Police Federation
Family Law Offers
Police Federation branches in England and Wales each choose their own family law firms, and the offers differ: free first appointments, clinics, percentage discounts and fixed divorce fees. This page lists what each branch publishes, as read on 19 October 2026, with links to the branch pages, plus the position in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is a directory, not a recommendation.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 19 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
Not with a national scheme. Federation branches in England and Wales arrange their own family law firms, usually with a free first appointment of 30 to 60 minutes and either a discount or a fixed divorce fee. Published fixed fees range from £350 plus VAT to £1,152 including court fee and VAT, and cover the divorce itself, not the finances or the police pension. The Scottish Police Federation says family law is generally not covered. Confirm any offer with your branch before relying on it.
At a glance
We read every Police Federation branch page we could find that describes a family law arrangement, on 19 October 2026. In England and Wales, 9 branches have a current or recent page in the tables below. The pattern is consistent:
- A free first appointment or clinic, from 30 minutes to an hour.
- Then either a discount (10% to 20% on current pages, up to 25% on a 2019 notice) or a fixed divorce fee.
- The fixed fee is for the divorce, not the financial settlement or the pension sharing order.
- Each branch chooses its own firm, and some branches list more than one.
Each entry quotes or summarises what the branch page says, with the date shown on that page and the date we checked it. We do not comment on quality and the order is by type of offer, not preference. No firm paid to appear and none is recommended by PolicePay. Branch pages change: the branch's own page is what counts.
Branches are organised by force, so start with the branch for the force you serve in. For what the Federation does more generally, see the Police Federation explained.
Branches that publish a fee for the divorce
These branch pages give a figure for the divorce itself. Read the wording carefully: some include VAT, some add VAT, and some include or exclude the £628 court fee.
| Branch | Firm | What the branch page says | Date on the branch page | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Yorkshire | Slater and Gordon | Divorce advice for "a discounted fixed-fee of just £420 (incl. VAT), plus court fee"; free initial appointment at a convenient time and venue; for all members. Branch page | 12 July 2024 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| West Midlands | McAlister Family Law | "divorce fixed fee of £350 plus VAT, and a free first appointment". Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| West Midlands | Straw & Pearce | Free 30-minute initial consultation; 20% off fees if you instruct, excluding divorce, which is "a fixed fee of £1,152 including court fee and VAT"; for members. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Norfolk | Lund Bennett Law (panel family law firm from June 2025) | "fixed fee for a fully represented divorce at £600 (+VAT and Disbs)"; 20% off current hourly rates for police and police personnel; free first appointment; the page asks you to quote that you are a member or family member. Branch page | 4 June 2025 | 19 Oct 2026 |
Slater and Gordon, which appears on more branch pages than any other firm, states on its own site that it provides "a free initial consultation, discounted rates and fixed fees on some family law services to Police Federation members", without a member price. The same site shows public prices of "Initial advice only £180 inc VAT" (described as 45 minutes) and "Fixed fee divorce only £600 inc VAT". We give these only so the branch figures can be compared; they are the firm's own published prices, read on 19 October 2026.
Branches with free appointments, clinics or discounts
These branch pages describe a free first appointment, a clinic or a percentage discount, without a divorce fee figure. Where a page mentions a reduced fixed fee but gives no amount, ask the firm for it in writing.
| Branch | Firm | What the branch page says | Date on the branch page | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | Slater and Gordon | Free 45-minute initial consultation, a reduced fixed-fee divorce and discounted hourly rates (no figures given); Teams surgeries on the last Tuesday of alternate months (listed to 29 December 2026). Branch news; branch firm page | 26 June 2026 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| North Wales | Lund Bennett Law | "A free initial 60-minute consultation", "A reduced fixed fee Divorce" and "Discounted hourly rates", offered to members, their families and police staff. Branch news | 9 June 2026 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| North Wales | Gorvins | "Family law support for police officers and Federation members"; no free appointment, discount or price stated on the page. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Suffolk | Lund Bennett | Discount on "legal rates and fixed fees" (no figures) and a free initial consultation, for members, police personnel and family members. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Suffolk | Barker Gotelee | Free family law consultations for members, by appointment booked at least seven days ahead; surgery dates listed without a year. Branch news | 10 March 2025 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| West Mercia | HCR (Harrison Clark Rickerbys) | "a free 1-hour family law advice clinic", remotely or at the firm's office, and "a 20 per cent discount on our hourly rates" for members who need formal help; clinic dates listed without a year. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| West Mercia | Setfords | Free, confidential 30-minute family law sessions for members, with 2026 dates listed to 17 November 2026; quote "WMPF" when booking. Branch news | 2026 (dates listed) | 19 Oct 2026 |
| North Yorkshire | Setfords | A free, no-obligation family law clinic for members on 10 February (the page is dated 30 January 2026). Branch news | 30 January 2026 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Lincolnshire | Sills & Betteridge | Free initial advice meeting by telephone or video; if you instruct, "10% off our legal fees up to a maximum discount of £1000", not on fixed fee packages; the firm also hosts a family law page with webinar recordings for members. Branch page; firm's member page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Devon and Cornwall | Slater and Gordon | "a free initial appointment at a time and venue that is convenient, and discounted rates", for members and police personnel. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Devon and Cornwall | The Family Law Company | "10% off legal fees for the Police Federation", code TFLC/PolFed22. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Devon and Cornwall | Rundlewalker | "a 10% discount off matrimonial and conveyancing instructions" for members, code "PolFed 10". Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Thames Valley | Slater and Gordon | Free initial appointment and discounted rates, for members and police personnel. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Thames Valley | Branch Austin McCormick | "A free initial consultation" and "Discounted hourly rates", for members. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Thames Valley | Thrings | Family work is listed among the firm's services; no family law free appointment, discount or fee is stated on the branch page. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
Clinic and surgery dates on these pages change through the year, and some list dates without a year. If a page shows only past dates, contact the branch office.
Older notices and offers we could not confirm
These pages are still online but are older notices, or do not give enough detail to confirm an offer. They may have been replaced. We include them because members still find them in search.
| Branch | Firm | What the branch page says | Date on the branch page | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | Slater and Gordon | Free initial appointment (usually about 45 minutes); "reduced fixed fee" divorce of £350 plus VAT and the court fee. The page does not say whether it still applies. Branch news | 11 October 2022 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Nottinghamshire | Slater and Gordon | Free initial appointment with a family lawyer; no fees given. Branch news | 19 October 2022 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Norfolk | Dawsons Law | 25% off legal fees for divorce and financial settlement, first family appointment free, discount code from the branch office; a separate £85 + VAT fixed-fee advice appointment is not discounted. Norfolk named Lund Bennett Law as its family law panel firm in June 2025. Branch news | 21 February 2019 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Cambridgeshire | Gorvins | "Free initial advice, fixed fees and discounted rates" for members, police personnel, staff and their families; no figures. Branch page | 30 June 2015 | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Thames Valley | Keystone Law | The branch page links a PDF about two Keystone family lawyers; the page text gives no terms, so we could not confirm an offer. Branch page | No date shown | 19 Oct 2026 |
Left out because we could not open them on 19 October 2026: a Bedfordshire branch notice about Slater and Gordon family law surgeries and a Sussex branch notice quoting a 2022 divorce fee both returned "page not found". If your branch is not listed, it may still have an arrangement: ask the branch office.
Branch by branch: who is listed and how to book
The same information arranged by branch, with what each page says about booking. Phone numbers and email addresses are on the branch pages; we have not copied them here so that you always use the current ones.
Branches not shown here had no family law page that we could find and open on 19 October 2026. That does not mean they have no arrangement: some information is only in members' areas or newsletters. Ask your branch office.
Which branch pages mention police pensions
For most police divorces the pension is the hardest part, so it is worth knowing which branch pages say the firm covers police pensions. The table lists only what the page itself says. A firm not listed may well have police pension experience; the page simply does not say so.
| Branch | Firm | What the page says it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire (2022) | Slater and Gordon | Divorce and matrimonial finances, including claims for pension sharing orders on police pensions |
| Nottinghamshire (2022) | Slater and Gordon | The same, and says the firm has particular experience of police pensions and of child arrangements around shift patterns |
| Devon and Cornwall | Slater and Gordon | Police pensions on divorce, among other family matters |
| Norfolk | Lund Bennett Law | Police pensions and financial disputes on divorce |
| Suffolk | Lund Bennett | Police pensions on divorce, among other family matters |
| North Wales | Gorvins | Police pensions on divorce, among other family matters; says its family solicitors are Resolution members |
A page saying a firm covers police pensions is not evidence of how well it does so, and we do not assess firms. The questions further down this page, and the checklist in our solicitors guide, are a way to test it for yourself. Where the pension is a large part of the money, you will usually also need a pension on divorce expert.
A 30 to 60 minute appointment goes further if you already know roughly what the pension is worth and what a share would do. Our free police pension divorce calculator gives an estimate from your own service and pay. It is an estimate, not a CETV: only the scheme can give you that.
Do you need to be a Federation member? And what if you are the partner?
What the sources say:
- Federation membership. The Police Federation of England and Wales says it is a staff association for constables, sergeants and inspectors (including chief inspectors), and that "Membership of the Federation is optional." Subscribing members can apply for legal assistance in criminal, misconduct and civil matters, subject to funding criteria; non-subscribing members cannot. The page does not mention family law.
- Most branch offers are worded for members. North Yorkshire, West Midlands, West Mercia, Lincolnshire and others address Federation members.
- Some are wider. Suffolk's Lund Bennett page names members, police personnel and family members. North Wales names members, their families and police staff. Norfolk asks you to quote that you are a member or family member, and its hourly discount is for police and police personnel. Devon and Cornwall and Thames Valley list Slater and Gordon's offer for members and police personnel. Cambridgeshire's 2015 Gorvins notice named members, personnel, staff and families.
- Retired officers. None of the pages we read addresses retired officers specifically. Ask the branch.
| Federation | Legal help it publishes | Family law and divorce |
|---|---|---|
| Police Federation of England and Wales (national) | Legal assistance in criminal, misconduct and civil matters for subscribing members, subject to funding criteria; none for non-subscribing members | Not mentioned on the membership page; branch arrangements instead (tables above) |
| Scottish Police Federation | Legal advice and assistance for contributing members under its guidance; initial advice on its legal helpline | Listed as generally not covered; reduced-cost cover can be arranged at the member's expense |
| Police Federation for Northern Ireland | "Professional and confidential legal services are offered to members" | No public detail; we could not confirm an arrangement |
A family member offer does not mean one firm can act for both of you. The SRA Code of Conduct (paragraph 6.2) says a solicitor must not act where there is a conflict of interest between clients, with narrow exceptions. On a divorce, especially the money and the police pension, your interests and the officer's usually conflict. If the officer has already used a firm, you will need a different one. Our guide for partners, divorcing a police officer, explains what you are entitled to ask for.
Police staff who are not officers are not Federation members, but some branch offers name police staff or police personnel. Check the wording on your branch's page.
What a free first appointment and a fixed divorce fee usually cover
Every fixed fee we found on a branch page is for the divorce. None covers the financial settlement. In England and Wales these are two separate things:
| The divorce | The finances (including the police pension) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Ends the marriage: application, conditional order, final order | Decides the house, savings, maintenance and pension, usually in a court order |
| Court fee | £628 application fee | £62 for a consent order if you agree; £321 to apply on Form A if you do not |
| Covered by branch fixed fees? | Yes, on the pages that publish one (check VAT and court fee) | No branch page we read includes it in a fixed fee |
| Other costs | Usually few | Solicitors' time, often a pension on divorce expert, the police scheme's implementation fee (thousands of pounds) and possibly a barrister |
Adding VAT at 20% where the page says "plus VAT", and the £628 court fee where the page says it is extra:
- North Yorkshire (2024): £420 including VAT + £628 court fee = £1,048.
- West Midlands, McAlister: £350 + VAT = £420. The page does not mention the court fee; if it is extra, £1,048.
- West Midlands, Straw & Pearce: £1,152, which the page says includes the court fee and VAT.
- Norfolk, Lund Bennett: £600 + VAT = £720, plus disbursements. The page does not list them; ask whether the £628 court fee is one (£1,348 if so).
- Derbyshire (2022 notice): £350 + VAT = £420 + £628 court fee = £1,048, if still offered.
The descriptions differ ("fully represented", "fixed fee divorce", "advice on your divorce"), so the work included may differ too. Ask each firm what its fee covers before comparing.
The free first appointment. Lengths on the branch pages: 30 minutes (Straw & Pearce; Setfords in West Mercia), 45 minutes (Slater and Gordon, West Midlands), and 60 minutes (HCR's clinic; Lund Bennett in North Wales). It is a first conversation: expect to be told your options and the firm's prices, not to come away with a settlement. Take the documents in our solicitors guide so the time is used well.
- Your latest payslips and P60, including overtime and allowances.
- Your latest police pension annual benefit statement, and any CETV you already have (with its date).
- If you have service between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022, anything the scheme has sent about the McCloud remedy.
- Mortgage statement and a rough idea of the house value; savings, debts and other pensions.
- Your partner's income and pensions, as far as you know them.
- Key dates: marriage, separation, children's dates of birth, and (in Scotland) the date you separated.
- A short list of the questions on this page.
For the costs of dividing the pension itself, see pension on divorce experts and the police pension divorce settlement guide.
How the percentage discounts work
Where there is no fixed fee, the branch offer is usually a percentage off the firm's hourly rates or fees. The discount is only as useful as the rate it comes off, which branch pages do not publish.
| Published discount | Branch and firm | Limits stated on the page |
|---|---|---|
| 10% off legal fees | Lincolnshire, Sills & Betteridge | Maximum discount £1,000; not on fixed fee packages |
| 10% off legal fees | Devon and Cornwall, The Family Law Company | Quote code TFLC/PolFed22 |
| 10% off matrimonial instructions | Devon and Cornwall, Rundlewalker | Quote code PolFed 10 |
| 20% off hourly rates | West Mercia, HCR | For members who need formal help after the clinic |
| 20% off hourly rates | Norfolk, Lund Bennett Law | For police and police personnel |
| 20% off fees | West Midlands, Straw & Pearce | Excludes divorce, which has its own fixed fee |
| 25% off legal fees (2019 notice) | Norfolk, Dawsons Law | Not on the £85 + VAT advice appointment, disbursements or VAT |
| Discount, no figure | Several Slater and Gordon, Lund Bennett and Branch Austin McCormick entries | Ask for the rate in writing |
Assumed bills for financial work of £5,000 and £15,000 before discount. These are round numbers to show the arithmetic, not quotes from any firm.
- 10% with a £1,000 cap: £500 off £5,000; £1,000 off £15,000 (the cap applies, not £1,500).
- 20% with no cap stated: £1,000 off £5,000; £3,000 off £15,000.
- 25% (2019 notice, if still offered): £1,250 off £5,000; £3,750 off £15,000.
A bigger percentage off a higher hourly rate can cost more than a smaller one off a lower rate. Under SRA Code paragraph 8.7, a firm must give you the best possible information about the likely overall cost, so ask for an estimate after the discount.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland: the Scottish Police Federation
The Scottish Police Federation's Legal Advice and Assistance Guidance (January 2023) sets out what its scheme covers. Under matters "generally not covered" it lists "Family Law (separation & divorce, child custody, adoption, inheritance disputes etc)". It adds that, while the scheme may not cover these matters, "our solicitors can give initial advice and can either provide or arrange cover at reduced costs at the members' expense."
- Initial advice. The guidance says initial legal advice on any matter is available on the SPF Legal Helpline (0344 893 0786).
- Who is covered. Contributing members of the SPF Voluntary Fund and, in certain limited circumstances, immediate family and some others.
- No named family law discount. We found no published fixed fee or percentage for divorce.
Scottish divorce law treats pensions differently: only the part built up between the marriage and the relevant date counts. See police divorce in Scotland. The guidance is dated January 2023; check with the SPF that it is current.
Northern Ireland: PFNI
The Police Federation for Northern Ireland's public Services and Offers pages list "Legal Assistance", which says only that "Professional and confidential legal services are offered to members." There is no public information about family law, divorce or any discount. We could not confirm whether PFNI has a family law arrangement. Members should ask PFNI directly.
Divorce law in Northern Ireland is also different. The Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 still requires one of the listed facts, such as adultery, behaviour or a period of separation, to show the marriage has broken down. A solicitor in Northern Ireland will advise on that and on the PSNI pension.
Using a branch offer: step by step, and what to ask
A sensible order, whichever side of the divorce you are on:
- Find your branch's page in the tables above, or ask the branch office what is current.
- Check you are eligible under the wording on that page.
- Ask the police pension scheme for a divorce CETV, saying it is for divorce proceedings so the 6-week limit applies. One divorce CETV in any 12 months is free for serving and deferred members.
- Get a rough picture of your own figures with our calculators, so the free appointment is spent on your options rather than basic facts.
- Book the free appointment and take the documents listed above.
- Ask for the price of the finances in writing, after any discount, before you instruct.
- Compare with at least one other firm if the finances or the pension are complicated.
Questions to ask before using a branch offer:
- Is this offer still current, and am I eligible? Member, non-subscribing member, police staff, family member or retired.
- What exactly does the fixed fee cover? The application only, or the whole divorce to final order? VAT? The £628 court fee? Other disbursements?
- What will the finances cost? An estimate for reaching a consent order, and for a contested case, after any discount.
- Who will do the work, and how many police pension sharing orders have they handled?
- How do you deal with McCloud remedy service and the 2026 CETV changes?
- Will we need a pension on divorce expert, and roughly what will it cost?
- How long is the free first appointment, and what should I bring?
- Does the firm have any arrangement with the branch? SRA Code paragraph 5.1 requires a firm to tell you about any financial or other interest an introducer has.
- Have you acted, or been asked to act, for my spouse? If so, the firm may not be able to act for you.
- Are your family lawyers Resolution members, or accredited?
You can use any solicitor
Nothing on the branch pages we read requires you to use the branch's firm. A branch offer is a starting point that can save money on the first appointment or the divorce fee. For the finances and the pension, the solicitor's experience of police pensions may matter more than the discount.
- Check the solicitor is regulated on the SRA's Solicitors Register.
- Look for Resolution members, who commit to a non-confrontational approach, or accredited family specialists.
- Compare at least two estimates for the finances, not just the divorce fee.
- Use your free appointment well: bring your figures and documents.
| First step | Cost | What you get | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Branch free appointment or clinic | Free | 30 to 60 minutes with the branch's firm, depending on the branch; members and, on some pages, staff or family | Branch pages above |
| A firm's own paid first appointment (example) | Slater and Gordon publishes £180 including VAT for 45 minutes | Initial advice without needing a branch offer | Slater and Gordon's site, read 19 October 2026 |
| MoneyHelper pensions and divorce appointment | Free | A phone appointment, usually up to 60 minutes, explaining pension options; it does not recommend what to do | MoneyHelper |
| Resolution directory or Law Society Find a Solicitor | Free to search | Lists of family lawyers near you; Resolution members follow its Code of Practice | Resolution; the Law Society |
Our guide police divorce solicitors: how to choose one covers the checks, the questions and a checklist of what a solicitor should know about police pensions.
About the enquiry form on this page
At the end of this page there is an enquiry form. To be clear about what it is:
- It is PolicePay's form, not the Federation's. It has nothing to do with any branch scheme. To use a branch offer, contact the branch or the firm using the branch page.
- Your enquiry goes to PolicePay and is read by Andrew Thomas.
- If you want an introduction to a family-law firm, we will tell you which firm and what its first conversation costs before you agree, and whether it pays PolicePay for introductions.
- Nothing is passed on until you agree to that named firm by email.
- We do not promise a free call, and PolicePay is not a law firm and does not give legal or financial advice.
How we checked, and what we could not confirm
On 19 October 2026 we searched the Federation's branch websites and read each branch page listed here. We did not contact any branch or firm and did not book any appointment. We quote or summarise the branch page and give the date it shows.
- Branches not listed may have arrangements we did not find, or publish them only to members.
- Undated pages may be out of date even if still online.
- Bedfordshire and Sussex notices returned "page not found" and are left out.
- Thames Valley's Keystone Law entry links a PDF whose terms we could not confirm from the page.
- PFNI publishes no family law detail.
- Whether firms pay branches for these arrangements is not stated on any page we read.
If you are a branch and your page has changed, see our corrections policy.
Free: the police divorce checklist (PDF)
The documents to gather, the pension steps from CETV to pension sharing order, and the questions to ask a solicitor, written for police officers and their partners. Enter your email to download it. We will also send occasional police divorce and pension updates; unsubscribe any time.
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Free enquiry
Talk to a family solicitor who knows police pensions
Tell us where you are up to. We will reply by email and, if you want, introduce you to a family-law firm with police pension experience for a first conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Police Federation provide a divorce solicitor?
Not nationally. In England and Wales, family law arrangements are made branch by branch: each branch publishes its own firm or firms, usually offering a free first appointment and either a discount or a fixed divorce fee. The Federation's national membership page lists legal assistance for criminal, misconduct and civil matters for subscribing members, and does not mention family law.
Is Police Federation family law advice free?
The first appointment or clinic usually is, according to the branch pages we read on 19 October 2026: from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the branch and firm. After that you pay the firm, at a discounted rate or a fixed fee where one is offered. The branch pages do not say the Federation pays for divorce or financial proceedings.
How much is a Police Federation fixed fee divorce?
Published figures on branch pages checked on 19 October 2026: £420 including VAT plus court fee (North Yorkshire, 2024); £350 plus VAT (West Midlands, McAlister); £1,152 including court fee and VAT (West Midlands, Straw & Pearce); £600 plus VAT and disbursements (Norfolk, 2025). These are for the divorce itself, not the financial settlement.
Does a fixed fee divorce include the police pension and finances?
Not on any branch page we read. The fixed fees are for the divorce. Sorting out the money, including any pension sharing order, is a separate financial matter with its own costs: a £62 consent order fee or £321 for a contested application, solicitors' time, often a pension on divorce expert and the police scheme's implementation fee.
Do I need to be a Federation member to use a branch offer?
Most branch pages address members. Some extend the offer: Suffolk's Lund Bennett page names members, police personnel and family members; North Wales names members, their families and police staff; Devon and Cornwall and Thames Valley list Slater and Gordon's offer for members and police personnel. Check your own branch page and ask the firm.
Can my spouse use the same Federation solicitor?
Not on the same divorce. Under the SRA Code of Conduct a solicitor must not act where there is a conflict of interest between clients, and separating spouses' interests on the finances usually conflict. If your branch offer includes family members, it does not mean one firm can act for both of you. Each of you should have your own advice.
What does the Scottish Police Federation offer for divorce?
Its Legal Advice and Assistance guidance (January 2023) lists family law, including separation and divorce, among matters generally not covered. It says its solicitors can give initial advice and can provide or arrange cover at reduced costs at the member's expense. Initial legal advice is available on the SPF legal helpline.
Does the Police Federation for Northern Ireland help with divorce?
Its public pages list Legal Assistance and say professional and confidential legal services are offered to members, but give no family law detail. We could not confirm whether a family law arrangement exists. Members should ask PFNI directly.
Are Federation solicitors police pension specialists?
Several branch pages say the firm has experience of police pensions on divorce, and some name pension sharing orders on police pensions. We do not assess or rank firms. Ask any firm the questions on this page, including how many police pension sharing orders they have handled and how they approach McCloud remedy service.
Do I have to use my branch's firm?
No. Nothing on the branch pages we read requires it. You can use any solicitor. A branch offer can save money on the first appointment or the divorce fee, but compare the likely total cost and the firm's police pension experience with others before you decide.
Does the Federation get paid by the firms?
None of the branch pages we read says whether the firm pays the branch. Under the SRA Code (paragraph 5.1), a firm must tell clients about any financial or other interest an introducer has in referring them, so you can ask the firm directly.
Can police staff use Federation family law offers?
Police staff are not Federation members, but some branch pages name them. North Wales names police staff; Devon and Cornwall and Thames Valley list Slater and Gordon's offer for members and police personnel; Suffolk's Lund Bennett page names police personnel; and Norfolk's hourly discount is for police and police personnel. Check your own branch's wording and ask the firm.
When should I use the free first appointment?
Early, before you sign anything about the money. The appointment is a chance to understand your options and the firm's prices. It helps to have asked the police scheme for a divorce CETV first (6 weeks if you say it is for divorce proceedings) and to bring payslips, your pension statement and the key dates.
What is the PolicePay enquiry form at the end of this page?
It is PolicePay's own form, not a Federation service. Your enquiry goes to PolicePay and is read by Andrew Thomas. If you want an introduction to a family-law firm, we will tell you which firm and what its first conversation costs, and say whether it pays PolicePay for introductions, before you agree. We pass nothing on until you agree to that named firm by email.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 19 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs, RFLs and RSLs (in effect from 11 April 2025), paragraphs 5.1, 6.2 and 8.7 : introducers' interests disclosed; conflicts of interest; costs information (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Get a divorce : £628 divorce application fee (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Apply for a consent order; get the court to decide : £62 consent order; £321 Form A (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Federation of England and Wales: becoming a member : membership optional; constables to chief inspectors; legal assistance in criminal, misconduct and civil matters for subscribing members (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Scottish Police Federation: Legal Advice and Assistance Guidance (January 2023) : family law generally not covered; initial advice; reduced costs at the member's expense; helpline (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Federation for Northern Ireland: Legal Assistance : legal services offered to members; no family law detail public (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Matrimonial Causes (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, article 3 : divorce in Northern Ireland still based on fault or separation facts (accessed 19 October 2026)
- North Yorkshire Police Federation: Slater and Gordon family law (12 July 2024) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- North Yorkshire Police Federation: free family law support for members (30 January 2026) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- West Midlands Police Federation: McAlister Family Law (accessed 19 October 2026)
- West Midlands Police Federation: Straw & Pearce (accessed 19 October 2026)
- West Midlands Police Federation: free initial consultation with family law solicitors (26 June 2026) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- West Midlands Police Federation: Slater and Gordon police family law (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Norfolk Police Federation: launch of new legal service for members (4 June 2025) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Norfolk Police Federation: new member service provider (21 February 2019) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Suffolk Police Federation: Lund Bennett (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Suffolk Police Federation: free family law consultations for Fed members (10 March 2025) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- North Wales Police Federation: family law advice and support for members (9 June 2026) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- North Wales Police Federation: Gorvins (accessed 19 October 2026)
- West Mercia Police Federation: HCR Solicitors (accessed 19 October 2026)
- West Mercia Police Federation: free family law advice for members (2026) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Lincolnshire Police Federation: Sills & Betteridge (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Sills & Betteridge: Lincolnshire Police Federation family law (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Devon and Cornwall Police Federation: family law offers (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Thames Valley Police Federation: solicitors (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Derbyshire Police Federation: free initial appointment with family lawyers (11 October 2022) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Nottinghamshire Police Federation: free initial appointment with Slater and Gordon (19 October 2022) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Cambridgeshire Police Federation: Gorvins Solicitors (30 June 2015) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Slater and Gordon: Police Federation family law services : national statement of the member offer; public prices on the same site (accessed 19 October 2026)
- MoneyHelper: free pensions and divorce or dissolution appointment : free phone appointment, usually up to 60 minutes (details from MoneyHelper's blog and listings; the page blocked automated reading) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Resolution: finding help during family breakdown : members committed to its Code of Practice; directory (accessed 19 October 2026)
- SRA: Solicitors Register : check a solicitor or firm is regulated (accessed 19 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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Pension tools for after the settlement
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent reference site. It is not a law firm or a financial adviser, is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and this page is general information, not legal, financial or pension advice. Every divorce settlement depends on the facts, and pension sharing is decided by agreement or by a court. Figures from our calculators are estimates on stated assumptions: the scheme administrator's cash equivalent and the court order are what count. For decisions about your settlement, speak to a family solicitor and, where the pension is a large part of the money, a pension on divorce expert. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 19 October 2026.