If you’re ending your marriage or civil partnership, you’ve probably already Googled “how to get divorced” and found a mountain of forms, government pages and conflicting advice.
It’s overwhelming.
It’s confusing.
And if you get it wrong, it can be expensive.
the real problem no one warns you about...
The truth is, the online divorce system was never designed to give you personalised legal guidance. It’s just a form. It won’t tell you:
When to pause the process to protect your finances
Which boxes are critical and which are irrelevant
How to avoid the common errors that delay your case by months
And yet, these are the mistakes I see all the time in my work as a family law solicitor. Mistakes that can cost far more than £79.99 to fix.
That’s why I created this course: to bridge the gap between “totally on your own” and “paying £300 an hour for a solicitor.
the affordable way to get it right the first time...
That's why I created the Divorce Course E-book Manual - my step-by-step, plain-English guide to legally ending your marriage or civil partnership, without solicitor fees, without guesswork and without the risk of costly mistakes.
It’s the exact guidance I give my regulated clients (at £300 + VAT per hour), adapted into an affordable, easy-to-follow format you can complete at your own pace - for just £79.99.
what's inside:
Clear, simple instructions for every stage of the divorce or dissolution process - no legal jargon, no confusion.
Crucial “pause points” that protect your finances before you finalise anything.
Paperwork guidance so you know exactly what to file, when and how.
Mistake-avoidance checklists based on the most common errors I see in my practice.
Confidence-building support so you can move forward knowing you’ve done it right.
Links to vital resources and additional support.
You deserve a fresh start without the confusion, the cost, or the overwhelm.
DIVORCE ON YOUR TERMS: A SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE
WHY ACT NOW?
It takes at least 7 months to legally end a marriage or dissolve a Civil Partnership in England and Wales and that’s without dealing with the finances.
Starting now gets the clock moving.
More importantly, it helps you avoid avoidable delays that can push you well past that 7‑month mark.
Common delay triggers:
Mistakes in your paperwork that cause the court to query your application and slow everything down.
Missing the crucial pause before sorting finances.
Court backlogs that turn small mistakes into months of waiting.
This course shows you exactly what to do and just as crucially, what not to do.
You don’t need to be tech-savvy or legally trained. If you can open an email and follow simple steps, you can do this course.
Endless Googling.
Conflicting advice.
Worry you’ll tick the wrong box and cost yourself time or money.
No clear plan.
No confidence.
Just overwhelm.
A simple, step‑by‑step path.
You know when to file, when to pause and how to protect your finances before you finalise anything.
Calm, confident progress.
How to get it right and protect yourself in just a few simple steps!
Eligibility criteria
Other considerations
Before you apply
What you need to apply
Help with fees
Ways to apply
Joint application or sole application?
Starting your application
What happens after you apply?
What happens if the other party does not respond?
Applying for a conditional order
Applying for a final order
Eligibility criteria
Other considerations
Before you apply
What you need to apply
Help with fees
Ways to apply
Joint application or sole application?
Starting your application
What happens after you apply?
Applying for a final order
What happens if the other party does not respond?
Applying for a conditional order
I’m a practising, trauma-informed family law solicitor with more than 20 years’ legal experience.
I’ve helped countless clients secure their futures after relationship breakdowns.
I know the process from both sides - as a solicitor and as someone who’s been a law firm client myself.
This isn’t theory. It’s the practical, real-world guidance that’s protected my clients time and time again.
You live in England or Wales.
You want to end a marriage or civil partnership safely and affordably.
Your situation is not especially high‑conflict or legally complex and you’re ready to follow clear steps.
If that’s you, may I suggest you start today and protect your future self from unnecessary stress and cost?
We understand you may have questions, so we've put together a list of frequently asked questions to help provide quick and clear answers.
The course walks you through every step clearly, with guidance and clickable links to avoid common mistakes.
Yes. It’s written by a qualified family lawyer with years of hands-on experience.
Absolutely. You just need the right guidance and that’s what this course gives you.
This is the only course on the market with a dedicated email address for educational support. You’re never left alone!
Fotoulla is a highly skilled, Family Law solicitor, with over two decades experience in the legal profession. Formerly a Partner and Head of the Family Law Department at a prominent Essex-based firm, she has built a reputation for providing clear, compassionate and strategic advice during emotionally challenging times.
Her expertise spans the full range of family law matters, including divorce, separation, financial disputes and complex asset division, where her background in the financial services sector adds significant value. Fotoulla is also highly experienced in children law cases, regularly advising on child arrangements, parental responsibility, relocation and safeguarding issues, always keeping the best interests of the child at the heart of her work.
Fotoulla is one of the few solicitors in England trained in Trauma Informed legal practice, designed to reduce re-traumatisation and facilitate resilience and coping throughout a client's legal journey.
She has featured in the national press and is a contributing author to Binky Felstead's book 'The Making of You: A Guide to Finding Your Identity and Bossing Motherhood',
reflecting her approachable style and ability to connect with clients from all walks of life.
Fotoulla Menikou
The Friendly Family Lawyer | www.thefriendlyfamilylawyer.co.uk
Phenomenal, incredibly knowledgeable but also incredibly compassionate
"I contacted Fotoulla for some legal advice regarding some complexities I was struggling with in relation to my divorce. She was phenomenal, incredibly knowledgeable but also incredibly compassionate and understanding. I felt like I was talking to an incredibly knowledgeable friend. I can’t rate her highly enough and I would strongly recommend her services. I have dealt with a few family solicitors over the last couple of years and she is the best."
Nick S
Fotoulla was very helpful and professional
"I felt she listened to my concerns and showed compassion. This is something so important when dealing with family law matters. I felt it was easy to talk to her. She is clearly experienced and knowledgeable of her field, immediately identifying several legal options for me to consider regarding my
circumstances. Fotoulla is credit to the legal profession and I would have no hesitation in recommending her."
Fatma T
Outstandingly professional
"Fotoulla Menikou has been amazing in helping me through a difficult moment in my life. Not only is she outstandingly professional but also kind and caring, and very thorough in everything she does. She has explained everything in such detail and was very helpful in every way. I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done for me!"
Peter M
I would highly recommend Fotoulla. I was impressed with her professionalism. She exceeded my expectations throughout
Going through a divorce is a traumatic experience especially when it takes two years to complete and goes to final hearing.
Fotoulla responding to every email by return, gave me all the information required to make the right decisions and went above and beyond to make sure I was fully supported.
I would highly recommend Fotoulla I was impressed with her professionalism and she exceeded my expectations throughout.
Claudette D
Kind and empathetic and made the entire process as painless as possible
"Fotoulla was recommended to me by a friend. I found her to be both knowledgeable and professional. She is kind and empathetic and made the entire process as painless as possible, explaining everything to me in great detail. I thoroughly recommend her services!"
Maria L
clickable hyperlinks to download all legal forms needed
step by step written guides
plain english (no jargon)
email support for educational course queries
Yep. All this for the price of A latte each week from Starbucks!
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The Friendly Family Lawyer is the trading name of The Friendly Family Lawyer Ltd whose company number is 13733430. Registered office isituated at 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ.