Digital tools are making it easier than ever for families to access legal support, with online portals, virtual consultations and secure document sharing removing many of the traditional barriers to advice. For families dealing with separation or divorce, the ability to speak to a solicitor without taking time off work or travelling across town has transformed how help is obtained. This shift is particularly evident in areas such as Sheffield, where demand for accessible family law services has grown alongside broader changes in the legal sector.
Digital shift in family law services
The adoption of legal technology has accelerated in recent years, driven by rising caseloads, post-pandemic remote working habits and pressure to reduce costs. Family courts have seen a significant increase in cases: between 2017 and 2019 there was a 20 per cent rise, with a further 7 per cent uplift by the fourth quarter of 2020. Domestic violence cases jumped 15 per cent between January and March 2021 compared with the previous year, while divorce petitions reached 30,420 in the same period. The stresses of lockdowns are thought to have contributed to this surge.
In response, firms such as Stowe Family Law, which has an office in Sheffield, have embraced cloud-based systems to improve client service. The firm uses Bundledocs for document management, cutting the time taken to prepare court bundles, and Access Legal Proclaim for remote file management and compliance. These platforms allow clients to provide information, sign documents and receive updates without repeated office visits. Two-factor authentication is used to keep sensitive case information secure.
The Ministry of Justice has been actively pursuing digital reforms through the HM Courts & Tribunals Service Reform Programme. Since April 2019, more than 4.1 million digitally submitted cases have been processed across 14 new digital services, including divorce proceedings in the Family Court. A new digital Private Family Law service now allows child arrangement orders, non-molestation orders and occupation orders to be submitted online, with national rollout planned for 2026. The digital reform of the family public law service made it mandatory for legal professionals to use the digital platform for all cases from November 2022.
Artificial intelligence is also beginning to play a role in law firms, with AI-assisted research platforms and document review tools helping solicitors work more efficiently. Some practitioners see potential for AI to transform legal correspondence and documents into simpler language, particularly for vulnerable clients. However, concerns remain around data security, confidentiality and accuracy. Digital exclusion is another issue: a significant portion of the population lacks confidence using the internet for complex tasks such as legal matters, and may rely on others, creating risks around confidentiality and timeliness. The shift to digital must therefore offer choice, human contact and proactive support rather than assuming proficiency for all.
Court processes go digital but backlogs persist
Digital filing, electronic case handling and virtual hearings have become standard in family law matters, enabling clients to track case progress online and respond promptly to court requests. The introduction of no-fault divorce under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which came into force on 6 April 2022, has further simplified proceedings by removing the need to prove fault or wait out separation periods, and by allowing joint applications. In 2023, 74.2 per cent of all divorces were granted under the new system, up from 9.2 per cent in 2022.
Despite the encouragement of joint applications, 73.1 per cent of final orders granted in 2023 were sole applications – a continuation of the historical trend whereby women have initiated the majority of divorce petitions in England and Wales since 1949. The overall number of dissolutions in 2023 was 103,816, similar to pre-pandemic levels, and the divorce rate per 1,000 married population stood at 8.6 for men and 8.5 for women. The apparent spike between 2022 and 2023 is attributed to clearance of the backlog during the transition to the new system rather than a genuine rise in marital breakdown.
However, the 20-week reflection period introduced under no-fault divorce means proceedings can take longer. Between October and December 2024, the average time from application to conditional order was 45 weeks – a 20-week increase compared with pre-reform figures – while the average time to final order was 70 weeks, a 17-week increase. Court backlogs remain a significant problem: as of December 2024, there were 47,662 outstanding family court cases. Although this represents a reduction of more than a quarter since August 2021, many cases still take too long to complete. Over 4,000 children were involved in cases open for longer than 100 weeks in December 2024, and average legal aid spending on cases brought by local authorities doubled between 2018 and 2022.
Online mediation platforms have helped to ease the pressure. Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) are now increasingly conducted online, with full legal validity accepted by all family courts in England and Wales. Many mediators offer same-day or next-day appointments, with certificates delivered electronically. For child arrangement disputes, online mediation can sometimes lead to quicker outcomes and lower costs, and may help reduce conflict for children. However, mediation is not suitable in situations involving current or past domestic abuse, or where a serious power imbalance affects safety or the ability to negotiate. Domestic abuse or coercive control is the most common reason mediation is assessed as unsuitable, and while the Ministry of Justice has proposed mandatory mediation, women’s aid advocates have expressed concerns about victims being drawn into a process where they can be manipulated.
Changes to legal aid are also affecting accessibility. In 2025, eligibility was expanded to more than six million additional people, with a focus on victims of domestic abuse and children. Those seeking protective orders for domestic abuse can now access legal aid without a means test. An improved online eligibility tool has been launched to simplify the process. From March 2023, means-free legal aid was extended to parents and those with parental responsibilities in certain public family law cases, such as opposing applications for placement and adoption orders. However, adjustments to the financial eligibility criteria for legal aid – which have not been updated in line with inflation since 2009 – have been delayed until 2026.
New family court case starts in the third quarter of 2025 (July to September) totalled 64,336, up 4 per cent on the same period in 2024, driven by rises in private law (13 per cent), financial remedy (13 per cent), domestic violence (4 per cent) and adoption (2 per cent) cases. Matrimonial case starts fell by 5 per cent. Annually, 270,474 new cases began in family courts in 2025, up 3 per cent from 2024. The average time for a care or supervision case to reach disposal was 36 weeks in the final quarter of 2025, down two weeks from the same quarter in 2024, with 41 per cent disposed of within the 26-week limit.
The limits of technology in complex family cases
Digital tools have made family law easier to access, but they have not simplified the legal substance of difficult cases. High-net-worth financial settlements, international divorce cases and child protection proceedings involve legal tests that cannot be resolved through an online portal. Solicitors must review financial disclosure documents, examine company accounts or trusts, and assess cross-border legal issues. During hearings, evidence must be presented systematically in line with court rules, and a solicitor’s preparation skills, familiarity with case law and experience with witnesses directly influence the outcome.
Accreditation remains a marker of quality. The Resolution Accredited Specialist status, recognised by the judiciary and the Legal Aid Agency, requires a rigorous two-part assessment demonstrating thorough knowledge of law, procedure and practice. When a Sheffield divorce lawyer holds this status, it signals proven expertise in handling sensitive, complicated cases. Technology supports the delivery of advice but does not replace the legal judgement required.
Emerging digital tools such as co-parenting apps are helping parents manage schedules, share expenses and communicate about children in a structured way aimed at reducing conflict. Courts are also increasingly addressing disputes over children’s access to digital devices, applying the principles of the Children Act 1989 to modern technology. Yet for all the convenience technology offers, the need for qualified, experienced solicitors remains fundamental. Families navigating separation still require professional guidance through financial decisions, matters involving children and long-term legal outcomes – and that combination of digital tools and specialist knowledge delivers better results at every stage.
