Scotland, United Kingdom: family-law information
Family-law information for Scotland, United Kingdom: children, divorce, finances, maintenance and safety, with official sources.
Official starting points for Scotland
Check current requirements with the relevant authority before filing or changing an arrangement. General information, not legal advice.
- Children and living apart
- Sheriff Court ordinary cause and family actions
- Sheriff Court ordinary cause forms
- Scottish Courts divorce and dissolution guide
- Detailed Scottish divorce procedure guide
- Help after a break-up
- Separation agreements
- Legal advice and Scottish legal aid information
- Scottish court fees and exemption guidance
- Scottish court fee-exemption forms
- Child Maintenance Service
- Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
- Domestic abuse: contacting the police
Urgent help in Scotland
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 when safe. See the Scottish Government's domestic-abuse police-contact guidance or contact Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline using a safe method.
Children and care arrangements
The Scottish Government's children and living apart pages are starting points for questions about parenting plans and parental responsibilities and rights. They do not decide a person's status or an individual care arrangement. If court action is being considered, read the Scottish Courts' ordinary cause information and ask the appropriate court or adviser which procedure applies. The ordinary cause forms collection contains different documents; this guide does not select one. Check the court fee guide and exemption forms directly if cost is relevant.
Divorce and separation
Scottish Courts' divorce and dissolution information and detailed guide describe different procedures. Check their current conditions with the court or an adviser before choosing any route. The Scottish Government's support after separation helps identify children, housing and money questions alongside divorce. If costs arise, use the current court fee guide and fee-exemption information; this page gives no fee or eligibility decision.
Money and agreements
Use support after separation to list money and housing questions that need advice. The Scottish Government's separation-agreement information explains a possible way to record arrangements, while its legal-advice information explains where to seek help. Ask about the consequences of any proposed agreement before treating a draft as suitable or binding in your circumstances.
Mediation and legal help
Scottish Government separation support includes mediation among possible ways to address disagreement. Ask a provider about suitability and safe participation before arranging a joint meeting. If mediation is unsuitable, or the effect of an agreement is unclear, use the government's legal-advice starting point. This page does not assert that mediation is required.
Child maintenance
The Child Maintenance Service overview is the official starting point for available arrangements. Child maintenance does not decide contact or residence. If sharing information or contacting the other parent may be unsafe, ask the service about privacy and safe options before applying. This page does not calculate support.
Protection and immediate help
If you or a child is in immediate danger, call 999 when safe. Scottish Government police-contact guidance for domestic abuse explains ways to reach help; Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline is another specialist contact listed in the prepared official-link packet. For questions about protection or legal aid, start with the government's legal-advice information and a specialist. This page does not direct an application or contact with the other person.