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When you need legal advice on personal, sensitive and often complex issues, you need to be sure that you're working side-by-side with someone who understands your unique circumstances and who you can trust implicitly.

Whatever your individual needs, no two situations are the same and our approach is tailored specifically to you.

Our specialist team of dedicated family lawyers is on hand to handle whatever relationship issue you’re facing. We’ll take the time to listen to you, and provide clear advice and guidance with meticulous attention to detail, formidable legal expertise and considered handling, to achieve the right outcome for you.

Wherever possible, our experienced family solicitors champion new approaches to resolving issues without the need for litigation. If court proceedings become the only option, you can be assured that we have the experience required to support you throughout the process.

Whatever your needs, our matrimonial lawyers will always have your best interests at the forefront of our work, and you can be assured we’ll secure the outcome you deserve.

Our team have put their decades of experience together to answer some of the most frequently asked questions they get around divorce and relationship matters. Click the links to find out more. We have also put together this useful divorce glossary to help explain common phrases, words and legal jargon.

Attending court and not sure what the process is? Our divorce solicitors have put together these handy guides for navigating the family court process in Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester

Our services

Marriage breakdowns and separations

We are able to draw on a wealth of family law expertise and specialists from other areas of law to provide seamless advice on all aspects of divorce and separation issues. We also have significant experience in handling disputes involving children. We can advise on:

Matters involving children

We fully understand matters involving children are particularly sensitive and we have significant expertise in dealing with such issues, always putting the child’s welfare at the centre of the work we do.

We can advise on:

  • Child abduction
  • Child Maintenance through the Child Maintenance Service
  • Child Maintenance, housing and other financial provisions for children under Schedule 1 of The Children Act 1989
  • Discrete issues concerning a child’s upbringing such as choice of school and healthcare
  • Domestic and international relocation
  • Living arrangements for children
  • Parental alienation
  • Parental responsibility
  • Surrogacy
Nuptial and cohabitation agreements

We use tact and sensitivity to draw up and advise on sensible documents, which can then be discussed and agreed with the other party and their legal representative:

Unmarried couples

Long-term relationships which do not have any formal legal recognition can result in very difficult and painful consequences in the event of a relationship breakdown. We provide clear, informed advice on:

  • Cohabitation disputes
  • Co-parenting agreements
  • Financial claims for children and child maintenance
  • Injunctions and Occupation Orders
  • Property disputes

What people say

  • I was fortunate to be represented by Maria Coster. Her calm, sensitive, friendly, pragmatic approach to my situation was reassuring and comforting. Maria ensured that I fully understood every stage of the legal process, which made me feel represented rather than railroaded. Her youthfulness is not to be underestimated. She is highly knowledgeable in all aspects of family law including divorce, children issues and financial matters resulting in her being a formidable force in the courtroom. She achieved the very best outcome for me and I cannot thank her enough.

    Legal 500, client quote
  • I found her commitment and determination quite simply exemplary and would highly recommend Maria Coster.

    Legal 500, client quote
  • I was very fortunate to have chosen Maria Coster for my divorce proceedings & financial order. She dealt with my case professionally & sensitively with an immense amount of support & was always very responsive to my calls/messages. I cannot thank Maria enough & made a very stressful situation a much more bearable one. I would definitely use Maria again if required.

    Client quote
  • Maria dealt with my case with a high degree of professionalism, expertise and efficiency and I found her to be extremely knowledgeable, which was most reassuring at a very stressful time. Given my overseas location.... all matters were dealt with from distance and with the minimum of inconvenience. I could not be happier with the level of service and advice provided and would not have the slightest hesitation in recommending Maria, and indeed now feel confident I have someone to call on for all my future personal legal and family law needs.

    Client quote
  • Thank you for your professionalism in the way that you've dealt with my case. You've shown a great understanding and clearly have excellent knowledge in this particular field, and this is no doubt helped to the point where at times it is often felt that due to your questioning skills this has had the effect of putting the other party on the back foot and indeed I felt that we had the upper hand. This has never felt more apparent than when you posed crucial questions, which I felt ultimately led to my wife reviewing her position, initially withdrawing her application.

    Client quote
  • • Maria assisted me through a pretty messy divorce. I had fantastic and realistic advice the whole way through which helped me to secure an outcome that was best for me.
    Maria is very knowledgeable and professional and approaches incredibly difficult personal times with sensitivity. She helped me to understand the legal processes and outcomes which really helped me too in terms of the divorce, finances and children matters. I am really grateful for her help and very fortunate to have chosen Maria.

    Client quote
  • I would highly recommend Maria Coster, I have used her for family law and she was professional, honest, and got the job done.
    I live in Canada and my ex is in the UK, and never had any problems being in a different country, her communication with time difference was impeccable!!

    Client quote
  • I have used Maria Coster over the last couple of years. I moved to Maria from another firm as I was left in the dark with things. From the first day I met Maria, we sat down and went over everything. She was extremely thorough and professional and exceeded expectations. Things were always explained clearly. My cases were always dealt with efficiently in a timely manner.

    Client quote
  • Maria Coster helped me through one of the most challenging times in my life. I was able to meet with her pre-covid and found her so empathetic and kind. I am so appreciative of her caring nature and support, as this is not something I ever expected to have to do. She clearly explained what would be involved in going through a divorce and outlined approximate costs upfront. I had very little understanding of the divorce process, Maria took the time to go through all the things that would need to be done as part of the process and explained other legal work I might require, explaining exactly why it might be needed and rough costs. She also provided recommendations for services that she couldn't provide, such as will writing and conveyancing solicitors. I ended up using Maria for my divorce, financial order and severing of tenancy. This has allowed me to have a clean break and has protected me from any future financial claims.

    Client quote

What we're thinking