Family Law Marlow
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“I was referred to Purcell Solicitors by a friend and I now understand exactly why she recommended them. Expert, empathetic, and focused on getting the right outcome. The settlement was fair, properly documented, and concluded with less conflict than I had feared.” – Review Solicitors
Serving Marlow and the Thames Valley
Purcell Solicitors advises clients in Marlow, Bourne End, Cookham, and across the Thames Valley on divorce financial settlements and family law. Our Milton Keynes office is approximately 40 miles from Marlow. We advise clients from this part of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire regularly, primarily by remote consultation with in-person appointments available on request.
Marlow is a prosperous riverside town on the Thames, between High Wycombe and Maidenhead, within direct commuting distance of London Paddington. Average sold prices in the town run at around £730,000, with detached homes averaging above £930,000. The financial profile of divorces here is distinctive: investment portfolios, employer share schemes, and pension wealth accumulated across long London-based corporate careers are common features alongside the housing equity. These are assets that require specialist legal advice, a standard property-and-pension analysis does not cover them.
We are ranked in Chambers and Partners for family and divorce law. Our practice covers family law exclusively and all solicitors hold Resolution membership.
Employer Share Schemes and Corporate Wealth
For Marlow clients in financial services, technology, or other London-facing sectors, employer share schemes are frequently a material part of the financial settlement. Restricted stock units, long-term incentive plan awards, and share options require specific handling. The key questions are whether the award was earned during the marriage, whether it has vested, and how to value unvested awards that will pay out in the future.
Courts apply section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 to all assets, including share scheme entitlements. Awards earned partly during the marriage and partly post-separation are not automatically excluded, courts will apportion them by reference to the period of service that fell within the marriage. We work with remuneration specialists where precise valuation is needed.
The framework for dividing assets in cases above bare needs was confirmed by the House of Lords in Miller v Miller; McFarlane v McFarlane [2006] UKHL 24, which established needs, sharing, and compensation as the three guiding principles. The sharing principle derives from White v White [2000] UKHL 54, which set equal division as the starting point for matrimonial assets.
Marlow clients with assets or pension rights in more than one jurisdiction will find our international divorce and pensions and divorce guidance directly relevant.
Our Expertise
Our Family Law Services
We advise Marlow and Thames Valley clients on:
- Divorce Financial Settlements, employer share schemes, investment portfolios, overseas assets, pension funds, and business interests
- Separation and Divorce, guidance from application through to final order under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
- Children’s Law, child arrangements, relocation within the UK and internationally, parental responsibility disputes
- Family Mediation, confidential, structured resolution with our in-house accredited mediators
- Cohabitation, property and financial claims for unmarried couples, including TOLATA declarations of trust. See our cohabitation solicitors page
- Collaborative Law, four-way settlement meetings with a commitment to resolve without court. Details on our collaborative law page
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements, advance protection for pre-marital wealth. Details on our prenuptial agreements page
- International Family Law, cross-border divorces, overseas assets, and jurisdictional questions
Court for Marlow Family Cases
Family and financial remedy proceedings for Marlow clients are typically heard at the High Wycombe County Court and Family Court, The Law Courts, Ground Floor, Easton Street, High Wycombe, HP11 1LR. General enquiries: 0300 123 5577. Cases with international elements or very high values may be allocated to the Financial Remedies Court sitting at Reading or another regional centre.
Many Marlow clients resolve their financial arrangements through private Financial Dispute Resolution or direct negotiation, formalised in a Consent Order, without court attendance. Our non-court dispute resolution page covers all available options.
Why Marlow Clients Choose Purcell Solicitors
Financial complexity is our specialism. Our Chambers and Partners ranking reflects consistent delivery in cases involving employer share schemes, pension funds, business interests, and international assets, the asset profile that is common in this part of the Thames Valley.
Remote working is fully embedded in how we operate. A Marlow client receives exactly the same quality of advice by phone, email, and secure video call as someone sitting in our Milton Keynes office. The 40-mile distance is not an obstacle.
Our Family Law Team
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Pauline Purcell — Managing Director, Family Solicitor, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer and Family Arbitrator, over 30 years’ experience
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Mandi Austin — Director, Law Society Family Law Panel accredited specialist, over 25 years’ experience
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Lisa Buckridge — Director, Collaborative Lawyer, Family Mediation Council-accredited Mediator, over 20 years’ experience
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Haidee French — Law Society Family Law Panel accredited specialist, over 12 years’ experience
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Stephanie Dodman — Family Law Solicitor, Resolution member
Get in Touch
Call 01908 693000 or email enquiries@purcellsolicitors.co.uk. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Remote consultations by Zoom or Teams available to all clients; in-person appointments at our Milton Keynes office.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are RSUs and LTIPs treated in a divorce?
We have a property abroad. Does that affect our English divorce?
What is collaborative law?
Which court handles family cases from Marlow?
About Purcell Solicitors?
When a relationship breaks down and families need to readjust, we understand how upsetting and worrying it is for those involved.
Our team of family law experts throughout the Bedfordshire area will work with you compassionately and collaboratively, so you feel fully supported. We will help you resolve your family law legal issues either by agreement or, if necessary, by robustly representing your interests in Court or Arbitration proceedings. Combining our experience in family law with our high level of service, to provide you with the very best family law advice and representation.
Why Use Purcell Solicitors?
Experts in complex matrimonial cases
With long-standing recognition in Chambers and Partners Guide, we are experts in family law, recommended by peers and professionals. Benefit from our extensive experience in all separation-related matters.
Bedford-based Family Lawyers
We are skilled in dealing with every aspect of family law and separation.
Talk to us in confidence
Book a call to discuss your circumstances with our specialist team.
Safe and supportive environment
Rest assured, we are on your side and here to listen to your concerns.
Specialist advice and representation
Your dedicated Bedford family lawyer will do everything to help achieve the solution you want as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
Dispute Resolution Experts
Where possible, we always strive to resolve matters out of court successfully and are specialists in non-court dispute resolution.
We Are Accredited
