The first steps before divorce are often practical rather than procedural. Before submitting an application in England and Wales, it can help to understand what will happen with the home, day-to-day finances and any arrangements involving children. If you are looking for divorce advice in the UK, it also helps to distinguish between legally ending a marriage and resolving the separate issues that may sit around it.
This article sets out five areas worth reviewing first, then compares four family law firms for situations where specialist support may be useful. The shortlist uses consistent criteria around family law focus, independent recognition, child and financial experience, constructive resolution and accessibility.
First Steps Before Divorce and What to Sort Out
You do not need every detail agreed before starting a divorce. A short review of the areas most likely to need separate decisions can, however, make the next conversation more useful.
1. Know where everyone will live
Think about the immediate living arrangements rather than trying to settle the long-term future of the family home on day one.
If one person is considering moving out, check what financial and practical questions need attention before making an irreversible decision. Ownership of the property and the divorce application are separate issues.
2. Get a basic picture of the finances
Start with what you already have access to. Bank accounts, mortgage information, pensions, savings, debts and income records can help show whether the financial side is likely to be straightforward or require more detailed work.
Formal financial disclosure may become necessary later. It is different from the paperwork used simply to apply for a divorce.
3. Keep children’s practical needs separate from the divorce form
Where children are involved, useful early questions concern routines, school commitments, holidays and how day-to-day care will work.
Child arrangements are legally separate from the divorce application. Parents may be able to agree arrangements themselves, use mediation or consider other forms of non-court resolution where appropriate.
4. Decide whether a sole or joint application is realistic
England and Wales allow both sole and joint divorce applications. A joint application is available where both spouses agree to divorce and there is no risk of domestic abuse. If cooperation is unlikely, a sole application may be more appropriate.
The choice does not remove the statutory stages of divorce. GOV.UK currently says the overall process normally takes at least seven months.
5. Identify what needs legal input before making decisions
If your first review shows that property, pensions, business interests, child arrangements or an overseas connection may need separate attention, early legal input can help prevent the divorce application from being treated as the whole problem.
If your situation involves property, pensions, business interests, child arrangements or an overseas connection, it may be useful to speak to a divorce solicitor before making decisions about the divorce application or related arrangements. A specialist can clarify which issues belong to the divorce itself and which may need separate legal work.
The shortlist below reflects different areas of family law experience. Stowe Family Law may suit someone wanting broad family law support across divorce, finances and children. Goodman Ray has particular depth in children matters and non-court resolution. Rayden Solicitors may be relevant where finances or family arrangements have an international element. Hall Brown Family Law combines divorce and financial work with a dedicated children practice.
The order reflects relevance to this scenario rather than an overall judgement of firm quality.
How the Firms Were Selected for 2026
The shortlist focuses on firms with substantial family law capability and evidence of work across more than the administrative divorce process.
Independent Legal 500 recognition was used as one corroborating signal. The comparison also considered experience with financial settlements, child arrangements and non-court resolution because those are common areas that may need attention when someone is deciding what to sort out first.
Accessibility and breadth of support were considered too. A parent may need advice about children while another reader may need financial expertise involving a pension, business or property.
Directory listings are one indicator rather than a guarantee of fit. Individual solicitors have different areas of experience, availability can change and fees vary. Current details should be confirmed directly with each firm before anyone is instructed.
Four Family Law Firms to Compare
1. Stowe Family Law
Suitable for
Families where the divorce may sit alongside financial arrangements, property, pensions or decisions involving children.
Why it appears on this list
Stowe is focused on family law and has teams across England and Wales, with its family practice also recognised in the Chambers UK 2026 guide. Current directory commentary records work across divorce, financial remedies and children matters, with experience involving businesses, pensions, trusts and international assets. Some regional teams also have access to in-house forensic accountancy support.
Notable strengths
- Specialist family law focus
- Experience across divorce, finances and children
- Legal 500 recognition in multiple regions
- England and Wales network supporting local family law teams
Good fit if
Several parts of family life may need attention at the same time and you want a firm whose family practice covers both financial and child-related work.
Questions to ask
- Which issues should I address before submitting the divorce application?
- Would finances and child arrangements need separate work?
2. Goodman Ray
Suitable for
Families where child arrangements or constructive resolution are particularly important.
Why it appears on this list
Goodman Ray is a specialist family practice with current Legal 500 recognition across children law, divorce and financial remedy, and family mediation. Its directory commentary records experience in both private children work and financial separation, alongside mediation and collaborative law.
Notable strengths
- Dedicated family law practice
- Significant children law capability
- Mediation and collaborative law experience
- Financial remedy work alongside child-related matters
Good fit if
Children’s arrangements are a central part of the separation or you want to understand whether an agreement can be developed outside court.
Questions to ask
- What options are available if we want to agree child arrangements constructively?
- Which issues need legal advice and which may be suitable for mediation?
3. Rayden Solicitors
Suitable for
Divorces with cross-border links or more complicated financial and child arrangements.
Why it appears on this list
Rayden practises in private family law. Current Legal 500 commentary covers divorce and financial cases involving trusts, corporate structures and overseas assets, alongside private children matters and international relocation work.
Notable strengths
- Private family law focus
- Financial remedy experience
- International and cross-border capability
- Children law experience
Good fit if
Work, property or family connections extend beyond England and Wales, or financial structures need closer review before decisions are made.
Questions to ask
- Does the international element affect the decisions I should make first?
- Is there information I should gather before discussing finances or child arrangements?
4. Hall Brown Family Law
Suitable for
Families dealing with more substantial finances alongside child-related considerations.
Why it appears on this list
Hall Brown is a family law practice recognised by Legal 500 in several regions. Its current directory coverage records divorce and complex financial work involving pensions, trusts and business interests, as well as a dedicated children team and mediation capability.
Notable strengths
- Family law focus
- Financial settlement experience
- Dedicated children capability
- Mediation and other non-court resolution work
Good fit if
The early questions involve both family finances and practical arrangements for children.
Questions to ask
- Which financial records would be useful at an initial meeting?
- Are there issues that should be resolved before any changes are made to the family home?
Why Family Law Specialism Can Matter at the Start
The divorce process legally ends the marriage once the final order is made, but it does not itself divide money and property or determine child arrangements. GOV.UK treats these as separate areas that couples may need to address alongside the divorce.
A specialist family lawyer may routinely work across those connected issues and can help identify which questions need attention now and which can wait. That can be particularly useful when the first practical decision concerns a family home, pension, business or children’s routine rather than the divorce form itself.
Constructive options matter as well. Mediation can help some separated parents agree arrangements without asking a court to decide them, and other non-court processes are available depending on the circumstances.
For a family-focused reader, more useful comparison points are relevant family law experience, clear communication, safeguarding awareness where children are involved and an ability to explain different resolution routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if I am considering divorce?
Start by understanding your immediate position on housing, income, major assets and any practical arrangements involving children. You do not need to settle everything before applying, but knowing where uncertainty sits can help you decide what advice you need.
Do I need a solicitor before applying for divorce?
No. Individuals can apply for divorce themselves in England and Wales. Legal advice may be useful where the separation involves property, pensions, business interests, child arrangements, international connections or uncertainty about financial claims.
Do finances have to be agreed before applying?
No. The divorce process and financial arrangements are separate. If you want a financial agreement to become legally binding, additional court steps are required.
Do we need to agree child arrangements before divorce?
No. Child arrangements are separate from the divorce application. Parents may make arrangements themselves, and mediation or other non-court options may be available where agreement is difficult.
Is mediation required?
Mediation itself is not compulsory. If someone wants to apply to the family court about certain child or financial matters, they will usually need to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting first unless an exemption applies.
Sorting out the first practical questions does not mean deciding the whole divorce in advance. It means knowing where the family is now, which areas can be managed calmly and which decisions need more information before they are made.
When comparing legal support, focus on the part of the separation that actually needs expertise, whether that is finances, children, an international issue or several of these together. This gives the first conversation a clearer purpose and keeps attention on the family’s practical needs.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Firm services, recognition, fees and individual lawyer availability can change, so confirm current details directly with any firm you are considering.