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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Family law & divorce solicitors in London
With one of the country’s largest specialist family law teams, we’re here to guide you through life’s difficult moments.
0333 004 4488
family@brabners.com
Your team of London family law specialists
Family law sits at the heart of people’s lives. As a highly technical and dynamic area of law, it requires not only a sensitive and compassionate approach, but an expert strategic legal eye.
We provide bespoke, concise legal advice across all areas of family law, including on complex, high-value and international cases.
- Non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) — also known as alternative, private or dispute resolution, NCDR can be a quicker, more cost-effective way to resolve family issues in respect of financial matters and arrangements for children.
- Child law — we’ll find the right solutions for your children and help you adapt to changing circumstances, whether that’s around child arrangements, custody, relocation and even child abduction, which can apply to any movement of a child across an international border that occurs without the relevant consents in place. Our team is regularly called on to assist on further international matters such as providing advice on jurisdiction and habitual residence, enforcing orders across borders, mirror agreements in respect of international orders and international financial provision.
- Co-habitation & unmarried couples — cohabiting couples do not enjoy the same financial rights as a married couple if their relationship breaks down. We’ll help you protect your individual rights, including through cohabitation agreements. We can also assist in relation to disputes concerning property ownership and financial provision for children (when parents are unmarried).
- Divorce & financial settlements — we’ll guide you through your divorce in the least acrimonious way possible and ensure your best interests are safeguarded, even if your divorce is highly complex and involves significant financial or other assets.
- International divorce — if you have international connections (as well as a connection to England and Wales), as members of the Association of European Lawyers and Eurolegal we often support clients with deciding which country it’s most advantageous to get divorced in or obtaining a financial order following an overseas divorce. We regularly collaborate with our trusted network of foreign lawyers to secure the right solution for you.
- Fertility, surrogacy & parenthood — with particular specialist expertise in modern families, we have acted in important cases that have helped to shape fertility, surrogacy and legal parenthood law.
- Pre- & post-nuptial agreements — Nuptial agreements have become increasingly common among all types of couples wanting to take a pragmatic, financially-savvy step to protect wealth.
Trust our nationally-acclaimed team to help you find the solutions you need to move forward with confidence.
Whatever your situation and whatever you’re facing, our London family lawyers are in your corner.
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An “excellent” law firm for family and divorce issues in London
Our ‘Top Tier’ team, recognised in The Times Best Law Firms and Chambers and Partners, contains “private children law specialists of the highest calibre” according to The Legal 500.
The team is led by experienced child law expert Cara Nuttall, herself a ‘Leading Lawyer’ and ‘Leading Partner’ who is “very adept at dealing with complex private law disputes”.
She’s supported by an extensive and highly-skilled team, comprising numerous experts commended by peers as leaders in their respective fields. We’re proud to have worked on several landmark cases and been at the heart of family law’s rapid evolution over recent years.
Our solicitors champion change and best practice in family law. As members of Resolution, we deal with cases in a way that minimises or prevents conflict and distress.
We work with individuals and families right across the Greater London area, as well as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and beyond, as well as internationally.
Our office on Cannon Street is a perfect setting for what can be emotional and sensitive discussions.
We aim to combine the deep expertise of a large family law firm with the personal, one-to-one approach of a boutique practice.
Meet our London family lawyers
Recognised for excellence
“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
Purpose-led & committed to our communities
Your future isn't business. It's personal. Through Brabners Personal, we're here to help you plan and protect your future — providing total peace of mind through one trusted advisor.
Founded in 1815 in Liverpool, we proudly opened our London office in 2026 — four years after becoming the largest UK law firm to achieve B Corp certification.
We're driven by a commitment to make the difference in everything we do and are proud to partner with charities across the country through The Brabners Foundation.
Brabners Personal
We’re more than legal advisors — we're confidants, problem solvers and advocates.
Sustainable Business
In 2022, we proudly became the UK’s largest law firm (and the first outside London) to become B Corp certified.
Community Impact
We channel the energy of our public-spirited people and clients towards improving our local communities.
Family law: expert insights
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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Contact our London family law experts
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