What is a Section 278 Agreement?

A Section 278 Agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a highway authority to carry out highway works.

What financial guidance is available during the breakdown of a relationship?

Wollens’ Financial Remedy team supports clients in navigating complex financial issues—such as lump sum payments, property transfers, and ongoing support. They also assist in drafting legally binding agreements like Separation Deeds or Consent Orders.

Family Law Lawyers | Family Solicitors | Wollens Solicitors, Devon

From the excitement of a new relationship to the difficult reality of family breakdown, having the right legal advice at the right time can make a significant difference. At Wollens, our experienced family law solicitors support individuals and families across Exeter, Torquay, Barnstaple and the wider Devon area, offering clear, practical guidance tailored to your circumstances.

Seeking early legal advice can help protect your personal and financial interests, as well as those of your children. Whether you are entering a new relationship, considering cohabitation, or planning marriage, our team can advise on pre-nuptial and cohabitation agreements, helping you move forward with confidence and clarity. Taking proactive steps at an early stage often prevents uncertainty and conflict later on.

Equally, we understand that family relationships do not always unfold as hoped. If you are facing separation or divorce, our family law specialists provide compassionate, sensitive yet realistic advice to help you navigate what can be an emotionally challenging time. We regularly advise clients throughout Devon on divorce, child arrangements, financial settlements, domestic abuse matters and urgent applications, ensuring you feel supported at every stage.

Our approach is always focused on achieving the best possible outcome while minimising stress and confrontation wherever possible. Where appropriate, we encourage constructive solutions such as mediation or the collaborative law process, which can reduce conflict, save time and costs, and help families reach workable agreements without the need for court proceedings. However, when court action is necessary, you can be confident that our solicitors have the expertise and experience to represent your interests robustly.

Wollens offers a comprehensive family law service, combining legal expertise with a strong understanding of the local community we serve. With offices across Devon, our family solicitors are well placed to provide accessible, trusted advice to clients throughout the region.

rebecca.procter@wollens.co.uk 01803 225158

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Victoria Harle

Associate Chartered Legal Executive

victoria.harle@wollens.co.uk 01803 225113

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Testimonials

Wollens have been absolutely fantastic during the entire case but my experience working with Amelia has been exceptional. I cannot fault anything about her work and will most definitely recommend/request her if myself or anyone else of that matter needs legal advice/representation. – H., July 2026

During my dealings with Alicia she was clear, knowledgeable and responded quickly. I couldn’t ask for better help. – August 2026

What really stood out was the combination of professionalism and genuine warmth. Abbie understood that behind all the paperwork and legal correspondence was someone going through a very difficult period of their life, and that human touch made an enormous difference to me. She was calm when I wasn’t, reassuring when I needed it and incredibly dependable throughout. – N.C., August 2026

Rachel and Ilke went above and beyond what I could ever have expected from my legal team. I never felt like I was facing everything alone. Their compassion, dedication, patience and unwavering support meant more to me than they will probably ever realise. – August 2026

I’ve had so much help through you all and so much support, I couldn’t be more grateful, best solicitors about, thankyou so much

I contacted Wollens and I had Alicia Payne as my instructing solicitor. To say this lady was amazing is an understatement, she has all the qualities needed in these sensitive cases….. kind, understanding, compassionate and most importantly non judgmental. I couldn’t have asked for a better solicitors firm or a better solicitor than Alicia. She calmed me when I was frustrated, she reassured me when I didn’t understand something and she never ever didn’t reply to my questions and emails.

Abbie was very friendly and professional. Nothing was too much for her and she responded quickly every time no matter how trivial

Knowing that Lydia was behind through this whole experience gave me the courage and confidence needed to get through the process. Her knowledge and understanding of family law got me the best possible outcome.

Wollens is approachable and a welcoming and supportive space. This is especially important when dealing with family law, as these can be highly emotive cases.

Deborah Baker’s wealth of knowledge is evident in how she has dealt with my cases. Deborah is realistic, grounded and professional throughout, while also managing to be sympathetic, encouraging and supportive in moments where needed. I wouldn’t hesitate to take her advice.

A good firm with a range of quality solicitors

The team at Wollens are extremely approachable and knowledgeable and are keen to understand the needs of their clients. My experience is that they are inquisitive as to the ways which other professionals can help their clients achieve good outcomes.

Karen Miller and I have collaborated on complex family cases where multi-generational planning is involved and her approach has been truly open minded in how to best meet client needs. This is unusual in my experience, and it takes a lot of skill and understanding of the wider planning landscape to be able to adapt one’s thought process as the case progresses.

Karen Miller is very experienced with comprehensive knowledge of the estate planning area. Good appreciation of specific family circumstances.

Measured and pragmatic approach to dealing with potential conflicts between family members, executors, trustees and beneficiaries when dealing with the winding up of a deceased’s estate.

Victoria jumped straight into action and really made changes in my case. She was professional, calm, meticulous and caring. Thanks to Victoria and the team my children are home where they belong with no findings against me! I can’t thank her enough and could not recommend her more, she’s fantastic!

The team are able to work on multiple transactions at once. I deal with an all-female team of solictors and paralegals which is good to see!

The team is highly responsive to communications and gives a personable yet professional service.

Friendly, approachable, quick, knowledgeable, transparent on fees, high quality service.

All the individuals at the firm with whom I have interacted have time to listen and understand. They make an effort to address the needs of clients – whether in the context of home visits or working with time differences with overseas clients. At all times, the client comes first. The firm should be very proud of their team.

Very friendly and approachable team. You are dealing with one person who knows your case, not a different person each time. Accessible to non-English speakers – they use professional and accredited interpreters and translators which makes them stand out from the other legal firms in the area.

All team members are very professional and respectful in their dealings with clients and other legal representatives. The team has a wide breadth of experience.

The family team are highly experienced and specialised, providing exceptional service, top quality advice, representation and support to their clients.

This team is unusual as although there are more than one office in the area it focuses in providing a consistent high level of service to local people and having specialist knowledge and understanding of the region and its culture

Wollens were very professional – knew exactly what we needed and got on with it.

They are approachable, knowledgeable, have great strength in depth and offer a strong client service.

They are a forward-thinking firm.

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FAQ’s

What types of family law services does Wollens offer?

Wollens supports clients through all stages of family life – from pre or post-nuptial agreements and new relationships to separation, divorce, and beyond. Their expertise encompasses child disputes, financial remedies, domestic abuse cases, surrogacy and fertility related matters, among others.

What kinds of child-related issues can Wollens help with?

The firm handles sensitive disputes from where a child should live and how often they should see their parents to which school they should attend if this is not agreed. We assist with all children related orders including Child Arrangements Orders, Specific Issues Orders, and Prohibited Steps Orders under the Children Act 1989. They also guide clients through mediation when family tensions arise.

Can Wollens help with divorce and separation matters?

Yes. They provide tailored legal advice for divorce and separation. Services include fixed-fee or pay-as-you-go options, all focused on protecting your interests and supporting your emotional well-being through a relationship breakdown, whether you are married, in a civil partnership or living together.

Do you offer support with financial settlements after divorce?

Absolutely. Wollens’ family team supports clients in navigating complex financial issues following a relationship breakdown including how to split the family home, spousal maintenance, division of assets, property transfer, and pension sharing. They also assist in drafting legally binding agreements like Separation Deeds (where the parties aren’t married) or Consent Orders.

Are there alternatives to going to court for family disputes?

Definitely. Wollens offers Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) options such as mediation, collaborative law, arbitration, and more. These approaches are typically quicker, less adversarial, and more cost-effective than court proceedings. Recent reforms even encourage their use before resorting to litigation.

Can Wollens assist in high-value or complex family cases?

Yes. The team has experience dealing with high net-worth cases, complex business assets, farming divorces, and international matters. They provide pragmatic advice tailored to each situation.

Can Wollens assist with disputes involving farming or family-run businesses?

Yes. The firm excels in farming divorce cases, addressing challenges like illiquid assets, valuation difficulties, family-held property, and succession planning. Their pragmatic and commercially focused approach helps preserve both fairness and business viability.

What about complex or cross-border family law matters?

Wollens’ Family Law team also handles international cases – whether they involve foreign assets, overseas relationships, or cross-jurisdictional arrangements. They have access to lawyers in other jurisdictions to assist where needed.

What is a cohabitation agreement and do I need one?

Anyone moving in together should consider protecting their financial interests in the event of relationship breakdown. A cohabitation agreement defines key things like the financial responsibilities of each person and how assets would be divided in the event of separation. This is particularly important as cohabiting couples do not benefit from the same rights that married couples have.

What support is available for victims of domestic abuse?

Wollens offers immediate legal advice and representation in seeking protective orders such as Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders. Confidential and compassionate support is always prioritised.

How do I get in touch with the Family Law team at Wollens?

You can contact their experts directly via phone at 01803 213 251 or email through the website. Key contacts include Rebecca Procter, Rachel Carter, and Deborah Baker.