest family law teams, with expertise across financial, children, international and fertility work.”
The Times Best Law Firms 2025
“Brabners is noted for its expertise in wealth protection, financial remedy, children, international and fertility work.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Brabners is easily the premier family law service in Liverpool, Manchester and the surrounding area. They have enormous strength in depth and their first-rate lawyers cover the most serious and complex matters.”
Legal 500 2025 client feedback
“Brabners continues to draw superb praise from a range of clients... The "talented" team competently handles complex divorce and financial remedy cases, often managing a plethora of foreign and business assets as well as trusts and pensions.”
The Legal 500 2024
“[Brabners] offers the best financial remedies advice and private children act dispute representation. They are attentive to detail, very passionate and crucially objective, so they advise thoroughly and sensibly.”
Family law client, The Legal 500 2024
Accredited, experienced family law solicitors
Case studies: how we support individuals & families
Cohabitation law & TOLATA — what to do when your ex makes a claim on your jointly owned property
Our client sought advice from a specialist family lawyer regarding a property dispute following the relationship breakdown of an unmarried couple.
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Creating a ‘fair’ pre-nuptial agreement for engaged business owner
Our family law team advised an engaged business owner to create a prenuptial agreement to protect her business in the unlikely event of a future divorce.
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Protecting an entrepreneur’s business interests during acrimonious divorce proceedings
Our family law team helped a young entrepreneur to reach a suitable financial settlement in highly contested court proceedings following his divorce.
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International surrogacy in a war zone — securing a Parental Order in the UK
Our family law experts secured a Parental Order for a same-sex couple who traversed war zones to bring their child — born via surrogacy — home to the UK.
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Representing an international footballer in financial proceedings for his child
Our family law experts represented a high-profile international footballer in court proceedings concerning financial support for his child.
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Securing a financial settlement for an international divorcee
Our family law experts secured a property transfer for a client who divorced abroad and wasn’t granted a financial settlement as part of her divorce.
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Expert family law insights
Bad behaviour & divorce — does an affair affect the financial settlement?
We explore how adultery and other forms of misconduct fit into the current divorce framework and when behaviour affects the financial settlement.
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A guide to trusts in divorce — 5 practical tips to protect your wealth
We explore how the courts approach trusts on divorce and outline the key considerations for dealing with them after separation.
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What happens when separated parents can’t agree on a school?
We explore how decisions around schools are made, the processes available to help parents to reach agreement and the court’s approach when they can't.
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Divorce — what happens to my business in a financial settlement?
We explore the process of valuing a business and reaching a financial settlement upon divorce or dissolution.
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What happens to parents’ investment in the family home on divorce? 6 factors that courts will assess
We explore how the courts approach parental contributions in divorce and the practical steps families may need to consider.
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Pensions in divorce — achieving equality in retirement through sharing, attachment & offsetting
We explore how pensions are treated in divorce, from entitlement and valuation to division options.
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5 types of financial order on divorce or civil partnership dissolution explained
We set out everything you need to know about financial orders — how they work, the different types and more.
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Void & voidable marriages — what are they & when can you annul?
We explain how and when a marriage can be annulled as well as how to know if a marriage is void or voidable.
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A guide to financial remedy proceedings
We explore how financial remedy proceedings work, what the court takes into account and the steps involved.
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Child contact arrangements at Christmas — 6 top tips for separated parents
We share some top tips to help families to co‑parent amicably and organise child contact arrangements during the festive period.
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The Times Best Law Firms
We're thrilled to have been commended in three separate categories in The Times Best Law Firms 2026.
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Good Divorce Week — building a support network to achieve an amicable separation
For Good Divorce Week, we explore how emotional support and legal guidance work together to reduce conflict and uncertainty.
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Navigating divorce during menopause — legal, emotional & financial considerations
We explore the biological realities of menopause and the impact that it can have on divorce settlements and financial claims.
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The importance of a Pension Sharing Order & how to enforce one
The importance of a Pension Sharing Order, the process for implementing one and the remedies available if one party fails to engage in that process.
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Should you have an NDA when getting divorced?
NDAs are becoming more prevalent in divorce proceedings, especially for high-profile individuals or where sensitive information is concerned — but do you need one?
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Potanina v Potanin — the importance of jurisdiction in international divorce cases
International divorce cases are highly complex and the choice of jurisdiction can make a significant difference to financial outcomes.
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The September divorce spike explained
January and September are the most ‘popular’ months to begin divorce proceedings — we look at why and top tips for couples thinking of separation.
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Brabners adds to partnership in record round of promotions
A total of 41 lawyers have been promoted across the firm including Rachel James and Richard Rigg who have become part of our almost 100-strong partnership.
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Standish v Standish — what is ‘matrimonial property’ in divorce & financial remedy proceedings?
The Supreme Court has clarified the law surrounding when ‘non-matrimonial property’ can become ‘matrimonial property’.
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Family Court fees set to rise from 1 April 2025
It’s proposed that over 60 Family Court fees will be increasing from 1 April to support the running of the notoriously underfunded His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
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When can a Judge write to a child?
The President of the Family Division has released a toolkit to support family Judges when writing to children.
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Gifting Shares: Navigating 2026 Inheritance Tax Changes for Family Business Owners
Here, Steven Appleton from our estate planning team and Amy Harris from our family law team explain the options available to family business owners, including sensible steps to take to secure your estate from future divorce or separation.
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Do I have to attend family dispute mediation? 15 exemptions explained
Mediation may not be suitable for every case. Our family law team explain 15 exemptions where court proceedings may be more appropriate.
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Full and frank disclosure — when does the duty end in the financial remedy process after divorce?
In the realm of financial remedy proceedings following divorce, the duty of full and frank financial disclosure is a long-established principle.
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3 common divorce pitfalls — the importance of financial orders and ‘Remarriage Trap’ explained
Three common divorce pitfalls involve clean break orders, pension rights and Will writing. Find out the importance of obtaining a financial order.
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