Family Law Firm in Middlesex & Surrey

Compassionate Legal Support for Life’s Most Sensitive Matters

At Darton Law, we understand that family issues can be deeply personal and emotionally challenging. Our experienced family law solicitors provide clear, practical advice tailored to your unique situation. Whether you’re facing divorce, resolving financial matters, or arranging child contact, we’re here to guide you every step of the way with empathy and professionalism.

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Our Family Law Services

We offer expert guidance in all areas of family law:

Divorce & Civil Partnership Dissolution

We handle both straightforward and complex cases, including high-value assets and disputes. Our fixed-fee divorce service helps you understand costs upfront.

Child Arrangements & Parental Responsibility

Your children’s well-being is our priority. We help you establish fair and workable arrangements, whether through mediation or court proceedings.

Financial Settlements

We assist with dividing property, pensions, and financial assets to reach a fair agreement during or after a separation.

Cohabitation & Separation Agreements

We draft legally binding agreements for unmarried couples living together, providing clarity on ownership and financial matters.

Domestic Violence & Injunctions

If you or your children are at risk, we can act quickly to secure non-molestation orders and occupation orders to protect your safety.

Fixed Fees & Transparent Pricing

We believe in clarity when it comes to costs. Our fixed-fee divorce includes:

  • Drafting and filing divorce petitions
  • Serving papers on your spouse
  • Guidance throughout the process

We’ll always provide a clear quote before starting any work.

Legal Aid Available

You may be eligible for legal aid if you meet both the means test (income/assets) and merits test (legal need). We can help assess your eligibility and guide you through the application process.

Why choose Darton Law?

Legal Defence

We are creative law attorneys that take delight in identifying specialised family law legal options for both corporate and individual clients.

Client Focus

We prioritise serving our family law clients, and what motivates us is our passion for learning about their goals and outcomes.

Trusted Experience

We are recognised as a trusted authority in our industry because of our strong focus on the worldwide market, long market experience, and individual approach.

Meet Your Family Law Expert

Kate Maddison, our dedicated family law solicitor, brings years of experience handling delicate family matters with care and integrity. Kate is available to assist clients in both our Feltham and Surbiton offices.

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Kate Maddison Profile

Family Law FAQ’s

In England & Wales, there is only one ground for divorce which is the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage. This can be evidenced by proving one of five facts: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, living apart for more than 2 years with consent and living apart for a minimum of 5 years without consent.

A child can decide where they want to live from the age of 16, unless there is a residence order specifying their residence until the age of 18.

While it is possible to give estimates, it is impossible to predict the exact duration of the divorce process.

It is possible for the divorce process to take as little as 4 – 6 months if both parties agree to the divorce and on what basis to apply for one (uncontested divorce). Contested divorces, disagreements on children and finances and delays in actions required by the petitioner or respondent can slow the divorce process considerably.

On average it takes most couples approximately one year from submitting the divorce petition, until decree absolute is pronounced and the marriage dissolved. After reviewing the specifics of your situation, a divorce lawyer will give you a clearer understanding of how long your divorce will take.

There are many ways in which the financial issues can be resolved between parties. The most low cost way is for the parties to come to an agreement themselves or through mediation. If this is not possible, negotiations can take place between solicitors. The purpose of these methods is to reach an agreement and a financial order can be drafted. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached, Court proceedings will need to be issued.

This section is related to: family law

In principle, Courts do not like to interfere in matters relating to children, including resolving contact issues. The Court’s rationale generally is that both parents need to be involved in raising the children and separated parents should be able to make decisions between them making the children’s needs paramount. Should an agreement not be able to be reached, the nest step is mediation. If mediation fails, Court proceedings will need to be issued for a Court to make the decisions the parents cannot. Should matters progress towards Court proceedings, this would escalate costs.

This section is related to: family law

The adjustment of assets/finances covered by the financial court order may include the following:

  • property
  • money
  • shares
  • savings
  • pensions
  • debts
  • children/spousal maintenance

This section is related to: family law

Normally, the behaviour of your spouse including adultery or unreasonable behaviour does not affect the divorce financial settlement. The grounds for divorce you use to obtain a divorce have no bearing on your financial settlement. Extreme behaviour may be taken into account by the court, for example, if one partner’s violence has had a lasting effect on the other. If one partner recklessly or deliberately sabotages the financial position, for example, by spending recklessly or destroying assets, this could also be taken into account.

This section is related to: family law

Family law is a wide-ranging area of law. Anything related to divorce, separation and family matters is included. The family law solicitors in our family law firm will tend to cover all areas, although some may specialise in order to offer expert family law advice in a particular field.

The only way a joint owner of a property can be made to leave, if they are not prepared to leave voluntarily, is that the Court makes an Occupation Order, ordering them to leave or within the financial proceedings a property transfer order is made.

It is always prudent in matrimonial proceedings to make a will to prevent the Rules of Intestacy applying. If you do not make a will and die intestate before you are divorced your estranged spouse will inherit automatically under your estate.

You should make sure that you either remove any overdraft facility or cap it, as you are jointly and severally liable for it.

You should make sure that you either remove any overdraft facility or cap it, as you are jointly and severally liable for it.

No. You are still legally married as a Separation Agreement does not dissolve the marriage. To remarry you must first obtain a Final Order (previously known as a Decree Absolute) through divorce proceedings.

You should consider the level of conflict that could arise, for example about trying to agree a way forward on issues such as the family home, maintenance, pensions and any children matters. You need to be confident that you can resolve any contentious issues amicably. If the above matters have all been settled or terms agreed for inclusion in your Separation Agreement then you should have little difficulty in finalising the document with the assistance of a solicitor.

This page is related to: family law & divorce, family law solicitors, family solicitors, domestic violence law, private children act proceedings, family law firm

What do our clients say about us?

Used recently and couldn’t have been more pleased. Prompt, friendly and professional. All sorted and walked away feeling details explained and I could stop my worries.

Miss S, Staines upon Thames

As first time buyers, we had our Conveyancing done with Darton Law and I couldn’t have wished for a better service. We were completely clueless about the process but Anne, James and Darren kept us informed throughout, and took all the stress out of the experience. Many people told me how the “legal” part of house buying was the worst bit, however I couldn’t disagree more, everything went through seamlessly and we exchanged and completed exactly when we wanted to. Thanks to everyone in the team! Will definitely use Darton again in the future.

Miss W, Chessington

Thank you to all the team at Darton Law – you gave me my life back.

Mrs R,Shepperton

The service was very approachable and friendly. I was kept informed at every stage of the proceedings. Very impressed with the professional service of the partnership which lead to a very satisfactory outcome.

Mr W, Stanwell

I was able to contact at any time and always given a response. I knew what happening with my case every step of the way. I was totally impressed with the whole service provided by Darren and his colleagues and he also took the time to explain things to my family. Myself and my family could not be happier – not a single bad thing to say.

Miss H, Uxbridge

It was made very easy for me to understand. I now understand the hard work and time which was put into preparing the defence for my case, it was brilliant.

Mr P, West Molesey

Outstanding I was very happy with the firm.

Mr F.

Speak to a Family Solicitor Today

Whatever your family circumstances, if you need advice, please get in touch. We are here to help. To speak with one of our family law solicitors:

  • Fill in our online enquiry form; or
  • Call us on 0208 751 5115