I have this friend who was facing a problem with her husband. Yes, they were planning for a divorce after 10 years of being together. Sad, but we can’t judge (marriage counselling didn’t work too).
I was worried about her, so I asked directly about it. It turns out that she’s anxious about the custody of her kids, aged 10 and 12. She’s lost, so I recommend that she meet a family lawyer first.
Luckily, another friend of mine is working in the legal industry as a paralegal. He helped us narrow down our search.
If you or someone you know is currently battling family disputes, check out our list of trusted family lawyers in London.
How much does a family lawyer in London cost?
A family lawyer in London charges from £200 to £700 per hour, depending on your case. Other additional costs include court, barrister, and report fees. The whole amount is the combination of the solicitor’s rate, VAT, and other legal fees.
How we chose
- Expertise in Family Law: We selected lawyers who handled various cases such as divorce, child support, custody, and property division.
- Pricing: We picked solicitors with the right pricing. We chose those that don’t overcharge, and if possible, offer flexible payment terms.
- Dispute Resolution Strategies: For us, a family lawyer should know different dispute resolution strategies for quicker solutions. We believe it will save both time and money for those involved.
- Mediation Services: We appreciate lawyers who offer mediation services, providing a confidential and safe space for the people involved.
1. Freemans Solicitors
Address: 18 Bedford Row
Contact Details: +442079353522, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Freemans Solicitors is one of the long-standing and reputable family solicitors in London. They’ve been helping families since 1995.
We love the fact that they specialise in family, children and divorce. But they don’t stop helping people because they also offer other legal services in different areas, like immigration.
They have skilled child family law solicitors aside from their general lawyers. When we initially enquired about their availability, they said they have several solicitors available to handle our case if we decide to continue.
Another good thing is that they offer mediation services to help you reach a favourable conclusion. If they think it needs to be escalated, they will represent you in court.
They also have caseworkers, paralegals, and solicitor consultants, which we think is a strong workforce. The staff we talked to is professional and welcoming.
They also have a 24-hour open line to call if you need urgent legal assistance. The fact that they answer calls at any time of the day is already a big PLUS for us.
With years of experience handling cases, expect that this law firm can be quite expensive. Plus, if you’re eager to get their service, you need to seal the deal with them right away since they’re in demand.
“Professional and emotionally intelligent”
Outstanding service.
Professional and emotionally intelligent at all times. My expectations were managed well with a clear efficacy that produced the desired result. This is accurate for the employees at all seniorities.
-Mr. Natahan, Google Review
Tireless support and expertise
Absolutely amazing support from Karol Hart and his team. He managed to completely quash a ridiculous case brought by the LA, which nevertheless would have been difficult to win, were it not for his tireless support and expertise. Thank you, Karol and Zoe Ferguson-Lees.”
-Ms. Josephine Vercoe, Google Review
2. Gilson Gray LLP
Address: 6, 7 Queen St
Contact Details: +442030967500, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Gilson Gray LLP is a newly built firm compared to the other companies. They’ve only been in the industry since 2014, but have already garnered awards like Corporate Firm of the Year and M&A Law Firm of the Year.
They like to call their company a “bold challenger” in the legal industry, and we can say they succeeded. We’re amazed that they already have eight (8) office locations serving different legal services.
When it comes to family law, they’re no slouch. They provide legal assistance for child-related cases and financial disputes through negotiation and mediation.
We liked that separation and divorce are at the top of their priorities. During our inquiry, they immediately brought up the importance of discussing children during divorce, which made us feel like they knew where we were heading.
Mind you, we didn’t talk about the custody stuff yet. They’re not a mind reader. They just know their thing, and for us, that means a lot.
That said, we feel like they’re too compressed since they also handle property and financial legal services. While that versatility can be a plus, we’re a bit concerned that they might get stretched too thin.
Aside from that, we’d appreciate it if they’re more open to discussing their initial fees. They only said that they have hourly rates and fixed fees, but they did not disclose them.
Efficient and friendly
“The very team were efficient and friendly, they communicated effectively and in a timely manner. My house purchase went very smoothly with their help and was a lot less stressful than it could have been. I would not hesitate to recommend Gilson and Gray should you wish to buy a house, or I imagine sell one.”
-Mr. Brzer Cuckoo, Google Review
Excellent services
“I can highly recommend the services of Paul and the PCM team. We received excellent services across the entire team. Paul is quick in his response to questions and provides guidance where needed. The team clearly has their client’s best interest at heart.”
-Mr. Reinardt Munnik, Google Review
3. Wilson Solicitors
Address: 697 High Rd
Contact Details: +442088087535, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wilson Solicitors is a three-decade-old company that started in 1989. They are experts in family, immigration, and public law.
Although they’re serving two other areas, we believe that it won’t be that much hindrance for them to focus on family law. That alone is a good shot for us.
We also find it a relief that they have family mediation services (online or personal, your choice). However, they also made it clear that they can’t provide this service if you’ve already asked one of their lawyers to act on your behalf.
We also appreciate that they gave us an idea about their fees! For the mediator, it starts from £350 + VAT (kind of expensive). Their pre-mediation meeting (you and your mediator) starts at £175 per hour, without VAT, which is standard in London.
They also offer legal aid, given that you meet the merits and means test.
If you decide to skip mediation, your solicitor’s initial consultation fees range from £125 to £350 per hour. It’s pretty convenient that they’re open to talking personally, via phone, and email.
These fees are only for their initial consultation, though. We’re clueless about how much their fees are when it comes to the actual hiring of their solicitors.
Patient and dedicated
“I have been with these solicitors for the past few years, and I have had the pleasure of working with such an excellent team. They went above and beyond to not only do their job, but to do so with the utmost kindness and respect throughout the whole process. I have never felt more at ease and heard. In particular, Adam has been a great help to me throughout my journey with Wilson Solicitors. His patience and dedication have helped me to reach my goal.”
-Ms. Muniira Tohow, Google Review
Great care and professionalism
“I am very grateful for the excellent service I have received from Dilan Kirdag.
She has always kept in touch and always updated me throughout the process with great care and professionalism. I can not praise her highly enough. I will be recommending her to all my friends and family.”
-Mr. Uk Chabi, Google Review
4. National Legal Service Solicitors
Address: Dowgate Hill House, 14-16 Dowgate Hill
Contact Details: +442036015051, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
NLS Solicitors started as a humble law firm in Aldgate and now proudly serves in 20 locations nationwide.
We’re happy to know they only cater to three legal areas, such as family, care, and domestic abuse. For us, it’s a positive thing since we don’t like a firm that offers scattered legal services (you know, quality might be affected).
For their workforce, we’re satisfied with their list of family solicitors. We think that they can give us a dedicated lawyer to work with in case we continue with them. They are not understaffed, and we love that!
We are also lucky to know their fees! They have a fixed fee of £750 plus VAT for divorce applications, which includes legal advice and drafting legal documents.
The fee is a bit high, so it’s something you should really prepare for. That said, we think it’s reasonable given their expertise and the level of commitment they provide.
We also appreciate that they gave us a heads-up on disbursements. These are additional fees like expert reports, barrister, and court fees. We like their transparency as it lets clients prepare.
They also offer legal aid, which we love! You can ask them to check your eligibility if you need help. Plus, they offer FREE initial legal advice if you request a callback.
Professional
“Always working with this solicitor company that is above and beyond for their clients!
Jestina is a great professional, and I am lucky to have met her.
Everything about National Legal Service Solicitors is the best.
Thank you for your service.”
-Ms. Mia La, Google Review
Supportive and great solicitors
“NLS supported me 100% from the start to the end of my case. They never fail to win my battle. Really appreciated the kind help and super support of this group, especially from my great solicitor Erina Kambang. All the best to NLS!”
-Mr. Rowena Manangkil, Google Review
5. Southgate Solicitors
Address: Third Floor, Crown House, 47 Chase Side
Contact Details: +442080040065, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: Open 24 Hours
Southgate Solicitors, with 45+ years of experience and 2,358 cases resolved, is another reliable firm to consider.
We like that their services are centred on family law. From separation to children, they have legal services available. They also offer divorce and child mediation services.
It’s also reassuring that they offer legal aid as long as you’re qualified. Aside from that, they also have alternative funding, which they can discuss through a strategy meeting.
They do offer fixed and per-hour fees, but they did not disclose them. We clearly understand since it depends on the case. We think that it’s better to ask about it during the initial consultation.
Despite that, it’s good to hear that they’re open to an interest-free payment. We also appreciate their no-obligation call, which is perfect for those who are just enquiring.
Although we appreciate the 24/7 phone line, we can say that the staff who answer calls aren’t as friendly as we expect them to be. Maybe because she’s having a bad day or what, but it’s not a nice first impression for us.
Highly recommended
“Very helpful and friendly people! Especially Amy Blaettler, who helped me throughout my witness signatures. She even took the time to explain all the areas, so I was reassured with everything. Highly recommend Amy, super supportive!”
-Ms. Laila Mushtaq, Google Review
Friendly and helpful
“My parents needed some documents signed and witnessed on short notice. Southgate were the first to come through and were the cheapest too. They were friendly, helpful and got the work done super fast. Thank you!”
-Mr. Zayn Mahmood, Google Review
