Guidance, insights & practical advice
Informative articles to help you understand the divorce process, prepare for court, and look after your well-being.
Is My Ex a Narcissist? Why the Label Won't Help You in Court
"Narcissist" is one of the most common words used about an ex. In family court, it carries very little weight. Here is what the court looks for instead.
Read moreA Prenup, a Three-Day Hearing, and the Lesson for Every Divorce
A wife spent three days in court trying to overturn her prenup and lost on every point. The case involved millions, but the lesson applies to every divorce: understand your needs, and don't pay to fight about anything else.
Read moreWhy 42% of Divorcing Couples Are Already Paying to Avoid Family Court
New survey data shows most people paying to skip the court queue aren't the exception anymore, they're closing in on the norm. Here's what's driving it, and what your alternatives actually look like.
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Separation Agreement or Consent Order: What Actually Protects You
If you're separating and there's a house or mortgage involved, here's the real difference between a separation agreement and a consent order, and why full financial disclosure matters more than either.
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How Divorce Navigator and Bridge The Gap Are Connected
Divorce Navigator and Bridge The Gap are run by the same person. Here's exactly how the two are connected, and what that does and doesn't mean.
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Understanding the Financial Remedy Court Process: FDA, FDR, and the Road to Resolution
If you are going through financial remedy proceedings, you may have heard terms like FDA, FDR, and Final Hearing. This guide explains what each stage means, why the process works the way it does, and what you should be doing at every step to protect your position.
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The Stages of Divorce in England & Wales: A Step-by-Step 2026 Guide
A plain-English walkthrough of every stage of divorce in England and Wales — from application to final order — with guidance on when you need a solicitor.
Read morePrivate FDR Explained: Is It Right for You If You're Representing Yourself?
Private FDR is usually written about for solicitor-led, high-asset cases. Here's what it means if you're representing yourself, where opinion differs on its value, and whether the cost makes sense for your case.
Read more"The Financial Landscape Isn't Clear": When That's a Real Reason to Delay Negotiation, and When It's Not
Family court guidance places a duty on both parties to negotiate openly once the financial picture is clear. But what happens when one side says it isn't? Here's how to tell whether that's genuine or a stalling tactic, and what you can do about it.
Read moreUsing AI to Prepare Court Documents? What Litigants in Person Need to Know
A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling puts litigants in person on notice: AI tools can help you prepare court documents, but you remain personally responsible for everything you submit.
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7 Things a McKenzie Friend Can (and Can't) Do For You
If you're representing yourself in family court, you may have heard the term "McKenzie Friend" but aren't sure what one actually does. Here's a straightforward guide to the role, its limits, and how it can help.
Read more"That's a Rich Person's Case" — No, It Isn't. Here's Why This Judgment Still Matters to You
A recent case involved a £47 million estate and a Moscow shopping centre. Your case probably looks nothing like that. But strip away the size of the numbers and the lessons are exactly the same size as your case.
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Will My Emails Really End Up in Front of the Judge?
Solicitors often warn litigants that their emails "will be relied on as evidence" if things go to court. Here's what that actually means, and what it doesn't.
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Your Case. Your Responsibility.
Your McKenzie Friend, solicitor, and barrister all support you — but the responsibility for your case rests with you. Here's why staying in charge matters, and what it actually looks like in practice.
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Selling the Family Business in a Divorce: Why It Almost Never Happens
If your ex runs a business, you've probably wondered whether the court can just make them sell it. Here's what usually happens instead, explained through a real Family Court case.
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Conflict in front of your child: what the evidence actually shows
Most parents believe they're the one protecting their child from conflict, not causing it. A recent family court judgment, current Cafcass guidance, and decades of research into childhood adversity all point the same way, and it isn't the separation that does the damage.
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Two Courts, One Family: What Happens When Criminal and Family Proceedings Run Side by Side
A real, anonymised family court judgment shows how criminal and family proceedings run on separate timelines, why family court doesn't find anyone 'guilty', and what it really means for contact when findings of fact are made.
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Will the Court Punish My Ex for Their Behaviour?
Why bad behaviour during a marriage usually makes no difference to the financial settlement, especially when money is tight.
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What Are Child-Focused Courts? A Plain-English Guide for Parents Representing Themselves
Family courts are rolling out a new model called child-focused courts (formerly Pathfinder). Here's what changes, how the process actually works, and what litigants in person need to do differently.
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One Year On From Standish: Why Judges Still Can't Agree What "Matrimonial Property" Means for Your Divorce
A year after the Supreme Court's Standish decision, judges are still split on whether a matrimonialised asset must be shared equally. Here's what that means if you're negotiating your own financial settlement.
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What Nobody Tells You Before Your First Financial Remedy Hearing
Most people learn the rules of financial remedy proceedings after they've already broken a few of them. Here's what the court is actually asking — and where your attention really needs to go.
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The Order Says What? What to Do When a Family Court Order Doesn't Reflect What Was Decided
You sat through the hearing and heard the judge speak — then the order arrives and something is wrong. Here's why the sealed order is the only version that counts, and what to do before the window closes.
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Wants versus Needs: Reading the Other Side's Schedule in Financial Remedy Proceedings
Receiving the other side's schedule of claimed needs can feel overwhelming. But a list of wants is not the same as a list of needs — and the court knows the difference.
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When the Legal System Leaves You Stranded: How to Bridge the Gap in Family Court
Legal aid withdrawn? Solicitor come off the record? You are not alone — and you are not without options. Family Court Bridge connects self-represented litigants with the support they need to keep going.
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What Happens to Money You Earn After You Separate? A £86.5 Million Case Explains It
A recent High Court case involving £86.5 million clarifies how courts treat deferred bonuses, share schemes, and carried interest that pay out after separation. The principles apply just as much to smaller cases.
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Do You Need a Chronology at Your FDA Hearing? What Litigants in Person Need to Know
If the other party's solicitor says no chronology is needed at your First Directions Appointment, think carefully about whose interests that actually serves. Here is what the law says and what you can do about it.
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Why the First Directions Appointment Could Be the Most Important Hearing in Your Financial Remedy Case
If you are going through divorce and facing financial remedy proceedings, the First Directions Appointment — or FDA — is the hearing that shapes everything that follows. In this post I explain what the FDA is, why it matters more than most people realise, and how going in prepared can change the outcome of your case.
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What is a McKenzie Friend and how can one help you in family court?
A plain-English guide to what a McKenzie Friend does, and how one can help you handle family court without a solicitor.
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I gave up everything — surely I get more than half?
Gave up your career for the family? In divorce, that counts as an equal contribution — but it rarely means more than half. Here’s why, and what actually does.
Read more7 Mistakes Litigants in Person Make in Family Court (And How to Avoid Them)
Most family court cases are not lost because of a weak position. They are lost through avoidable preparation errors. Here are the seven most damaging mistakes — and what to do instead.
Read moreWhy Saying Too Much Emotionally in Court Damages Your Case
Emotional expression in family court is understandable. But it is one of the most consistently damaging things a litigant in person can do. Here's why — and what to do instead.
Read moreWrong Wording in Witness Statements: The Mistakes That Undermine Your Evidence
Your witness statement is your evidence. The wrong wording — even when the underlying facts are strong — can seriously damage how the court receives it. Here's what to avoid.
Read moreWalking Into Cafcass Unprepared: What It Costs You and How to Prepare
The Cafcass safeguarding interview shapes everything that follows in your child arrangements case. Many parents treat it like a casual call. Here's what Cafcass is actually assessing.
Read moreLeaving Preparation Too Late: The Hidden Reason Litigants Lose Family Court Cases
Court hearings are listed weeks or months in advance. Most litigants in person start preparing days before. The consequences are almost always the same — and entirely avoidable.
Read moreNot Understanding Hearing Types: A Guide for Litigants in Person
Family court has multiple hearing types — and what happens at each is completely different. Not knowing what your hearing is for is one of the most common and costly mistakes litigants make.
Read moreReacting Instead of Positioning: Why Composure Wins in Family Court
In family court, how you present yourself is evidence. Reactive behaviour — however understandable — consistently damages litigants' credibility. Here's how to position yourself effectively instead.
Read moreUnderstanding Divorce Jargon: A Complete Glossary of Terms
Divorce terminology can be confusing and intimidating. This guide breaks down the most common legal terms into plain English, so you can navigate your case with confidence.
Read moreHow to Complete Form E: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Form E financial statement is one of the most important documents in divorce proceedings. Learn how to complete it accurately and thoroughly, with tips from an experienced Divorce Navigator.
Read moreCoping Strategies for Family Court: Managing Stress and Anxiety
Going to court can be overwhelming. Discover practical strategies for managing anxiety, staying calm during hearings, and looking after your well-being throughout the process.
Read moreA Child's Voice in Court: How Children's Wishes Are Considered
Understanding how the family court considers your child's wishes and feelings, and what this means for child arrangement applications.
Read moreMediation vs Court: When Is Each Approach Right for You?
Explore the differences between mediation and court proceedings, and understand when each path might be the most effective route for your family situation.
Read moreThe Divorce Timeline: How Long Does the Process Really Take?
From filing your petition to receiving your decree absolute, understand the realistic timelines involved in UK divorce proceedings and what can affect the duration.
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Does Signing a Prenup Mean You'll Get Nothing in Divorce?
A wife recently went to the High Court trying to get out of a prenup she'd signed 14 years earlier. She didn't win the argument she wanted - but she didn't walk away with nothing either. Here's what really happens.
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Fighting For Your Child — Or Fighting For Yourself?
A judge published a family court judgment this week that I can't stop thinking about. Fourteen hearings. Fifteen years. A daughter who spent most of her childhood as the subject of proceedings. Here's what it tells us about the difference between fighting for your child and fighting for yourself.
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