Family Law
Divorce, financial settlements, child arrangements, domestic abuse orders, cohabitation disputes, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, same-sex family matters & more.
Discuss this matterGuildford, Surrey · Est. senior-led practice
Divorce Lawyers & Family Solicitors in Guildford, Surrey
When you're dealing with a family issue, probate matter, employment dispute, or another complex legal situation, speaking to the right person matters.
If you live or work in England & Wales and need legal help, you can start by booking a free consultation with an experienced senior member of our law firm based in Guildford, Surrey.
5-star reviewed SRA-regulated LLP Guildford Family Court
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Detail
Direct access to the people handling your matter
£15M+
Recovered for clients in matrimonial & financial disputes
80+
Years of combined legal experience
5-Star
Every review we've received has been a 5-star review
England & Wales
Acting for clients across all of England & Wales
England & Derbyshire LLP
An independent, boutique law firm built on senior-led advice
Firm / office image
England & Derbyshire LLP is an independent, boutique law firm, supporting people, families, and businesses across England & Wales. Our solicitors draw on over 80+ years of combined legal experience to help you with your case.
Our experience in family law comes from years spent uncovering mistakes in divorce settlements, where many people had accepted far less than they were entitled to without realising they had been given the wrong advice.
£15 million+
Recovered since 2016 for people affected by negligent divorce advice and mistakes made by solicitors and insurers during financial settlements.
£400,000
Awarded to our client in a High Court ruling (Lewis v Cunnington Solicitors, 2023) after the Court found her solicitors were negligent in their advice.
The way matrimonial assets are now valued in the UK has all changed because of the work we've done.
Few firms have spent as much time analysing where divorce settlements go wrong. We are therefore uniquely positioned to maximise outcomes for our clients.
A wider legal practice
Today, England & Derbyshire LLP supports clients across family law, employment law, probate, property matters, motoring offences, negligence and litigation. We've preserved the same personal, senior-led approach the firm was built on — you'll have direct access to the people handling your matter, and every area of the practice is handled by solicitors with specific, tested experience in that field.
More about the firmOur practice areas
We cover the full range of legal matters
Every area of the practice is handled by solicitors with specific, tested experience in that field.
Children Law
Child arrangements, parental responsibility, parental alienation, non-molestation orders, forced marriage protection, and surrogacy matters.
Discuss this matterWills, Trusts & Probate
Drafting and updating wills, setting up trusts, lasting powers of attorney, and managing the full probate process. Dedicated specialists from the team working your case.
Discuss this matterEmployment Law
Redundancy settlement agreements and employment disputes. If you have been handed a settlement agreement and need it reviewed (and negotiated) before you sign, we are here.
Discuss this matterProperty & Commercial
Commercial conveyancing, leasehold matters, landlord and tenant disputes, and housing disrepair.
Discuss this matterCivil Litigation & Motoring Offences
Debt recovery, business disputes, partnership conflicts, director liability, and road traffic offences including speeding and licence protection.
Discuss this matterOur family law department
Family law is the most personal area of law there is
The decisions made here — about finances, about children, about where you live and what you keep — can shape the rest of your life. We don't take that lightly.
Our family solicitors handle matters from the first call to the final order. You have a named solicitor throughout. You know what's happening at every stage. And you're told things as they are, not legal shorthand.
If you don't see your situation listed here, call us. The answer is almost certainly yes, we can help.
Speak to a solicitorDivorce & No-Fault Divorce
As of April 2022, you don't need a reason to divorce, and your spouse can't block it. The process takes a minimum of 26 weeks, though in practice, once finances and children are included, most divorces take between 12 and 18 months. A lot of people don't realise that the divorce itself doesn't sort the money. We make sure that oversight doesn't happen to you.
Financial Settlements
Financial settlement is almost always the most significant part of a divorce, and the most contested. The family home, business interests, pension funds, savings, property abroad — all of it is on the table. Our background in professional negligence means we know exactly where settlements go wrong, and it's usually pensions.
Child Arrangements
Where children live, how much time they spend with each parent, how decisions about their lives are made: these questions carry the most emotional weight in any family breakdown. We act only in private children law, working toward outcomes that actively serve your children's welfare.
Domestic Abuse & Protective Orders
If you need immediate protection — a non-molestation order, an occupation order, or urgent injunctive relief — we're here with the legal help you need. We've carefully handled extremely complex situations, always putting your safety first.
High-Net-Worth & Complex Finances
We advise on divorces involving significant assets: business interests, multiple properties, substantial pension funds, overseas holdings. We work with forensic accountants and valuers where necessary, and we're not reluctant to push for full disclosure when something doesn't add up.
Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
Prenuptial agreements aren't yet automatically binding in England and Wales, but courts give them real weight when they've been properly drafted, independently advised upon, and freely entered into. We draft agreements that are built to hold up.
Cohabitation & TOLATA Claims
There's no such thing as a 'common law spouse' in English law. If you share a home, finances, or children with a partner outside of marriage, a breakdown can be legally complicated in ways that surprise people. We help you understand your actual position.
LGBT Family Law
Same-sex divorce, civil partnership dissolution, same-sex parenting, surrogacy, and related matters; all handled with genuine understanding and care by our specialist solicitors.
Meet the team
Our partners & solicitors in Guildford
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Adrian England
Partner
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Jane Derbyshire
Partner
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Madeleine Jones
Solicitor
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Marta Herkt
Solicitor
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Kate Wood
Solicitor Apprentice
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Anthony Derbyshire
Administration and Marketing
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Stanley Childs
Paralegal
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Ewa Lewicka
Paralegal
How we work
Get clarity on your situation
You can call us on 01483 332080, email us at hello@englandderbyshire.co.uk, or book a call with us directly through our website.
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Your first conversation is with a senior partner
Every new enquiry is handled personally by Anthony Derbyshire, a partner with over 50 years of experience. We don't delegate the first conversation because we believe it's the most important one. You speak to someone who can actually help you.
“I don't want it to be AI, I want it to be an individual. You will get personal attention. After talking to you about your situation, I'll work out a plan for you. If you're happy with what I suggest, then one of our solicitors will speak to you.”
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Two free consultations before you commit to anything
First with Anthony, then with the solicitor most suited to your case. You get to meet them, understand how they work, and ask what you need to ask before committing to anything.
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You only move forward if it feels right
If you decide to instruct us, we'll confirm our approach and our fees before any work begins. Many people worry about hidden costs, confusing processes, or feeling trapped once they contact a solicitor. We remove that uncertainty from the very beginning.
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Personal support throughout your matter
Once your matter is underway, you'll deal directly with the solicitor handling your case and they'll keep you updated as things progress.
Client testimonials
What clients say about our family law firm
Maddie is a very friendly, comfortable person to be around. She made me feel like I could/can tell her anything. Maddie is a huge support network to me. She goes beyond her role to help her clients. Genuinely I could not pick a better solicitor.
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help and support, you've been an absolute star, so inspirational & I was so lucky to have you representing me. You are a credit to England & Derbyshire.
To all the team involved in helping me, thank you. You will never realise how much this means to me. My life is changed.
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Local expertise
A family law firm with local expertise in Guildford & Surrey
Our solicitors know the Guildford Family Court well; the local procedures, the judges, and what to expect at every stage of proceedings in Surrey. This familiarity means the advice we give you is grounded in how things actually work here, not just how they work in theory.
Whether your matter goes to court or stays out of it, you're being guided by people who know this ground.
Speak to a solicitorCommon questions
Frequently asked questions
Simple answers to the questions we hear often about family law, divorce costs, and how the legal process works in England and Wales. If your question isn't here, the first conversation is free.
Ask us directlyFree consultation
Speak to a senior member of the firm
You can call us, email us, or book a call directly. Your first conversation costs nothing and comes with no obligation.