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Family Law Solicitors Richmond
Trusted Expertise When Your
Family Needs It Most

Facing a divorce or family law matter in Richmond? Shortlands Solicitors brings specialist expertise and genuine care – from your very first conversation with us.

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  • 20+
    YEARS SERVING LONDON
  • 3
    Branches
  • SRA
    REGULATED & AUTHORISED

ABOUT Us

Shortlands Solicitors - London's Trusted Family Law Firm

Shortlands Solicitors is a specialist family law firm based in Hammersmith, London, with more than two decades of experience representing individuals through the most demanding personal and legal challenges imaginable. We are the firm of choice for families, individuals, business owners, bankers and high-net-worth professionals facing divorce, major asset division and complex financial settlements. Our focused boutique model means every client receives the depth of expertise their case demands – from contested pension disputes and business valuations to intricate international financial arrangements. We do not offer a generalist service. We offer the right service, for the right client, at the highest level.

Our Services

Family Law Services for Richmond Clients

Divorce Solicitors

Decisive legal support through divorce, protecting your assets and securing your future.

Separation Agreements

Binding, well-drafted terms on finances and children for couples separating outside divorce.

Child Arrangements

Firm, focused advice on residency and contact disputes, with your children's welfare as the priority.

Prenuptial &
Cohabitation Agreements

Watertight agreements that protect your wealth and business before you marry or cohabit.

Financial Settlements

Tenacious negotiation to secure your fair share of assets, pensions and finances.

Mediation &
Dispute Resolution

A faster, lower-cost route to resolving disputes - without setting foot in court.

Will Writing

Precise, professionally drafted wills that protect your estate and your wishes.

Inheritance Tax

Lawful, effective planning to reduce your inheritance tax exposure.

Divorce

Divorce Solicitors Richmond - Because the Right Outcome Is Worth Fighting For

The legal decisions made during a divorce can affect the rest of your life.

For those in and around Richmond navigating the breakdown of a marriage, the financial implications are rarely simple – particularly for those with business interests, substantial pension assets and complex financial arrangements built over many years. 

Our divorce team has handled some of London’s most complex high-net-worth cases – covering contested settlements, business valuations, pension disputes and investigations into undisclosed finances. We bring the same level of focus and commitment to every client we represent.

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DIVORCE MATTERS WE HANDLE

Understanding divorce the process

How the Divorce Process Works

A clear overview of the key stages in UK divorce under the current no-fault divorce laws.

01

Initial Consultation

We review your situation and explain your options clearly.

02

Application Submitted

Divorce application prepared and submitted to the court.

03

Conditional Order

Court confirms breakdown of marriage is satisfied.

04

Financial & Child Matters

Negotiations run in parallel - most settle without court.

05

Final Order

Divorce legally finalised. Your new chapter begins.

Typical timeline: 6–12 months depending on complexity of financial and child arrangements.

CHILD LAW

Child Arrangement Solicitors Richmond - Because Your Children Deserve a Stable Future

A breakdown in family life should never mean a breakdown in your relationship with your children.

For families in and around Richmond, child arrangement disputes can be amongst the most emotionally difficult legal situations imaginable. Whether you are dealing with broken contact, a partner considering relocation or concerns that go to the heart of your child’s welfare, Shortlands Solicitors has the specialist expertise and genuine compassion to navigate it with you.

Our child law team has resolved hundreds of residence, contact and relocation cases – including complex international disputes that required swift and decisive intervention. We know how to move fast when it matters and how to build a strategy when the long game is required.

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Child Law MATTERS WE HANDLE

What our clients say about us

Thank you both for helping me through this sad process; you made it straightforward and much less painful than it could have been. I am of course relieved it is over. Excellent service, highly professional and humane.
Elena
I have found Shortlands an extremely professional and understanding firm. My solicitor Sian Whittaker has always explained proceedings in a manner that is easy to understand and the knowledge and advice given has always been supportive and invaluable. I feel that my work is being handled very professionally and they are very prompt with their replies to my questions. I would not therefore hesitate in recommending them.
Chief
During not only an extremely difficult time but also a complex divorce and settlement of finances, I found the staff at Shortlands to be extremely supportive and understanding. Shabana Walayat was in the main handling my case and I was always impressed by her quick grasp of the personalities involved and how she responded appropriately and effectively each time a particularly...
Sara Hayter
I have been in receipt of legal advice from Shortlands on a variety of matters for five years. This advice mainly concerned family law. Throughout this time, I have found the quality of the legal advice received to be strong. One matter did end up in court and Shortlands was able to appropriately defend my position with the court result going in my favor. In addition to the quality of the legal advice, Shortlands has a professional support team behind it. In summary, I do have genuine confidence in the firm both in terms of its legal advice and its service levels.
Nicholas Green
Dear Shortlands, A very big thank you for all your help regarding my case, brilliant service provided and I will be recommending your good name to all who seek legal representation.
Lee Kimberley
“I would like to convey my heartfelt thanks Shabana and her Team for their excellent work, professionalism and understanding, at a time when things were very stressful. I am grateful that my numerous phone calls and emails were always promptly replied to which was very much appreciated. I felt I had dedicated support and so much more. I would highly recommend Shortlands Solicitors and would definitely use them again in the future. Many, many thanks again for everything, you were brilliant”
Michelle Fernandez
Shortlands attorneys led by Shabana Walayat are the best and most cost effective lawyers you could ever ask for. My divorce and custody battle has been complicated, long with a complex international dimension. My previous lawyers had been incompetent in grappling the various components, but Shortlands have exceeded my expectations and together we have won a number of judgments. Not only are they great lawyers with intellect and understanding of case law, but they have taken my case as if it were their own. I would not hesitate to recommend them for complex international cases.
Andrew Darfoor
I would unreservedly recommend Shabana Walayat to anyone seeking help with childcare arrangements after separation/divorce or the matter of relocation. For what was a traumatic time in my life, Shabana gave me reassurance and handled my case with great expertise. I felt she was in charge of the situation throughout. She helped me gain a clear picture of the legal procedures and its terminology. Shabana and her team always responded to my requests quickly and kept me in the loop of the ongoing developments. Her approach to her work as a lawyer I experienced as both – compassionate and highly professional. And that I am truly thankful for.
Juliana Marx
I have found Shortlands a very approachable firm in dealing with my separation and divorce matters. They have been professional; respecting my point of view and providing the best advice on each situation. It has been very easy to communicate with them via email and on the phone. I certainly don’t think I would have been able to go through the process without their expertise and I am very happy to recommend them.
Ana Maria Serrano
When I first called Shortlands solicitors I was very scared and extremely upset. It was an incredibly distressing time for me, but after speaking to Shabana, from the very beginning she was very understanding and quick to listen to my concerns, give me the correct advice and guide me in a very difficult situation, she was very professional and easy to talk, she answered all the questions. She was fully engaged...
Flor Barsallo

How Can We Help?

Make an Enquiry

We understand that every case is different and has its own complexities. Our experts are dedicated to guiding you through the legal process with tailored solutions which work for you.

Mediation MATTERS WE HANDLE

Mediation

Family Law Mediation Richmond - Work Towards Resolution Together

Many family disputes can be resolved without ever setting foot in a courtroom.

For those in and around Richmond looking to resolve financial or child-related disagreements through structured dialogue rather than adversarial proceedings, Shortlands Solicitors offers expert family mediation. Our mediators bring professional neutrality, structured process and deep legal knowledge to every session – giving both parties the best possible chance of reaching a meaningful, lasting agreement.

Mediation is faster, more cost-effective and far kinder to ongoing family relationships than contested court proceedings. It is often the right first step – and we are here to help you take it.

Speak To a Mediation Solicitor

Financial Settlement

Financial Settlement Solicitors Richmond

Financial settlements after a divorce or separation can be straightforward or genuinely complex – but in either case, they deserve proper, careful attention. Our financial settlement solicitors look at your full circumstances: assets, pensions, income, debts, the needs of any children, and the contributions each party has made. There is no formula, and the right outcome depends on the specific facts of your case. We give you honest, realistic advice about what is achievable.

We always aim to reach agreement through negotiation, mediation, or collaboration before any court process is considered. When that is not possible, we prepare thoroughly for a contested hearing and work alongside specialist valuers, forensic accountants, and other professionals to pursue the best result. From first advice to final order, we are with you throughout. Talk to our Richmond team today.

Speak to a Expert Solicitor
Financial Settlement MATTERS WE HANDLE
Speak With an Experienced
Family Solicitor Today

Complex circumstances require real expertise. Complete the form for a confidential consultation with one of our specialist family solicitors.

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02076299905

Coverage

Serving Richmond and the Surrounding Areas

Shortlands Solicitors is based in Hammersmith, London – close to Richmond and easily accessible across South West London. We offer in person consultation at our Hammersmith office, ensuring expert advice is always within reach for those in and around Richmond.

We also serve clients more broadly – our Birmingham team supports individuals across the Midlands, and our Manchester office covers the North West and beyond, all providing the same quality of specialist family law advice.

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Areas We Serve

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