Northern Ireland, United Kingdom: family-law information
Family-law information for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom: children, divorce, finances, maintenance and safety, with official sources.
Official starting points for Northern Ireland
Check current requirements with the relevant authority before filing or changing an arrangement. General information, not legal advice.
- Family court information for people without a lawyer
- Northern Ireland family forms
- Divorce and civil partnership dissolution
- Northern Ireland matrimonial information
- Family mediation
- Legal aid information for the public
- Find a Northern Ireland solicitor (Law Society directory)
- Northern Ireland court fees and remission
- Northern Ireland child-maintenance options
- Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Service
- Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline
- Non-molestation and occupation order forms
Urgent help in Northern Ireland
If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services when safe. The Northern Ireland domestic and sexual abuse helpline gives support options; use a safe device or contact method.
Children and care arrangements
The Department of Justice's information for people without a lawyer is a starting point for family matters. Ask the court or an adviser which order and office apply to the particular case. Its family forms page lists different documents; do not select one from a general overview. Check the current court-fees page for cost and assistance information without assuming an amount or exemption.
Divorce and dissolution
nidirect's divorce and civil-partnership guide describes Northern Ireland's process. Use that nation-specific starting point to identify questions about the marriage, existing case and documents before acting. The Department of Justice family forms and court-fees information require a case-specific check with the court office or solicitor. England and Wales instructions should not be assumed to apply here.
Money and property
The nidirect divorce overview and Department of Justice matrimonial-finance starting point can help frame questions about financial arrangements and any court order. Ask an adviser which process applies before a binding decision. The Legal Services Agency's public information can help locate legal assistance; this page gives no legal-aid eligibility decision. Check the current court-fees page for any cost question.
Mediation and legal help
nidirect describes family mediation as an option for separating families. Ask a provider about suitability and safety before participating. If mediation is unsuitable or an agreement's effect is unclear, use the Legal Services Agency's public legal-help starting point or seek a solicitor. This page does not say mediation is compulsory.
Child maintenance
The nidirect child-maintenance introduction describes possible arrangements and the separate Northern Ireland service. Use the Department for Communities' Child Maintenance Service contacts to confirm how to reach the right service and manage an existing case. Check applicability before using a Great Britain service route. If sharing details could be unsafe, ask the service about safe options first. This page does not choose an arrangement or calculate an amount.
Protection and immediate help
If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services when safe. Northern Ireland's domestic and sexual abuse helpline provides support information. The Department of Justice publishes non-molestation and occupation-order forms and notes. Ask a specialist or solicitor about a safe, appropriate route; this page does not tell anyone to file a particular form, serve papers or contact the other person.