Kathryn Ainsworth
Family, Children & Separation
Berkhamsted Office
Family, Children & Separation
Our highly skilled team of lawyers are expertly placed to advise on all the legal aspects of relationship and family breakdown providing personalised, practical solutions at a time when people feel at their most vulnerable.
Talk to one of our friendly and experienced team on 01442 872311
Divorce & Separation Financial Matters Children Mediation High Net Worth Individuals Separation Agreements Surrogacy Adoption (Including Contested Adoption) Civil Partnership Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements Living Together & Cohabiting Couples Collaborative Law Injunctions & Personal Protection Care Proceedings Family Carers Annulment Divorce and the Family Business Military Service Persons View all services
Family law solicitors with a high standard of excellence
Accredited to a high standard of excellence, the team includes members of the Law Society Family Law Advanced Panel, Law Society Children’s Panel, Resolution Accredited Specialists, qualified collaborative lawyers and accredited mediators.
This enables us to offer a full range of legal services from mediation to court proceedings, acting for UK and international clients.
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Family solicitors with top tier recognition
Recognised as ‘Top Tier’ in the Legal 500 directory, the team has an outstanding reputation but don’t just take our word for this. Have a look at our testimonials.
We are experts at what we do and understand the complexities and challenges you face. Our team is focused on finding the right solution for every individual situation.
Don't take our word for itSometimes people living in the Home Counties feel they need to head to London to get top quality family law advice, but Machins in a firm which proves that is simply not true. They are more than a match for the London lawyers.Legal 500 2025Machins is at the top of its field for public, family law. They are careful with clients, listen to their needs and deliver easy and timely paperwork. The associates are all hard-working, friendly and knowledgeable.Legal 500 2025It's a fantastic team with a fantastic level of service.Chambers and Partners 2024Kathryn Ainsworth and Richard Phillips are both outstanding. They have a constructive and approachable manner which encourages successful negotiations. Both parties benefit from such an approach.Legal 500 2024A fabulous family team. Very proficient, strong and with an excellent reputation. They are an excellent team of solicitors with a strong wealth of experience in all areas of family law. They are always a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend them.Legal 500 2024Covering all areas of Family Law, Machins have unrivalled expertise at all levels of seniority. Calm and measured, whilst fighting their clients’ corner with a level of commitment that is hard to match. They are courteous and professional. The family team have a great depth of experience and knowledge.Legal 500 2024They have a strong team of lawyers with a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of family law. Machins is a fantastic unit that stands apart from other firms by virtue of the exceptional quality and diligence they provide, alongside phenomenal client care. They work tirelessly to ensure the processes are flawless, facilitating the best outcomes for clients.Legal 500 2024A fantastic firm that upholds the value of truly serving and protecting the most vulnerable in society.Legal 500 2023Excellent team of solicitors who go the extra mile for the clients. Would highly recommend them. Always happy to work late and assist in drafting documents to ensure everything is fully prepped.Legal 500 2023Machins has a strong family team with a wealth of experience in all areas of family law. They are able to provide advice and in-house representation to adults, children and professional clients. They maintain a commitment to legal aid work where many local solicitors have ceased to undertake it.Legal 500 2023
Sometimes people living in the Home Counties feel they need to head to London to get top quality family law advice, but Machins in a firm which proves that is simply not true. They are more than a match for the London lawyers.
Legal 500 2025
Machins is at the top of its field for public, family law. They are careful with clients, listen to their needs and deliver easy and timely paperwork. The associates are all hard-working, friendly and knowledgeable.
Legal 500 2025
It's a fantastic team with a fantastic level of service.
Chambers and Partners 2024
Kathryn Ainsworth and Richard Phillips are both outstanding. They have a constructive and approachable manner which encourages successful negotiations. Both parties benefit from such an approach.
Legal 500 2024
A fabulous family team. Very proficient, strong and with an excellent reputation. They are an excellent team of solicitors with a strong wealth of experience in all areas of family law. They are always a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend them.
Legal 500 2024
Covering all areas of Family Law, Machins have unrivalled expertise at all levels of seniority. Calm and measured, whilst fighting their clients’ corner with a level of commitment that is hard to match. They are courteous and professional. The family team have a great depth of experience and knowledge.
Legal 500 2024
They have a strong team of lawyers with a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of family law. Machins is a fantastic unit that stands apart from other firms by virtue of the exceptional quality and diligence they provide, alongside phenomenal client care. They work tirelessly to ensure the processes are flawless, facilitating the best outcomes for clients.
Legal 500 2024
A fantastic firm that upholds the value of truly serving and protecting the most vulnerable in society.
Legal 500 2023
Excellent team of solicitors who go the extra mile for the clients. Would highly recommend them. Always happy to work late and assist in drafting documents to ensure everything is fully prepped.
Legal 500 2023
Machins has a strong family team with a wealth of experience in all areas of family law. They are able to provide advice and in-house representation to adults, children and professional clients. They maintain a commitment to legal aid work where many local solicitors have ceased to undertake it.
Legal 500 2023
Our Family, Children & Separation Team
Sarah Ashby
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Paul Owen
Family, Children & Separation
Berkhamsted Office
Faiza Asghar
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Molly Betts
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Jennifer Browne
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Joe Colley
Family, Children & Separation
Berkhamsted Office
Lisa Doherty
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Victoria Grant
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Eleanor Griffin
Family, Children & Separation
Berkhamsted Office
Ciara James
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Laura Martin-Read
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Estella McMahon
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Sorcha Monaghan
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Sheetal Patel
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Richard Phillips
Family, Children & Separation
Berkhamsted Office
Shelley Rolfe
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Reena Vadera
Family, Children & Separation
Luton Office
Our Family, Children & Divorce Services
Our team offers pragmatic and clear advice within a full range of services from mediation to court proceedings
Divorce & Separation
The prospect of divorce can be daunting. All our divorce lawyers are fully qualified, experienced and understanding. Our aim is to ensure we provide a pragmatic and sensitive approach.
Financial Matters
Arranging and dividing your finances following separation can be complicated and stressful. We can advise you of the process, factors to be considered and help you negotiate a settlement.
Children
The welfare of a child is the primary consideration when a family breaks up. We provide advice on disputes concerning children and our aim is to assist parties to achieve an outcome which in the best interests of the children.
Mediation
A Court process can be long and costly. We offer an alternative to court proceedings through mediation.
High Net Worth Individuals
The family team at Machins Solicitors LLP have experience in assisting high net worth individuals with their divorce and subsequent financial settlements.
Separation Agreements
If you do not wish to divorce, you may consider legal separation. There are two types of separation – Judicial Separation which involves the courts, and a Separation Agreement.
Surrogacy
We are specialists in all aspects of children’s law and have a team of four family law solicitors who have the knowledge and expertise in the legal aspects of surrogacy and are qualified to offer bespoke advice to assist you.
Adoption (Including Contested Adoption)
We are specialists in all aspects of children’s law and have a team of four family law solicitors who have the knowledge and expertise in the legal aspects of adoption and are qualified to offer bespoke advice to assist you.
Civil Partnership
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 gives same-sex couples who have entered a Civil Partnership the same rights and responsibilities as married couples during their relationship and upon subsequent separation. The Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Death (Registration Etc.) Act 2019, also allows heterosexuals couples to enter a Civil Partnership.
Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements
We can advise and draft a pre-nuptial agreement if you are intending to marry and need advice regarding a pre-marital agreement and the possibility of protecting assets that you have acquired before marriage.
Living Together & Cohabiting Couples
Our divorce and family lawyers are able to advise former cohabitees as to their respective entitlements on the breakdown of their relationship.
Collaborative Law
Collaborative Law is a co-operative approach between solicitors and clients where they work together to resolve the problems arising from the breakdown of the relationship.
Injunctions & Personal Protection
If you or your children been threatened or hurt, or you live in fear of violence or harassment, be sure to contact the police immediately
Care Proceedings
We have a highly respected team of children law solicitors with extensive experience of representing parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and children who are involved with social services.
Family Carers
Machins have a team of expert children lawyers with experience in representing grandparents, aunts, uncles and other family members in understanding the legal implications of the options available so they can secure the placement of a family child in their care under the most appropriate order.
Annulment
The family team at Machins Solicitors LLP have experience in assisting individuals with their annulment and subsequent agreements and financial matters.
Divorce and the Family Business
Latest Government figures show that 42% of people now get divorced. Frequently, one or both partners will have an interest in a business. Divorce can have a disastrous impact. It is therefore important to take good legal advice.
Military Service Persons
Machins Solicitors LLP have experience in providing bespoke and tailored legal advice to those who serve or have served in the military.
Price and Service Information for Family, Children & Divorce
This page will give you up to date information in relation to our pricing structure and timescales for our Family, Children & Divorce services.
Get in touch with us
Our experienced solicitors are on hand to give you advice and assistance.
Call our team on 01442 872311 or Contact Us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Why should you use Machins Solicitors?
Machins Solicitors are accredited to a high standard of excellence. As members of key associations and professional legal bodies we are able to offer a full range of legal services from mediation and advocacy to court proceedings.
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Spousal maintenance is often misunderstood. This article explains why it’s not automatically awarded in divorce, debunks common myths, and outlines what courts consider when deciding whether support is appropriate.
