UK Family Law Market Report 2025

Steady Market Growth to Continue to 2028

The eleventh edition of this annual report which provides a review of the market looking at the legislative background, recent market developments and drivers, market structure, market size and trends with historical volume and value data, the key players and future market developments with forecasts to 2028.  

The annual value of the family law market reached an estimated £2.2bn in 2024, increasing by 5.4% on the 2023 market value. Cases started in the family court fell in 2024 but cases completed increased led by strong growth in financial remedies cases reaching a conclusion. CAGR of 5% is forecast between 2024 and 2028.

Selected statistics for England and Wales are:

• All cases started in the family courts decreased by 1.1% in 2024 but case completions were 4.8% up on 2023.
• Matrimonial cases (primarily divorce) are by far the largest group of cases in the family law courts accounting for 42% of all cases started in 2024. However, matrimonial cases started decreased by 3.7% with the number at 109,444 in 2024.
• The number of matrimonial cases reaching completion in the family courts in 2024 increased by 1.9%.
• By 2024, 96% of all divorce petitions were filed digitally.
• Categories of family law cases experiencing increases in cases started in 2024 were led by Children Act matters and financial remedies. The latter cases also witnessed a large increase in cases completed with growth of 16.8% over the previous year.
• Mediations completed in 2024 increased over the previous year although mediation starts fell.
• The last 12 months have seen a number of family law schemes initiated or extended and these include: opening up of reporting in family courts to all family courts; mediation voucher scheme extended for another year; child-led family court pilot scheme extended; pilot programme to improve protection for domestic abuse launched; pilot scheme to deal with low-value assets in financial remedies matters launched. There have also been calls for reform of the financial remedies process and the adoption process. Further details of all these developments are given in the report.