Family Solicitors for all Family Law Matters.

Issues and disputes involving children are particularly difficult and will require sensitive and expert handling. We specialise in all areas of child matters and have a wealth of experience in handling situations such as child arrangement orders, special guardianship orders removing parental responsibility and relocation proceedings. We also provide legal advice to grandparents and stepfamilies offering support on the issues that uniquely affect them.

In the event you believe a child to be at risk we will act immediately to ensure their protection by securing a court order without delay.

Whether you have decided to separate or to legally end your marriage through a divorce, we are able to help. We understand what an incredibly difficult and emotional decision this can be and will handle your case sensitively and with understanding.

In the event of a separation, we can help you to draft a separation agreement detailing how assets should be divided and addressing other matters such as arrangements for your children, giving clarity and reassurance should you later decide to divorce.

For couples ending their marriage, we are here to help you make decisions about your finances, property and children and to help you through the legal proceedings to ensure everything is progressed and resolved as quickly and amicably as possible.

We are able to advise you on all matters relating to your civil relationship. From making sure you have a full understanding of your rights surrounding issues such as children and inheritance, to advising on pre-nuptial agreements, we are here to oversee the legalities and ensure that everything runs smoothly for you.

We can also help with civil partnership dissolution if you have decided to end your relationship. We recognise the emotional toll this can take but we are here to help make the process as simple, quick and stress-free as possible. We are able to assist you with important decisions relating to your finances, property and your children and to protect all of your interests both now and in the future.

Our team of family law experts can advise you on all aspects of your finances, from advising on prenuptial arrangements and cohabitation agreements to handling financial settlements and post-divorce finances. Our combined legal and financial knowledge means we are best placed to advise and offer you legal support to ensure that your long term financial position is secure.

The thought of facing court proceedings can be a great source of anxiety for many of our clients, especially when it involves family disputes. At Lanyon Bowdler we place a great deal of emphasis on negotiation and are highly experienced in collaborative law. We have an extremely high success rate by taking this approach, often resolving matters amicably and effectively through arbitration and away from the courts.

Cohabiting couples are not recognised by the law even if they live together, so cohabitation agreements are designed to offer legal and financial protection to anyone who has decided to live together without the formality of marriage or civil partnership. The agreement can help with current and future financial arrangements including the amount each party should contribute to household expenses, as well as how any assets should be divided in the event of a separation.

This area of law is particularly complex requiring extremely careful handling by highly qualified specialists. Our experienced team can help clients with all aspects of international family law including transferring assets abroad, relocating overseas with your children, marrying or divorcing in another jurisdiction and international parental abduction.

For anyone facing fertility issues, or considering surrogacy or adoption for a much-wanted and longed-for child, we are here to help. We will provide you with all the legal advice and support that you will need throughout what is likely to be a lengthy, rollercoaster of a journey. It is important you are fully aware of all your legal rights and we will provide you with advice throughout the entire process, including at moments when you have key decisions to make, as well as helping with all the required documentation and paperwork.

We understand just what an emotional and significant time this is for you and your family and will be there for you, providing understanding and professionalism at all times.

We can help anyone who has experienced any sort of verbal or physical domestic abuse from a partner or loved one. We will take immediate action to protect you and anyone else who may be vulnerable, to keep you safe from harm. We have a number of legal means at our disposal in order to achieve this including injunctions and occupation orders.

Your safety is our priority and we will do everything in our power to help.

We are also able to represent clients who have been unfairly accused of domestic violence.

Our podcast, The Legal Lounge, features a number of episodes about family law, including issues relating to domestic abuse, the financial aspects of a divorce and divorce proceedings using the alternative dispute resolution process. Click on the links to listen to our lawyers sharing some very useful information and advice.

Recognised as one of the region’s leading family law firms by the 2025 edition of the Legal 500, a national guide that recommends legal practices. The guide states: ‘Lanyon Bowdler has a strong reputation for dealing with numerous complex matters involving financial remedies, children and divorce. The financial cases often involve business structures, trusts and other multi-jurisdictional assets. Children work includes advising on relocation, domestic violence and significant welfare cases.’

Testimonials

‘The family department at Lanyon Bowdler is ‘big enough to have a range of experience, but local enough to give a personal service’.

The 2025 edition of Chambers UK ranks the department in Band 2 for West Midlands and states: ‘It represents clients in financial matters involving trusts, pensions and overseas assets, such as divorce proceedings and prenuptial agreements, with notable expertise in cases concerning farming families. The team also supports clients in complex Children Act matters involving allegations of criminal behaviour and domestic abuse. The practice offers a range of dispute resolution options, including collaborative law services.’

Strengths

“They are very down to earth and provide truly expert advice and guidance. They are knowledgeable with vast experience in matrimonial law.”

“They give sensible and pragmatic advice, are good at handling client expectations and are always looking for a collaborative way to work through a case.”

Lanyon Bowdler is incredibly proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, to show our appreciation for the incredible work undertaken by current and ex-military personnel. In the local area, we are working in partnership with Shropshire Council and a number of other agencies including Help for Heroes, Royal British Legion, Veterans UK, local military regiments and West Mercia Police, to ensure that our military heroes can access the professional services they need.

We are delighted to provide legal advice, support and representation to our armed forces, and the clear understanding that we have of the unique issues that can affect them enables us to provide the specialist advice that they deserve. So that we can make our service as accessible as possible, we attend the hub in Shrewsbury town centre every month where our servicemen, women and veterans can come for any legal support and practical advice that they and their families may need.

We find that one of the main concerns people have when it comes to instructing a solicitor is how much it will all cost.

At Lanyon Bowdler, we have developed a number of flexible pricing options including fixed fees and staged payment arrangements to help find the best price plan for you and your budget. We are fully transparent about our pricing, offer service level guarantees, and will discuss everything with you in detail beforehand so that you are fully informed about your decision.

For more information about what you can expect to pay don’t hesitate to call us and we can talk you through all the options available.

Family lawyers work very closely with people and relationships, often when they are breaking down or when disputes have occurred.

The best family lawyers balance a detailed knowledge of the law with a high level of empathy. A good family lawyer understands that it can take time for people to reach difficult decisions and is able to bring calmness and clarity to the situation rather than adding more stress. Family lawyers must have a passion for helping other people and be able to explain legal matters in a clear, practical way to people who have no legal knowledge. The best family lawyers strive to reach resolutions through alternative dispute resolution methods, avoiding court whenever possible.

To find a good family lawyer you might start by asking for a recommendation from a friend or family member, or search online. The next thing you should do is call to speak to someone on the phone or arrange an initial meeting. You’ll soon get a feel for whether you can work with them.

Of course, it is important to find a family lawyer that is suitably qualified and experienced, but they should also be a good fit for you on a personal level too. Are they easy to talk to? Are they easy to get hold of when you need them? When dealing with highly emotional issues such as child custody, divorce, or domestic violence you’ll want a lawyer who gives very high-quality advice consistently and is approachable, calm, and totally reliable.

The family law solicitors at Lanyon Bowdler are regularly recognised in The Legal 500 and Chambers UK for providing exceptional legal advice and outstanding levels of customer service.