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How It Works

A clear path to a fair settlement: a written opinion from a respected family law judge, within six weeks and for a fixed fee.

The Divorce Labyrinth

We created this side-by-side visual to show the stark difference between the traditional divorce process and the WhatwouldaJudgesay.com approach. We call it the #Divorcelabyrinth.

The Divorce Labyrinth Side-by-side comparison. Left: the traditional court route, where each spouse hires a solicitor and the case winds through disclosure, correspondence charged by the minute, court appointments and a final hearing, taking 69 weeks and 44,000 pounds on average. Right: the judge-led route - use SmartJudge to add details, agree to proceed, receive the judge's written opinion and debrief with a solicitor, within six weeks. Then choose whether Paradigm Family Law turn the opinion into a divorce, paying only the court fee. THE TRADITIONAL PROCESS Two firms, hourly billing, court timetables Each Spouse Hires a Solicitor Law Firm A Law Firm B Issuing Form A, Preparing Disclosure Issuing Form A, Preparing Disclosure Back and Forth, Charged by the Minute Back and Forth, Charged by the Minute Back and Forth, Charged by the Minute Back and Forth, Charged by the Minute First Appointment First Appointment Replies to Questionnaires, Charged by the Minute Replies to Questionnaires, Charged by the Minute FDR or Exchange WP Offer FDR or Exchange WP Offer Final Hearing / Open Offer Final Hearing / Open Offer Judge Gives Judgment 69 WEEKS £44,000 average cost per couple Sources: Legal Futures; Aviva (2014) #DivorceLabyrinth THE JUDGE-LED ROUTE 1 Use SmartJudge to Add Details Free, online and at your own pace 2 Agree to Proceed Agree barrister or judge route fixed fee 3 Judge or Barrister Written Opinion How your assets would likely be divided 4 Debrief With a Solicitor Understand the opinion and next steps 6 WEEKS Want help turning the judge's opinion into a divorce? YES Paradigm Family Law Prepare and submit your consent order and divorce paperwork for you. You pay only the £628 court fee* NO Your Other Routes A · Your own solicitor B · DIY submission C · Mediation D · Not divorcing *Court application fee, as of July 2026 whatwouldajudgesay.com

Download the Divorce Labyrinth Infographic

On the left, you see the standard legal route many couples take - each spouse hires a solicitor, there’s prolonged back-and-forth, rising legal fees, and long waits for court dates. According to Legal Futures and Aviva, the average process takes around 69 weeks and typically costs £44,000 per couple.

It’s exhausting, expensive, and often leaves people stuck in limbo.

On the right is our route: a written opinion from a respected family law judge, within six weeks and for a published fixed fee - something the traditional process has never offered at the start, when it matters most.

This isn’t guesswork - it’s a clear judicial opinion on how a judge would likely divide your assets, without ever setting foot in court. Instead of waiting years to hear from a judge, you start with one. That opinion becomes your roadmap.

And because financial remedy law is more structured than many realise, once the finances are settled, everything else can fall into place. That includes the children’s arrangements and legal paperwork - submitting a consent order to the court for approval. This is the formal step required to make your financial agreement legally binding and obtain a Final Order. In other words, it’s the paperwork that turns agreement into legal reality.

By getting financial clarity up front, you avoid confusion, reduce conflict, and dramatically cut down on time spent in emotional and legal limbo. We help you sort the hardest part first - so you can move forward, smarter, and faster.

The formal name for the service is an Early Neutral Evaluation: a private, non-binding opinion from a qualified judge, setting out the financial remedy orders a Family Court would be likely to make in your case. It works before you start a divorce, or as the way to reach a settlement with your spouse.

Start Your Free Assessment

How Our Service Works in Practice

1. Use SmartJudge to Add Details

Start with the free SmartJudge assessment - straightforward questions about your home, finances and children, at your own pace, with a clear report at the end. No card details, no obligation. Prefer to talk first? Call +44 (20) 3951 0212 or email hello@whatwouldajudgesay.com.

2. Agree to Proceed

When you want the judge’s view, the details you entered carry forward - with your explicit permission, never automatically. Our legal team checks that the service is the right fit for your case, including any conflicts of interest, then sends you a client care letter setting out the process, timeline and fixed fee for your review and signature.

3. Complete Financial Overview

Whether you’re completing the form with your spouse or on your own, it’s crucial to provide as complete a picture as possible. This includes detailing all financial assets - such as joint and individual savings, investments, property, and pensions.

4. Brief to Counsel

Our partners at Paradigm Family Law will prepare the brief to Counsel. This is where we outline your case for the judge. Our experienced legal team will analyse your financial disclosure and prepare a detailed brief to counsel for your specific case.

5. Independent Evaluation

A qualified barrister who also sits as a judge will provide an impartial assessment of how your assets should be divided, giving you a clear view of what to expect and a written legal opinion.

6. Expert Guidance

After the judge’s assessment, you’ll have the opportunity to consult with a legal professional from Paradigm Family Law to fully understand the decision and explore your options.

7. Next Steps (Optional)

If you choose to complete your divorce with us, our legal partner Paradigm Family Law prepares the consent order and divorce paperwork and submits it to the court for you - you pay only the court fee (£628 for the divorce application, as of July 2026). They can also support agreement on child arrangements, quoted separately.

8. Your Resolution

Our goal is to deliver a judge-led written opinion within six weeks following completion of your financial disclosure forms.

Our website offers a comprehensive resources section that features recommended mediators and family counsellors to help navigate the emotional impact and consequences of separation and divorce. Also check our FAQs.

What Our Customers Say

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