Millions of UK families are affected by separation and disputes each year, with family courts handling tens of thousands of applications for child arrangements, financial settlements, and domestic violence protection orders. This comprehensive analysis examines the latest family dispute statistics for 2026 and explores the profound impact these disputes have on families across the UK.
Report Highlights
- There were 67,844 new family court cases started in England and Wales in Q3 2025, with domestic violence applications surging 11% and private law children cases rising 11% year-on-year
- Contested financial remedy disputes have increased by 66% between 2023-2024, reaching the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, with nearly 3,000 contested applications in Q2 2025 alone
- 80% of private family law proceedings now have at least one party without legal representation, and 39% have neither party represented—a threefold increase from just 13% in 2013 following legal aid cuts
- The average divorce takes 74 weeks from application to final order, whilst over 4,000 children remain trapped in court proceedings lasting nearly 2 years or more
- Family breakdown costs the UK economy an estimated £41.74 billion annually (£1,364 per taxpayer), with civil and criminal justice costs alone totalling £7.86 billion per year
How Many Family Disputes Go To Court In England And Wales?
- There were 67,844 new family court case applications in England and Wales in Q3 2025, representing a 2% increase year-on-year
- Matrimonial matters (divorce and dissolution) accounted for 39% of new cases in Q3 2025, down 4 percentage points from Q3 2024
- There were 26,153 divorce applications under no-fault divorce legislation in Q3 2025, a 7% decrease year-on-year
- Private law children cases increased by 11% in Q3 2025, with 27,490 new cases involving 41,699 children between April-November 2025
- Financial remedy applications reached 12,275 in Q2 2025, up 10% year-on-year, with nearly 3,000 being contested applications
- Contested financial remedy orders surged 66% between 2023-2024, the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis
- Domestic violence applications totalled 8,022 in Q2 2025, up 4% from the same quarter in 2024
- Courts made 9,756 domestic violence orders in Q3 2025, up 6% year-on-year (9,172 non-molestation orders and 584 occupation orders)
- Public law care cases saw a 1% increase, with 11,323 new cases involving 18,162 children between April-November 2025
Are Domestic Violence Disputes In Family Courts Increasing?
- Approximately 3.8 million adults (7.8% of the population) in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025
- 2.2 million females (9.1% of the female population) and 1.5 million males (6.5% of the male population) experienced domestic abuse
- Courts made 9,756 domestic violence remedy orders in Q3 2025, a 6% increase from Q3 2024
- 94% of domestic violence orders granted were non-molestation orders (9,172), whilst 6% were occupation orders
- 166 individuals were identified as alleged victims in the sample (126 females and 40 males)
- Physical abuse was recorded most frequently (262 records), followed by coercive control (159 records) and sexual abuse (17 records)
- Domestic abuse-related crimes represented 15.4% of all offences recorded by police in the year ending March 2025
- Females accounted for 72.1% of all domestic abuse-related crime victims recorded by police
- Referrals of domestic abuse suspects from police to the Crown Prosecution Service increased to 76,393 in the year ending March 2025
How Long Do Family Disputes Take To Resolve In Court?
- The average time from divorce application to final order is 74 weeks as of Q1 2025, up 7 weeks from the previous year
- Private law children cases take an average of 47 weeks from case start to final order
- Public law care proceedings average 38 weeks despite a statutory 26-week time limit that has never been met since 2014
- Only 35% of care cases conclude within the 26-week statutory limit
- Over 4,000 children are in proceedings lasting nearly 2 years (100+ weeks) or more as of December 2024
- Nearly two-thirds of cases lasting 100+ weeks are concentrated in London and the South-East
- The outstanding family court caseload stood at 47,662 cases in December 2024, down 27% from the August 2021 peak of 65,000
- Wales performs best with average durations of 24 weeks for public law cases and 18 weeks for private law cases
- London averages 53 weeks for public law cases and 70 weeks for private law proceedings—nearly four times longer than Wales
- Financial remedy proceedings take an average of over 1 year to reach final hearing for contested cases, with complex matters extending beyond 18-24 months
How Much Does It Cost To Pursue Family Disputes In Court?
Court Fees (as of April 2025):
- Divorce, nullity or civil partnership dissolution: £612
- Financial remedy application (non-consent): £313
- Financial consent order: £60
- Child arrangements order: £263
- Enforcement order: £263
- Non-molestation order: No fee
- Occupation order: No fee
Legal Representation Costs:
- Solicitor hourly rates range from £190 to £495 per hour plus VAT
- Simple children arrangements cases: £15,000 - £30,000
- Complex children cases: £50,000 - £100,000+
- Straightforward financial remedy cases: £25,000 - £50,000
- High-value or complex financial cases: £100,000 - £500,000+
- Barrister fees: £1,500 - £3,000+ per hearing
- Expert witness reports: £5,000 - £20,000 per expert
Economic Impact:
- Family breakdown costs the UK economy £41.74 billion annually (£1,364 per taxpayer)
- Civil and criminal justice costs attributable to family breakdown: £7.86 billion per year
- Police costs: £5.15 billion annually
- Prison costs: £1.24 billion annually
- Court and legal services: £632 million annually
- Legal aid: £846 million annually
- Average “troubled family” costs the public sector £96,062 per annum
Are More Parents Representing Themselves In Family Court?
- 80% of private family law proceedings have at least one party without legal representation as of 2024
- 39% of cases in 2024 had neither party represented, up from just 13% in 2013—a threefold increase
- Only 19% of cases in 2024 had both parties represented, down from 41% in 2013
- The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) removed almost all private family law matters from legal aid scope
- Approximately 75-80% of litigants in person appear without representation due to inability to afford legal fees rather than choice
- The number of legal aid mediators fell 36% between 2020-2025, from 376 to just 241 practitioners
- Active mediation contracts dropped from 152 in October 2020 to only 92 in 2025
- The Law Society characterised the situation as a “perfect storm” with cases without representation nearly tripling since LASPO
How Successful Is Family Mediation In Resolving Disputes?
- Family mediation achieves a 69% national success rate, with some specialist providers reporting rates as high as 82%
- Over 27,000 separating families have been supported through the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, with two-thirds successfully avoiding court
- 51% of families only engaged with mediation because the £500 voucher was available and would not have self-funded otherwise
- Families spending more than the £500 voucher amount showed 76% success rates
- Families who mediated “together in one room” achieved 73% success rates
- Child Inclusive Mediation (where children’s views are sought) achieved 74% success rates
- Approximately 37,000 mediations are conducted annually by registered mediators across England and Wales
- A typical mediation session costs £125-£150 per hour per party, with most cases requiring 3-6 sessions
- Total mediation costs typically range from £750-£1,800 per person—a fraction of £15,000-£100,000+ for contested court cases
- Mediation typically concludes within 2-4 months, compared to 47-74 weeks for court proceedings
- Only 39% of MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) cases convert to full mediation, though this rises to 73% when both parties attend together
What Are The Main Types Of Family Disputes Going To Court?
Private Law Children Cases:
- 27,490 new private law cases involving 41,699 children between April-November 2025
- Cases increased 11% year-on-year in Q3 2025
- One in ten private law applications involves non-parents, with grandparents accounting for 58% of non-parent applicants in England
- The number of grandparents seeking court orders increased by 25% between 2017 and recent years
- 62% of private law cases involve allegations of domestic abuse
- Average case duration: 47 weeks
Public Law Care Proceedings:
- 11,323 new public law cases involving 18,162 children between April-November 2025, a 3.3% increase year-on-year
- Average duration: 38 weeks despite a statutory 26-week limit
- Only 35% of cases conclude within the 26-week statutory timeframe
- Over 4,000 children trapped in proceedings lasting 100+ weeks
Financial Remedy Proceedings:
- 12,275 applications in Q2 2025, up 10% year-on-year
- Nearly 3,000 contested applications in Q2 2025
- Contested financial remedy orders surged 66% between 2023-2024, the highest level since 2008
- Average duration for contested cases: over 1 year, with complex cases extending to 18-24 months
- Only 11.5% of all divorcees in 2023 contested their financial division arrangements before the court
Matrimonial Proceedings:
- 26,153 divorce applications in Q3 2025, down 7% year-on-year
- 71% from sole applicants and 29% from joint applicants
- 27,683 final divorce orders granted in Q3 2025, up 2% year-on-year
- Average timeline from application to final order: 74 weeks
- Matrimonial matters accounted for 39% of family court caseload in Q3 2025
Domestic Violence Remedy Applications:
- 8,022 applications in Q2 2025, up 4% year-on-year
- 9,756 orders made in Q3 2025, up 6% year-on-year
- 94% non-molestation orders, 6% occupation orders
- No court fee for either type of order
How Does Family Conflict Impact Children’s Wellbeing?
Mental Health Impact:
- 36% of children whose parents split reported poor mental health, compared to 22% with parents still together
- Children in private law proceedings show 60% higher rates of depression and 30% higher rates of anxiety than peers
- 100,000+ children are currently trapped in family court backlogs across England and Wales
- Family breakdown doubles the chances of: failing at school, police trouble, and homelessness
Court Proceedings Impact:
- Over 4,000 children are in proceedings lasting nearly 2 years (100+ weeks) or more
- 41,699 children were involved in private law proceedings between April-November 2025
- 74% of children in private law proceedings felt they “had a say,” but only 50%+ thought it made a difference
- Children report feeling unheard and experiencing significant distress during proceedings
Long-Term Outcomes:
- Children from separated families are twice as likely to experience poor outcomes across multiple domains
- Higher rates of: school failure and exclusion, behavioural problems, physical illness, and long-term health problemsHigher rates of: school failure and exclusion, behavioural problems, physical illness, and long-term health problems
- Elevated risks in adulthood: mental health difficulties, relationship instability, lower educational attainment, substance misuse, criminal justice involvement
- Outcomes improve substantially when parental conflict is minimised and stable arrangements provide predictability
Educational and Behavioural Impact:
- Lower performance in school, fewer qualifications, and higher rates of school exclusion
- Increased conflict with peers, aggression, and anti-social behaviour during primary school extending into adolescence
- Educational disruption most pronounced during prolonged court proceedings
What Support Is Available For Families In Disputes?
Mediation Services:
- Approximately 37,000 mediations conducted annually by registered mediators
- Only 241 mediators now delivering legal aid work, down 36% since 2020
- Typical costs: £125-£150 per hour per party, with 3-6 sessions required
- 69% success rate nationally, with some providers achieving 82%
- Family Mediation Voucher Scheme provides up to £500 towards mediation costs
Collaborative Law:
- Each party instructs a specially trained collaborative lawyer
- All parties commit to resolving issues through joint meetings without going to court
- If process breaks down, both lawyers are disqualified from representing clients in litigation
- Typical costs: £3,000-£5,000 per person for 4-6 meetings
Arbitration:
- Parties appoint a qualified arbitrator to make binding decisions on financial or children matters
- Provides a private and more flexible alternative to court with quicker scheduling
- Costs vary depending on arbitrator’s fees and case complexity
Cafcass Support:
- 38,813 new cases involving 59,861 children between April-November 2025
- Family Court Advisers conduct safeguarding checks and prepare Section 7 reports
- Waiting times for Section 7 reports: 14 weeks in some regions to 23 weeks in London
Legal Aid:
- Available for private family law matters where evidence of domestic abuse or child abuse exists
- Evidence must typically be less than 2 years old from specified sources (police, courts, health professionals)
- Applications for representation supported by domestic/child abuse evidence increased 26% in Q1 2025
- 81% of legal aid applications granted
Domestic Abuse Support:
- Specialist services: Women’s Aid, Refuge, Men’s Advice Line
- Domestic Abuse Protection Orders carry no court fee
- Multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) coordinate responses for high-risk cases
- Domestic Abuse Commissioner provides oversight and drives improvements
Help with Fees Scheme:
- Can waive or reduce court fees for applicants receiving means-tested benefits or with low income
- Addresses court fees only, not legal representation costs
Sources
Office for National Statistics (ONS) - Families and households in the UK: 2023 and 2024
Office for National Statistics (ONS) - Domestic abuse in England and Wales overview (November 2025)
Ministry of Justice (MOJ) - Family Court Statistics Quarterly (2023, 2024, and 2025 releases)
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) - Annual data summaries and private law demand data (2023-2025)
Gov.uk - Separated families statistics: April 2014 to March 2023
Gov.uk - Parental Conflict Indicator 2011 to 2022
Gov.uk - Family court fees (EX50)
Gov.uk - Supporting earlier resolution of private family law arrangements
Nuffield Family Justice Observatory - Data on mothers and fathers making parental applications in England and Wales
Nuffield Family Justice Observatory - Who’s coming to court in England (2021)
Nuffield Family Justice Observatory - Children’s experience of private law proceedings
Family Court Annual Report - October 2023 to September 2024 (Judiciary UK)
National Audit Office (NAO) - Government has more to do to reduce family justice delays (2025)
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Chronicle Law - Family Court Statistics Q1 2025: What they mean for solicitors and clients (October 2025)
Today’s Family Lawyer - 66% increase in the number of contested financial settlements (June 2025)
Today’s Family Lawyer - At least one person unrepresented in 80% of private family law proceedings (September 2025)
Today’s Family Lawyer - Courts continuing to fail children as timelines remain unmet (September 2025)
Law Society - Perfect storm brewing in family courts as rising numbers go unrepresented (April 2024)
Law Society - More than 100,000 children trapped in family courts backlog (March 2024)
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Rose Legal - Why Financial Remedy Disputes are On the Rise (December 2025)
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