friendly Affordable Legal Expertise

 Family Law matters can be some of the most emotionally difficult experiences a person will ever face. 

Whether you are separating, dealing with child arrangements, or facing court proceedings, we understand how stressful and confusing the process can feel. 

Our role is to support you, guide you, and help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and dignity.

We work closely with you throughout the process, preparing court documents, explaining procedures and options, and supporting you at each stage of your case.

We provide clear legal information, practical guidance, and hands-on assistance to help you present your case effectively as a litigant in person. Where appropriate, we can attend court with you for support and reassurance.

In exceptional circumstances, and entirely at the court’s discretion, a judge may permit a paralegal to address the court on a limited basis. This is not automatic and cannot be guaranteed. *

Above all, we are here to ensure you feel informed, supported, and never alone in navigating the family court process.

* Where we attend court with you for support, we do so in a non-representative role.
 

 Separation and Divorce Support – Practical guidance and document preparation to help you navigate the legal process following the breakdown of a relationship or marriage.
 

Property and Cohabitation Disputes – Assistance with disputes about the family home or jointly owned property, including ownership, occupation, and housing arrangements after separation.
 

Financial Settlements and Assets – Support with reaching fair arrangements relating to finances, property, savings, pensions, and other assets following separation or divorce.
 

Interim and Urgent Applications – Help with time-sensitive court applications where immediate decisions are required, such as urgent financial or protective matters.
 

Enforcement Applications – Assistance where a court order has not been complied with, helping you apply to the court to seek enforcement.
 

Occupation of the Family Home – Support with applications relating to who can live in the family home, particularly where safety or housing stability is an issue.
 

Domestic Abuse and Protection – Specialist support in cases involving coercive control, harassment, intimidation, emotional, financial or physical abuse, with a strong focus on safety and protection. Please see our Domestic Abuse Section.

Making a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect the people and things that matter most to you. 

A Will ensures your wishes are clear and legally recognised, giving you control over what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. 

You do not need to be married or in a civil partnership to make a Will, and it is especially important if you own property, have savings or investments, or have children. 

Without a Will, the law decides how your estate is dealt with, which can cause uncertainty, delay, and distress for those left behind.

We offer simple Will services tailored to your circumstances, including:

• Single Wills;
• Mirror Wills for couples;
• Wills that make clear arrangements for children and guardianship. 

Our approach is straightforward and personal, ensuring your Will reflects your wishes clearly and accurately, without unnecessary complexity.
 

A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to choose who you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you are ever unable to do so yourself. 

Many people assume LPAs are only needed later in life, but illness or an accident can happen at any age. 

Without an LPA in place, your loved ones may not be able to manage your finances or make important decisions for you, even if they are your spouse or partner.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney: 

1. Property and Financial Affairs, which allows your chosen attorneys to manage money, property, and bills.

1. Health and Welfare, which covers decisions about medical treatment, care, and living arrangements.

We provide clear advice and support throughout the process and offer reasonable, fixed-fee services, so you know exactly what to expect from the outset.
 

Domestic abuse is not limited to physical violence. It includes a wide range of behaviours used by one person to control, intimidate, or harm another within an intimate or family relationship. Abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, background, or circumstances.

Physical abuse involves the use of physical force to cause harm or fear. This can include hitting, slapping, punching, pushing, kicking, choking, restraining someone, or using objects or weapons. Threats of physical harm can also be abusive, even if violence has not yet occurred.

Emotional or psychological abuse involves behaviour that undermines a person’s confidence, self-worth, or mental wellbeing. This can include constant criticism, humiliation, manipulation, blame, gaslighting, threats, or making someone feel frightened or worthless. This form of abuse is often ongoing and can be just as damaging as physical violence.

Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour designed to dominate and control another person. It may include isolation from friends and family, monitoring movements, controlling daily activities, dictating what someone can wear or who they can speak to, and creating fear through intimidation or threats. Coercive control is recognised as a serious form of domestic abuse.

Financial abuse happens when one person controls another’s access to money or financial resources. This can include preventing someone from working, taking their wages or benefits, restricting access to bank accounts, running up debts in their name, or controlling all spending. Financial abuse often traps people in abusive relationships.

Sexual abuse involves any sexual activity that is forced, pressured, or carried out without consent. This includes rape, sexual assault, unwanted sexual contact, coercion into sexual acts, or using sex as a means of control or punishment within a relationship.

Harassment and stalking can include repeated unwanted contact, messages, calls, following someone, turning up at their home or workplace, monitoring their activities, or making threats. This behaviour is often designed to intimidate or control and can continue even after a relationship has ended.

Digital abuse involves using technology to control, threaten, or harass someone. This can include monitoring phones or social media, accessing emails or accounts without permission, sending abusive messages, tracking someone’s location, or using images or information to intimidate or embarrass them.

Yes. Many people experiencing domestic abuse are never physically assaulted. Abuse often starts subtly and escalates over time. Emotional, financial, controlling, or coercive behaviour is still abuse and can have serious long-term effects on both adults and children.

Children do not need to be directly harmed to be affected by domestic abuse. Witnessing or being aware of abusive behaviour can impact a child’s emotional wellbeing, behaviour, education, and sense of safety. The Family Court recognises this and treats domestic abuse as a serious safeguarding issue.

If you believe you are experiencing domestic abuse, you are not alone and support is available. Seeking advice does not mean you have to take immediate action, but it can help you understand your options and plan safely. If you or your children are in immediate danger, you should contact the emergency services.

What does domestic abuse mean?

Many people question whether they are experiencing abuse because they have not been physically assaulted. While the term “domestic violence” is often used, domestic abuse takes many forms and includes far more than physical harm.

Domestic abuse can include emotional, psychological and financial abuse, intimidation, threats, coercive or controlling behaviour, harassment, stalking, sexual abuse, and online or digital abuse. These behaviours are often repeated and patterned, and they can have a profound impact on a person’s wellbeing and sense of safety.

The cross-government definition of domestic abuse describes it as any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality. Abuse can be psychological, physical, sexual, financial, or emotional.

In some circumstances, the Family Court can make an injunction known as an Occupation Order. This type of order can require one person to leave the family home, or prevent them from returning, even if the property is jointly owned or rented.

Occupation Orders can also address practical issues such as who remains in the home and responsibility for household bills. These orders are usually made for a limited period and are often linked to safety concerns or pending financial arrangements. The type of order available depends on your relationship, your housing rights, and the nature of the behaviour experienced.

In urgent cases, it may be possible to apply for emergency court orders without giving advance notice to the other person. These are sometimes referred to as “without notice” or “ex parte” applications and are considered where there is a risk of significant harm to you or your children.

Emergency applications allow the court to act quickly to provide immediate protection while longer-term arrangements are considered.

This section will soon feature a series of podcasts focused on domestic abuse and protection. Each episode will explore the different forms of domestic abuse, how to recognise the warning signs, and the practical steps that can be taken to improve safety and seek support.

These podcasts are designed to provide clear, accessible information in a supportive and sensitive way, helping listeners better understand their options and feel less alone.

With over a decade of experience in the legal sector, we are committed to providing supportive, straightforward, and reliable legal assistance.  Here's a few of our Testimonials...

___________________________________________________________________

I cannot recommend Denise highly enough.

Before working with Denise, I spent in excess of £20,000 on former solicitors who, frankly, delivered very little value. There was a lot of correspondence, a lot of process, and a lot of invoices, but no real strategic progress. It felt like paper pushing rather than purposeful action.

From day one, Denise has been completely different.

She is proactive, sharp, and strategically on it. She understands the detail but also sees the bigger picture. There is clarity in her approach, and she does not allow matters to drift. Since she became involved, there has been noticeable pressure on the other side. You can tell when someone knows their file inside out and is not intimidated by noise or tactics.

What I value most is that she manages both the process and me. Legal proceedings are draining, and I will be honest, at times I would probably put my head in the sand. Denise does not let that happen. She keeps things moving, keeps me accountable, and ensures deadlines and strategy are aligned.

I trust her completely to crack on and get things done properly.

She combines professionalism, commercial awareness, and quiet steel. If you want someone who is proactive rather than reactive, strategic rather than administrative, and genuinely invested in outcomes, Denise is that 

Mohammed A, Essex, Feb 2026, Financial Remedy

___________________________________________________________________

MLS paralegals have been a cost effective and efficient help to a driving endorsement issue. 

They also helped with managing a related work issue .. Great service fully appreciated.

Dave F,  Surrey, Jan 2026, Civil Matter

___________________________________________________________________

I strongly recommend using this company. Denise wasn't just good at the court side she also made me feel very welcome and spent a lot of time helping me understand the whole process of what was happening. Denise went above and beyond for what I thought a paralegal would do. 

Very good and professional company and got me a result that I wasn't sure was possible,

Sarah B, Kent, Nov 2025, Financial Remedy

_________________________________________________________________

Excellent, professional, and efficient service

. The team provided clear communication, expert advice, and compassionate support throughout, making a stressful process manageable. Highly recommended for their diligence and positive results.

Kasha U, Kent, Dec 2025

_________________________________________________________________

 I highly recommend Denise from MLS. 

I used Denise recently for my court case for a non-molestation and occupation order.  Previously I used her services for another family matter :

I had such honest and accurate advice. Denise was methodical, diligent and professional at all times. 

Denise is extremely knowledgeable on all aspects of family law. I honestly can say that she made the complicated process so much easier to understand and navigate. 

Denise made sure I understood the process at each stage and was so supportive to me during the stress of the court proceedings.

Maria D, Surrey, Family Law Cases

_________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your professionalism, hard work and for making a potentially stressful situation go very smoothly. 

The cases included transfer of ownership of the house, TR1, intermediary between myself and ex partner, proof of identity, address of leaving party, declaration of share and solvency; and intermediary between myself and re-mortgaging and refinancing solicitors over the last year. 

I would highly recommend you and your services, thank you again. 

Rachel H, Kent.  Property Matter

_________________________________________________________________________

In October of 2022, Denise Madgwick represented me in a long standing complaint I had with Scottish Power.in which a positive solution was obtained.

It is my opinion that her contribution in advise to myself and the letter's sent to the company on my behalf, in which she reminded Scottish Power of there responsibility's under consumer law, was indeed very beneficial in bringing about the conclusion secured.

Many thanks again

Derek P, Kent, Civil Matter