Family Law

Divorce & Family Law

Close Thornton has a long tradition of specialising in family law with a team of divorce and family law solicitors who provide a professional service in Darlington, County Durham and North Yorkshire. We appreciate that family matters can be stressful. Your case will be dealt with in an expert yet sympathetic manner.

We undertake all types of children’s work including care proceedings, residence and contact disputes, parental responsibility and child abduction.

The family law department is headed by Katie-lee Pearson who has an excellent reputation and is dedicated to taking a non-confrontational approach to family problems. Katie-lee is committed to providing a caring and personalised family law service to all of our clients. Katie-lee is ably assisted by Christine McLay, who has over 25 years family law experience.

We hold a franchise in family law and are contracted by the Legal Services Commission to provide free legal advice in appropriate cases. We will always consider your eligibility for public funding.

We are able to offer appointments with our family law solicitors at short notice in cases of urgency.

Fixed Fee Divorce

We can act for you in divorce proceedings for a fixed fee. If you are a petitioner (ie; the person who applies to the Court for a Divorce), the price is £650 + VAT, including Court fees.

Our fees are broken down as follows:

Court petition Fee: £340

Solicitors Fees: £265 + VAT.

Court Decree Absolute Fee: £45

When do you have to pay?

The Court fee of £340 plus £100 of the solicitors' fees is to be paid to the firm on instruction.

The remaining solicitors' fees and fee for the Court Decree Absolute are to be settled on application for Decree Absolute.

If you are a Respondent in divorce proceedings the price is £125 + VAT.

(Subject to terms and conditions)

Fixed Fee Initial Consultation

Your initial one hour consultation with one of our family law solicitors costs £50 + VAT. This price covers advice in respect of all aspects of family law including divorce, civil partnership, children, co-habitation and finances.

Payment Plan

If your situation is more complex and there are matters to resolve relating to finance and children, you can spread the costs with a monthly payment plan. Please contact us to discuss.

The Services