Business Details
16 Years
experience
Expert Family Law Services in Dumfries
Established in 2010, we are the only niche family law practice in Dumfries & Galloway, dedicated to providing tailored legal solutions for families navigating complex legal challenges. Our team, led by Jenny Colledge and Sandi Shields - the region's only Accredited Family Law Specialists and Mediators - combines decades of experience with a commitment to accessibility and client care. We prioritise out-of-court resolutions through mediation and collaborative practice, while maintaining the expertise to represent clients effectively in litigation when necessary.Our reputation, built through word-of-mouth referrals, reflects our dedication to achieving fair outcomes in divorce, separation, child custody matters, and more. With a focus on transparency and empathy, we guide clients through emotionally charged situations while upholding the highest professional standards. Our team includes associate solicitors and trainees with strong local ties and academic excellence, ensuring comprehensive support for every case.
Services
Divorce
Separation
Children's Cases
Cohabitation Claim
Mediation
Collaborative Practice
Dispute Resolution
Property
Employment Law
Court Representation
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- We are Dumfries & Galloway's only Accredited Family Law Specialists
- Our team has over 30 years combined experience in family law matters
- We prioritise collaborative dispute resolution to reduce client stress
- Our lawyers are trained Accredited Family Law Mediators
- We maintain transparent communication throughout the legal process
Associations and certifications
- Law Society of Scotland
What people say
Peace of mind
Helped me see my son
Kindness and guidance
Positive outcome
Excellent professionalism
Services
Divorce
We provide expert guidance through divorce proceedings, focusing on fair financial settlements and child custody arrangements. Our accredited specialists prioritise amicable resolutions while maintaining courtroom readiness when necessary. Clients benefit from clear advice about potential outcomes and stress reduction strategies throughout the process.
Mediation
Our accredited mediators facilitate constructive discussions in family disputes, covering divorce settlements and child custody matters. This confidential process empowers clients to create tailored solutions while avoiding adversarial court proceedings. We maintain impartiality while ensuring legal compliance in all mediated agreements.
Children's Cases
We specialise in child custody arrangements and access rights, prioritising children's welfare during relationship breakdowns. Our approach balances legal advocacy with sensitive negotiation to establish practical parenting plans. We handle urgent matters and court applications with particular care and expertise.
Employment Law
We advise on employment disputes for both employers and employees, covering contract issues and tribunal representation. Our services include policy drafting and dispute resolution strategies. We combine practical guidance with strong advocacy in tribunal proceedings and negotiations.
Property
We handle property transfers following separations and standard residential transactions. Our services cover title transfers and conveyancing matters. Specialised support is available for property disputes arising from relationship breakdowns or standard sales/purchases.
People
Jenny Colledge
Partner
Accredited Family Law Specialist since 2004 with extensive experience in divorce, separation, and child custody cases. Committed to accessible, client-focused legal representation in Dumfries.
Sandi Shields
Partner
Qualified solicitor with specialist family law accreditation, experienced in property matters and collaborative dispute resolution. Provides expert legal guidance to Dumfries clients.
Hannah Turnbull
Associate Solicitor
Dumfries-educated associate solicitor specialising in family law, bringing academic excellence and local knowledge to client cases since joining the firm.
Georgia Gold
Solicitor
Recent law graduate from University of Stirling with honours, providing dedicated legal support in family law matters at the firm.
Danielle Brownlie
Trainee Solicitor
Trainee solicitor with academic distinction in family law, demonstrating exceptional promise in handling complex legal cases for the firm's clients.
Questions
What family law services do you specialise in?
We specialise in divorce, separation, child custody arrangements, cohabitation claims, mediation, and collaborative law solutions tailored to Dumfries & Galloway clients.
Are you the only accredited family law specialists in the region?
Yes, we are the only practice in Dumfries & Galloway with two Accredited Family Law Specialists and Mediators handling all family legal matters.
How do you handle child custody disputes?
We prioritise children's welfare while establishing practical custody arrangements, combining sensitive negotiation with courtroom expertise when necessary for our clients' cases.
Can you assist with property matters during divorce?
Yes, we handle property transfers and financial settlements during divorce proceedings, ensuring fair outcomes for clients in Dumfries and surrounding areas.
Do you offer mediation services?
We provide accredited mediation services for family disputes, helping clients reach agreements in confidential settings without adversarial court proceedings.
What makes your firm different from other law practices?
Our exclusive family law focus, local accreditation, collaborative approach, and decades of combined experience distinguish us as Dumfries & Galloway's leading specialists.
Reviews (3)
Percy Cushing
Mar 07, 2021
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Colledge and Shields Family Law Practice (slab.org.uk)
I can only echo the poor chap (Simon n Garfuncle) down the list who seems to have suffered the same experience at Colledge and Shields as I did. Something tells me it was probably regarding the same type of issues and set of circumstances as mine too. I might not have used the same words as he did - but I certainly know exactly where he is coming from. But they're all smiley and happy on their "Sarah and Duck" website. Sadly, it does not reflect the service they provide because instead of just saying "we made a mistake in how we spoke to you
I can only echo the poor chap (Simon n Garfuncle) down the list who seems to have suffered the same experience at Colledge and Shields as I did. Something tells me it was probably regarding the same type of issues and set of circumstances as mine too. I might not have used the same words as he did - but I certainly know exactly where he is coming from. But they're all smiley and happy on their "Sarah and Duck" website. Sadly, it does not reflect the service they provide because instead of just saying "we made a mistake in how we spoke to you
Courtney Britton
Jan 21, 2021
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Friendly faces at reception and never kept waiting long. Fab company and great lawyers. Always dealt with my case quickly and sufficiently. Never left disappointed
Simon N. Garfuncle
Sep 07, 2020
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Critical:Professionalism,Quality,Value
Absolutely worst solicitor Ive ever came across in all my years dealing with the law trade never seen anything like this before rude, abrupt, nasty and actually made very very uncomfortable I would never recommend them use at your own risk
Absolutely worst solicitor Ive ever came across in all my years dealing with the law trade never seen anything like this before rude, abrupt, nasty and actually made very very uncomfortable I would never recommend them use at your own risk
