Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Family Law Partner in Altrincham & Warrington
BPS Family Law has been practicing family law with excellence since 1948, providing advice and support during sensitive and emotionally pressured times. Our team, founded by Harry Lipson with over 40 years of matrimonial law experience, is headed by Caroline Payne, widely recognised as a leading divorce and matrimonial finance lawyer in the UK. We specialise in high-value and complex disputes, offering a personal service to clients North and South of the country.Our expertise spans divorce, financial separation, children disputes, and pre-nuptial agreements, with both Harry and Caroline consistently listed in the Legal 500 as recommended lawyers. We maintain a boutique, client-focused approach, combining traditional values with modern legal practices to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Services
Divorce Solicitors
Matrimonial Finance
Children Disputes
Pre-nuptial Agreements
Court Order Enforcement
Cohabitation Disputes
Civil Partnerships
Financial Disclosure
Injunctions
Legal Consultations
Details
- Year established: 1948
Highlights and features
- We have over 40 years of experience in matrimonial law.
- Our team includes Legal 500-recommended lawyers for divorce and finance cases.
- We specialise in high-value, complex financial settlements.
- We offer 24/7 availability for urgent client consultations.
- Our boutique approach ensures tailored, client-focused legal strategies.
Associations and certifications
- Legal 500
What people say
Exceptional team
Professional and reassuring
Delivered the results
Compassionate legal support
Highly knowledgeable solicitors
Services
Divorce Solicitors
Our divorce solicitors provide compassionate legal guidance for clients navigating marital dissolution. With over 60 years of combined experience in Manchester and Cheshire, we handle contested and uncontested divorces, ensuring fair financial settlements and child custody arrangements. Our team prioritises amicable resolutions while preparing robust court representation when necessary.
Matrimonial Finance
We specialise in complex financial disputes during divorce proceedings, including property division, pension valuation, and spousal maintenance. Our solicitors leverage deep expertise in high-net-worth cases to protect client assets while adhering to legal fairness requirements. Services include Form E preparation and court-ordered financial disclosures.
Children Disputes
Our family law experts resolve child custody and visitation rights disputes with sensitivity to family dynamics. We address relocation cases, parental responsibility issues, and education/healthcare decisions, always prioritising the child's best interests through mediation or litigation.
Pre-nuptial Agreements
We draft and review legally binding prenuptial agreements to clarify financial arrangements in case of divorce. Our solicitors ensure compliance with UK legal standards while addressing property rights, inheritance, and business asset protection for both domestic and international clients.
Court Order Enforcement
We assist clients in enforcing or challenging court orders related to financial settlements or child custody. Our team handles variation requests, contempt of court proceedings, and cross-border enforcement cases, ensuring legal compliance while protecting client interests.
People
Caroline Payne
Partner Solicitor
Caroline Payne is a leading UK divorce lawyer with expertise in high-value financial settlements. Recognised in the Legal 500 since 2016, she combines strategic legal acumen with compassionate client support for complex family law cases.
Harry Lipson
Partner Solicitor
Harry Lipson, senior partner with over 40 years' experience, founded BPS Family Law's divorce division. He maintains traditional legal values while mentoring junior solicitors in modern family law practices across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Sefton Kwasnik
Partner Solicitor
Sefton Kwasnik specialises in criminal defence and inquest representation alongside family law. Qualified since 1981, he advises on disciplinary cases for professionals and catastrophic injury claims, bringing multidisciplinary expertise to complex family disputes.
Questions
What areas of law does BPS Family Law specialise in?
We specialise in divorce, matrimonial finance, children disputes, pre-nuptial agreements, and court order enforcement across Cheshire and Merseyside.
How experienced is your legal team?
Our solicitors have over 100 years of combined experience, with Caroline Payne and Harry Lipson listed in the Legal 500 since 2016.
Do you handle high-net-worth divorce cases?
Yes, we specialise in complex financial settlements for high-value marriages, including property division and international asset disputes.
Are your services available outside regular hours?
We offer evening and weekend consultations for urgent family law matters requiring immediate legal attention.
How do you charge for legal services?
We provide fixed fees, structured payments, and end-of-case billing options to accommodate different client needs and case complexities.
Can you assist with child custody arrangements?
Our team handles all child custody matters, including relocation disputes, visitation rights, and decision-making responsibilities, always prioritising the child's best interests.
Reviews (4)
Jennifer Batty
Sep 29, 2021
Report
I cant put into words how Caroline & her team at BPS Law have supported me during a very difficult & complex divorce. I highly recommend Caroline for those who want a solicitor who has the skills to diligently achieve a successful outcome. For what has been the most difficult time, emotionally & financially for my children & I, Caroline & the team was there every time to respond & manage every situation that arose leaving me consistently reassured.
Caroline was very honest with the possible outcome that could possibly be reached at the final hearing which eased my worries & anxieties. This
Caroline was very honest with the possible outcome that could possibly be reached at the final hearing which eased my worries & anxieties. This
MikeToolan
Feb 20, 2021
Report
Caroline has, not for the first time in my life, been fabulous. She's offered an amazing standard of service from start to finish. She's the opposite of the stereotypical image of the lawyer "bumping up" their fees and she has consistently dissuaded me from any litigation which wasn't 100% necessary. She's always been there at the end of the phone whenever I've needed her and is a really genuine and pleasant lady to work with.
Mike Toolan
Mike Toolan
Edwina Veeder
Jan 11, 2021
Report
Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Responsiveness,Value
I have unfortunately had the need for an outstanding solicitor re matrimonial matters. Besides the fact that Caroline Swain is excellent at her job she is also an extremely compassionate lady for this I was truly grateful for. Would highly recommend her for her extreme professionalism and obtaining the best outcome for her clients.
I have unfortunately had the need for an outstanding solicitor re matrimonial matters. Besides the fact that Caroline Swain is excellent at her job she is also an extremely compassionate lady for this I was truly grateful for. Would highly recommend her for her extreme professionalism and obtaining the best outcome for her clients.
Karen Harrison
Nov 02, 2019
Report
Caroline and her team have been dealing with my sister's divorce for several months. It was a tricky situation to deal with but the service we received was none other than outstanding. They has always been friendly and approachable with all the different questions we have put to them. Caroline has always been on the ball knowing how to approach this difficult situation and achieved everything we wanted. She kept us in the loop at all times. We would without any doubt recommend her . She is amazing. Thank you so much.
