Rooney Family Law is a specialist family law firm. Family law is not one of the things we do; it is the only thing we do. Our family lawyers in Falkirk work from our office at 45 Vicar Street, which sits in the town centre, and every solicitor in the firm practises family law exclusively — most hold one or more Law Society of Scotland specialist accreditations in family or child law, with the rest working towards them.
If you are facing separation, divorce, or a dispute about your children or finances, we offer a free initial telephone call of approximately 10–15 minutes so you can explain your situation and understand your options before committing to anything. Call 0800 779 7848 or send us a message.
Why Instruct Specialist Family Solicitors in Falkirk Rather Than a General Practice
Most firms in Falkirk that take on family cases also do conveyancing, wills, commercial work, or crime. We do not, and the difference shows in the detail. Separation raises questions that cut across divorce, children, property, and pensions at once, and the answers interact: a concession on the house affects the pension claim; the residence arrangement affects maintenance. A solicitor who handles these cases every working day sees the whole board, spots the claim a generalist misses, and knows what sheriffs actually do with the arguments — not just what the textbooks say.
Family Law Only
Every solicitor in the firm practises family law exclusively — no conveyancing, no wills, no crime
Accredited Specialists
Law Society of Scotland accredited Specialists in Family and Child Law
3-Minute Billing
Where hourly rates apply we bill in 3-minute units, not the 6-minute units many firms use — a two-minute email is charged as three minutes, not six
Our Falkirk Office and the Court We Appear In
Falkirk Business Hub, 45 Vicar Street, Falkirk FK1 1LL. The office is open by appointment, with reception staff on hand, and appointments are available in person, by telephone, or by video, including flexible times where needed. Our solicitors travel to whichever of our offices and consultation locations across central Scotland suits you, so you see the right specialist for your case rather than simply whoever happens to be nearest.
Clients come to our Falkirk office from across the Forth Valley — Falkirk itself, Camelon, Grangemouth, Bo’ness, Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Polmont, Brightons, Bonnybridge, Denny, and Dunipace. If you are nearer Stirling, our Stirling office may be more convenient, and the same solicitor can see you at either.
Family cases for the Falkirk area are generally dealt with at Falkirk Sheriff Court, and we appear there regularly. Most family cases, however, never reach a courtroom at all — and keeping yours out of one, where that serves you, is usually the better outcome for both your finances and your family.
Divorce Lawyers and Solicitors in Falkirk
Scots law recognises two routes to divorce, and choosing correctly matters for both cost and speed.
Simplified Procedure — £550 All-In
Available where you have been separated for one year and your spouse consents, or for two years without consent, there are no children of the marriage under 16, and neither of you is making a financial claim. It is a paper-based application lodged at Falkirk Sheriff Court, and once lodged it typically concludes within a matter of weeks. Our fixed fee of £550 covers everything, including court dues.
Ordinary Procedure — £1,550 All-In Where Undefended
Applies in every other case — wherever there are children under 16 or financial matters to resolve. An undefended ordinary divorce usually takes a few months; a defended action takes considerably longer, which is one reason so few divorces are ultimately defended. Our fixed fee for an undefended ordinary divorce is £1,550, all-in.
The ground in both cases is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, established by adultery, unreasonable behaviour, or the separation periods — explained fully on our grounds for divorce page. Most Scottish divorces proceed on the separation grounds, and most are not defended. In practice, the divorce itself is often the last and simplest step: the real work is agreeing what happens to the children, the house, and the pensions first. We also advise on civil partnership dissolution, international divorce, and high net worth divorce.
Separation Agreements and Minutes of Agreement
Where terms can be agreed — and with the right advice, they usually can — the agreement is recorded in a Minute of Agreement, a binding contract covering the children, the home, maintenance, pensions, and anything else that needs resolved. Registered in the Books of Council and Session, it is enforceable without any further court process. It is faster, cheaper, and considerably less bruising than litigation, and it is how the majority of well-advised separations in Scotland actually conclude. Our guide to Minutes of Agreement explains the process.
Children: Residence, Contact, and What Used to Be Called Custody
Many parents search for advice on “child custody” or “access”, but Scots law has not used that language since the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The questions that matter are where a child lives (residence) and how they spend time with each parent (contact), and the court’s paramount consideration is the welfare of the child. Where parents cannot agree, the sheriff can make orders under section 11 of the 1995 Act, including residence orders, contact orders, and specific issue orders.
Two things surprise many parents. First, the court must give the child the opportunity to express a view, and there is no minimum age — the old presumption that only children aged 12 or over would be heard has gone. Second, an unmarried father who is jointly registered on the birth certificate (for births registered from 4th May 2006) holds full parental rights and responsibilities automatically. Our residence and child contact pages explain how these applications work in practice, and we also advise on grandparents’ rights, specific issue orders, and parental alienation.
Financial Provision and Pensions on Divorce
On divorce, the starting point under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985 is the fair sharing of the matrimonial property — broadly, everything built up between the date of marriage and the date of separation, valued at the date of separation. The 1985 Act then allows adjustment for specific principles: economic advantage and disadvantage during the marriage, the future cost of caring for children, adjustment from financial dependence, and serious financial hardship.
Pensions deserve particular mention. A pension built up during the marriage is matrimonial property even though it is in one name only, and it is frequently the largest asset after the home — and the most commonly overlooked. Pension sharing orders let the value be divided cleanly on divorce.
Division of the home and other assets, valuations, and offsetting
Valuation, pension sharing orders, and offsetting against other assets
Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements that Scottish courts will uphold
Aliment and periodical allowance, for children and former spouses
Pre-Nuptial Agreements and Cohabitation
Scottish courts will generally uphold a pre-nuptial agreement that was fair and reasonable at the time it was entered into, which makes them a genuinely useful tool here in a way they are not everywhere in the UK. They are particularly worth considering where one party brings significant assets, a business, or an inheritance into the marriage. See our pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements pages.
For couples who live together without marrying, the position is very different from marriage — there is no “common law marriage” in Scotland. The Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 provides limited claims on separation, including the section 28 claim, which must be raised within one year of the date of separation — a deadline that catches people out every year. The Scottish Government is currently reviewing this area of law. Our cohabitation page explains the claims, and a cohabitation agreement can put matters beyond doubt in advance.
Our Fees
For straightforward cases we offer fixed fees, and where hourly rates apply we bill in 3-minute units rather than the 6-minute units many firms use, so a two-minute email is recorded as three minutes rather than six. Payment plans can be discussed where needed.
You receive a clear costs estimate at the outset and updates as your case progresses. Full details are on our fees page, and every new enquiry starts with a free initial telephone call of approximately 10–15 minutes.
Family Lawyers Falkirk: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is your Falkirk office?
Our office is at Falkirk Business Hub, 45 Vicar Street, Falkirk FK1 1LL, in the town centre. The office is open by appointment, with reception staff on hand, and appointments are available in person, by telephone, or by video, including flexible times where needed.
Which court deals with family cases in Falkirk?
Family cases for Falkirk and the wider Forth Valley are generally dealt with at Falkirk Sheriff Court. We represent clients there regularly.
How much does it cost to see a family solicitor in Falkirk?
Your first step is a free initial telephone call of approximately 10–15 minutes, followed by a short follow-up email summarising the position. Any advice beyond that is charged at our normal rates. We offer fixed fees for certain defined matters — £550 all-in for a simplified divorce and £1,550 all-in for an ordinary undefended divorce — and these apply only where the divorce is undefended and there are no financial matters or child-related issues to resolve. Other work is charged at the applicable hourly rate in 3-minute units, and we will discuss likely costs with you before paid work begins, keeping you updated if the scope of the work changes.
How much does a family solicitor cost in Scotland?
The cost depends on the work involved and who carries it out. We offer fixed fees for certain defined matters: £550 all-in for a simplified divorce and £1,550 all-in for an ordinary undefended divorce. These fixed fees apply only where the divorce is undefended and there are no financial matters or child-related issues to resolve. Where hourly rates apply, we bill in 3-minute units rather than the six-minute units commonly used by solicitors, which can reduce the charge for shorter tasks.
How much does a divorce cost in Falkirk?
For straightforward cases we offer fixed fees: £550 for a simplified divorce and £1,550 for an ordinary undefended divorce, both all-in. Defended or complex matters are charged at hourly rates in 3-minute billing units, and we give you a clear costs estimate at the outset.
How long does a divorce take in Scotland?
A simplified divorce typically concludes within a matter of weeks of being lodged at court. An undefended ordinary divorce usually takes a few months, and a defended action considerably longer. Agreeing matters by Minute of Agreement first is usually the fastest route overall.
Do I have to go to court to get divorced?
A divorce is always granted by a court, but that does not mean attending one. In a simplified divorce, and in most undefended ordinary divorces where matters have been agreed in a Minute of Agreement, the case is dealt with on paper and you never set foot in a courtroom.
Can you help with child custody in Falkirk?
Yes. Scots law now uses the terms residence and contact rather than custody and access, and our solicitors advise and act in residence and contact disputes every day, including applications to Falkirk Sheriff Court under section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
What is a separation agreement?
In Scotland a separation agreement is usually recorded as a Minute of Agreement — a binding contract covering the children, the home, maintenance, and pensions. Once registered in the Books of Council and Session it is enforceable without any further court process.
How do I get free legal advice in Falkirk?
You can use the Scottish Legal Aid Board’s eligibility tools and solicitor finder to check whether legal aid may be available and find a firm that provides it. Citizens Advice Scotland also provides free information and can direct you to local advice. Rooney Family Law does not provide legal aid. Our free initial telephone call of approximately 10–15 minutes, with a short follow-up email, is a no-cost way to understand your position, and any further advice is charged at our normal rates.
Do solicitors still give 30 minutes free advice?
Practices vary between firms. We do not offer a free 30-minute legal advice appointment. We offer a free initial telephone call of approximately 10–15 minutes to understand the broad issue, explain how we may be able to help and discuss next steps, followed by a short follow-up email. Any further advice is then charged at our normal rates.
How quickly can I speak to a family lawyer?
We offer every new enquiry a free initial telephone call of approximately 10–15 minutes, usually within one working day.
Reviews of Rooney Family Law
Selected Google reviews from clients across our Scottish offices.
The decision to instruct Rooney family law was one of the best decisions I have made.
Excellent guidance, advice, professionalism and reassurance throughout.
It has been important to be able put my trust in someone at such an important and difficult time in my life.
Everyone has been supportive and helpful throughout.
I would not hesitate to recommend your services.
Thanks to Brian Rooney and all the wonderful staff in Uddingston.
Thank you once again
I hope I never have to use a family lawyer again, but if I did I wouldn’t hesitate to use Rooney Family Law and can’t recommend them highly enough.
Wonderful!! Thank you Rooney Family.
Legal review: Brian Rooney, Managing Partner and Law Society of Scotland Accredited Specialist in Family Law. Last reviewed: July 2026.
