The Split Up: what the drama doesn’t show you about family law 

If you’ve been watching The Split Up on BBC One, you’ll have spent six hours inside Kishan Law, the fictional Manchester family firm that handles some of the city’s wealthiest divorces. With a second series already commissioned, plenty of people may be forming their picture of family law from it. And therein lies the problem. 

Whilst the storylines make for gripping television, many have been shortened for dramatic effect, for obvious reasons; who wants to watch a divorce drama unfold in erratic steps over 12 months? 

But as Sarah Bell from our Family Team explains in her short video introduction, it isn’t a true picture of how family cases are handled, and the high-net-worth disputes it focuses on are only a small part of what family lawyers deal with on a daily basis.  

Members of our Family Law team here at Coodes have been watching the series with interest (available on iPlayer if you want to catch up) and have created a few short videos to explain the reality of the situations covered by the glamorous team at Kishan Law. 

Real cases take longer in the real world 

Drama has to move quickly to keep the viewers engaged, so months of work are squeezed into a single scene or a single hour-long episode, usually without the viewer being told. In real life, even a straightforward divorce follows a set timetable. 

Under the no-fault system in England and Wales, there is a minimum 20-week wait between starting the application and applying for the conditional order, followed by at least six more weeks before the final order. That’s around six months before finances or children are even part of the picture.

Sarah Bell talks about the how it works in the real world here.

Finances on separation 

The Split Up deals in serious wealth, but sorting out money matters at every level, whether that means the family home, pensions, savings or a small business. One point people often miss is that a divorce on its own does not end financial claims between a couple. That needs a financial order approved by the court. 

Most couples reach agreement through negotiation or mediation and the court then approves it as a consent order. Where they can’t agree, court proceedings involve several hearings and can take many months.

Sarah Bell talks about finances on separation here.

Child arrangements 

On screen, disputes over children often become a battle to win. In court, the only question that matters is what is best for the child. Before applying for a child arrangements order, parents are usually expected to attend a mediation information meeting, unless an exemption applies, such as where there are concerns about domestic abuse. Cafcass may also be involved to check on safeguarding. 

Arrangements agreed outside court tend to work better for everyone, especially the children and an experienced family lawyer in a dedicated team can help get there.

What a family team really looks like 

In the drama, a whole firm drops everything for one family or one major issue. In reality, family lawyers handle many cases at once, each with its own deadlines, court dates and a myriad of paperwork. That breadth of experience is valuable though, as it means your lawyer has seen how cases like yours tend to unfold, can tell you honestly how long each stage is likely to take and can prepare you for what comes next and the likely outcome of each route to a solution. 

Television drama thrives on last-minute twists, or dramatic reveals. Real family cases go far more smoothly when people take advice early, understand the timescales and know what to expect at each stage. If you’re facing separation, or have questions about finances or arrangements for your children, our Family Team is here to help.