Family law
Find a SolicitorFamily law covers all areas of law relating to relationships with partners, cohabitants (either same sex or opposite sex) and married couples. It deals with issues relating to the beginning and end of a relationship (e.g. marriage, divorce etc). It does not deal with wider family issues (e.g. elderly relatives or making of wills).
Family lawyers offer advice on the rights of cohabitants and what they should know before beginning to live together. They also deal with the law on relationship breakdown, divorce, capital and income settlements, and cases relating to private children law. They are also able to offer help to those suffering domestic violence.
This is an area of law where we actively seek to improve the law, procedure and practice.
These pages do not attempt to give legal advice on family law. If you need to know more on a family law issue, you can find a family lawyer using Find a Solicitor.
The Law Society has developed an accredited panel of solicitors (and others) who specialise in family law. To be accepted onto the panel, members must prove that they meet the Law Society's rigorous standards.
You may also find our children, family mediation or legal aid pages useful.
Her Majesty's Courts Service Family Division - contacts
EU Legislative Update series
Latest issues
| Policy documents |
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| Policy documents, briefings, international projects and Law Society consultations proposing and commenting on draft rules, law reform, practice and procedure and initiatives affecting Family law in England and Wales available here. |
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Law Society response to the LSC Family Specification EU Family Law and Wills and Succession Matters - November 2009 EU Family Law and Wills and Succession Matters - April 2009 EU Family Law and Wills and Succession Matters - March 2009 More |
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| Publications |
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| Books, pamphlets and leaflets published by the Law Society relating to Family law are available here together with details of our research and useful practice advice information for solicitors about issues arising in Family law. |
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Resolution Family Law Handbook Child Contact - Law and Practice Directory of solicitors specialising in child abduction cases Health and Social Care Handbook
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| Information about the Law Society's Family Law Committee |
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The Family Law Committee comprises solicitors specialising in all areas of Family law, including cohabitants' rights and private children law. The Committee identifies areas of family law and procedure that require reform or review and formulates recommendations for consideration by ministers and officials. The Committee also liaises with and makes representations to ministers and officials on any departmental consultations which relate to family law matters generally. In doing so, the Committee will often consult with the profession on issues concerning practice and procedure. For details of the committee's terms of reference, membership, and any sub committees/working parties that report to it see our directory of committees. |
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| Links |
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| The Law Society works closely with government departments and other organisations in relation to Family law. Here you will find links to websites, where you will be able to access additional information relevant to the Law Society's work in this area. |
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Jordan Publishing
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