The 5 best family lawyers in Edinburgh for stress-free legal support
I didn’t think I’d ever need a family lawyer until I did. What started as a quiet conversation at the kitchen table quickly turned into a whirlwind of decisions, paperwork, and emotions I didn’t expect.
I had no idea where to turn, but my friends helped me look into the best family lawyers in Edinburgh. We all know what I needed the most at that time was someone who could guide me through it, with my best interests at heart.
If you’re in that place now, you’re not alone. To help you find the right guidance, we’ll be sharing with you the list of the best ones we’ve found.
| How much do family lawyer services cost in Edinburgh? Family lawyer services in Edinburgh usually cost between £150 and £300 per hour, depending on the lawyer’s experience and the complexity of the case. Some may offer fixed-fee packages for simpler matters like wills or uncontested divorces. |
1. Johnson Legal
Address: 31 Rutland Square
Phone: +44 131 622 8477
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
Johnson’s Legal personal approach is very thoughtful. They don’t come across as cold or overly formal, which is refreshing when you’re talking about something as emotional as family breakdowns.
Many people said they felt genuinely supported and listened to, especially by Nyree Conway. She was often mentioned for her kind and knowledgeable style.
The team also gets praised for being responsive. A lot of law firms stick to strict hours, but here, it sounds like Beverley Johnson and her colleagues go above and beyond to be available when needed.
It’s also a plus for us that they don’t work in a bubble. For more complex cases (like those involving money, property, or health), they bring in other experts like financial advisors and health professionals.
Additionally, we appreciate that they offer a free 10-minute introductory phone call. We find this helpful in making sure they’re the right fit. After that, the first proper meeting costs £408, which includes VAT.
It’s a fixed fee, so at least there are no surprises. Still, we did feel that the initial fee might be a bit high for some people, especially since you’re just getting started at that point.
It’s also worth mentioning that they don’t offer legal aid, so they might not be the best choice if budget is a big concern.
Everything went very smoothly with their team
“I just finished my divorce now with the help of Nyree Conway from Johnson Legal. I appreciated very much her knowledge in this matter, which I could not say about another specialised company that I used disappointingly before (Rooney Family Law). Everything went very smoothly and I definitely recommend Nyree and her team at Johnson Legal!”
Valentin Brasov, Google review
Made sure I had a full understanding of what needed to be done
“At one of the most painful moments in my life – the breakdown of my marriage, I was recommended Nyree Conway at Johnson Legal. She was a godsend. She was empathetic and caring, and incredibly knowledgeable. No decision was rushed, and she always made sure I had a full understanding of what needed to be done. I can’t recommend her and her team highly enough and will always appreciate how she empowered me during this entire process.”
Katherine Stevens, Google review
2. MBS Solicitors
Address: 150-152 Gorgie Rd
Phone: +44 131 337 4100
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
MBS Solicitors handles divorce, civil partnership breakups, and cohabitation disputes. However, what really sets them apart is their experience with international cases.
We were surprised to see they deal with things like cross-border child custody and even international child abduction cases, which most local firms don’t touch. That kind of background is impressive, especially if your case is complicated.
On top of that, they’re part of the Children’s Panel Duty Scheme in multiple areas, so they clearly take child protection seriously.
From talking to their past clients, we observed that they focus on resolving problems through negotiation instead of heading straight to court. It’s nice if you want to save yourself from stress or money.
But don’t worry, if the court is necessary, they’re fully prepared to represent clients all the way through.
We also appreciate that they offer legal advice to couples who are just starting out, like protecting their assets or just understanding how things work legally. We thought that was a smart and helpful service.
That said, we’ve heard from several clients who had a hard time booking an appointment with them due to their busy schedules.
Made sure every detail was handled with care and precision
“I had an excellent experience working with Mr Ali at MBS Solicitors. They were professional, approachable, and highly knowledgeable. The process was complex and at times overwhelming, but Mr Ali made everything so much easier. They were always available to answer my questions, kept me well-informed, and made sure every detail was handled with care and precision.”
Faisal Ali, Google review
Provided strategic advice that helped me achieve my goals
“Ali demonstrated a deep understanding of family law and provided strategic advice that helped me achieve my goals. His empathetic approach and willingness to explain complex legal concepts in a clear and concise manner is very impressive.”
Madhavi Meenakshisundaram, Google review
3. Gibson Kerr
Address: 6 Randolph Cres
Phone: +44 131 202 7516
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
Gibson Kerr really focuses on family law. We also gained more confidence since their team has someone like Fiona Rasmusen, who has been doing this for over 25 years. We just really felt like the team knows the ins and outs of Scottish family law well.
One thing that stood out to us is how they genuinely care. Clients say the team listens and treats them kindly, which is a big deal when emotions are running high.
They also don’t just throw legal jargon at you. They help families figure out practical solutions, especially when it comes to co-parenting and making sure kids’ needs come first.
On the money side, they charge by units of six minutes and give clients detailed fee breakdowns. They also provide estimates before starting any work, which helps people understand what they’re getting into.
While we appreciate the transparency, many of their clients felt like their fees were overpriced.
On the brighter side, we liked that they’re flexible with how they meet clients. They have an office but will do home visits sometimes.
They were courteous and friendly
“Family member did not leave a will. Gibson Kerr made sure all laws were explained and followed so there would be no hiccups or problems that could crop up. They were courteous and friendly, and our family have used them again and will continue our services when needed.”
Jacky Walls, Google review
I would recommend them and their team to anyone
“I have just finished the sale of my late mother’s property through Gibson Kerr and found them very helpful and sympathetic. It wasn’t as easy to sell the house as my Mum thought, but it all concluded today, with special help from Elaine Bell and Nikki Lemon in the property team. Our family have used Gibson Kerr for over 25 years, and I would recommend them and their team to anyone.”
Shona Wisedale, Google review
4. Drummond Miller LLP
Address: Glenorchy House, 20 Union Street
Phone: +44 131 226 5151
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
Drummond Miller LLP clearly has a lot of experience under their belt. Their team is led by Lynne Stratford, who’s not only an accredited specialist but also trained in mediation and collaborative law.
It’s a big plus for anyone hoping to avoid a stressful court battle and find a more peaceful way to resolve things.
Another name worth mentioning in their team is Linsey Ferguson, who deals with some of the more complex cases, like international child abduction. So if your case is more complicated, they seem well-equipped.
They cover pretty much the full range of family law, from divorce and separation to child contact and residence
We also liked that they offer a free 15-minute consultation and a more detailed one-hour chat for £300, including VAT. It gives people a chance to understand their options without fully committing right away.
Their hourly rates are between £200 and £300, not including VAT. Honestly, we think this could add up quickly, especially for longer cases. They do offer some fixed-price divorce packages for simpler situations, starting at around £400 plus VAT.
However, those only work if there are no children under 16 and no financial disagreements, which isn’t super common. So if your situation is more complicated, expect to pay hourly.
I cannot speak highly enough of their professionalism
“Lindsay and her colleagues kept us fully informed throughout the legal process, which resulted in a successful outcome. I cannot speak highly enough of their professionalism, caring and compassion and plain speaking when dealing with 3 other members of my family. I would unreservedly highly recommend Drummond Miller.”
Stephen Donaldson, Google review
She literally walked with us step by step
“Me and my partner managed to get all of our paperwork and procedures related to our civil partnership, and not only that. During these months we’ve been assisted by Megan, who literally walked with us step by step, being available more than she should and showing professionalism and reliability on different occasions. I could not recommend entrusting your case to this lady more.”
Giampiero R., Google review
5. CSG Legal
Address: 10 S Clerk St
Phone: +44 131 202 8677
Business hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: Closed
CSG Legal has a trauma-informed, child-focused approach, which caught our attention. This means they’re trained to handle emotionally tough situations with care and a better understanding of how those experiences affect people, especially kids.
This isn’t something we see a lot of family law firms highlighting, so it feels like a thoughtful touch.
A lot of that seems to come from Nicole Conrot, who heads up their family and child law work. She’s a director and solicitor advocate, but beyond that, she’s also a Child’s Rights Practitioner appointed by the Scottish government.
From everything we found out, she’s really dedicated to putting children’s well-being at the heart of legal decisions.
When we talked to clients, many said she was easy to talk to and explained everything without jargon. Many also said it felt like she genuinely cared about the outcome, not just from a legal point of view, but emotionally too.
The firm covers a full range of family issues, like divorce, cohabitation rights, and more. However, they seem especially strong when it comes to cases involving children, like contact or residence disputes or child protection cases.
One downside, though, is they can be hard to reach at times. Your experience with them may depend more on the solicitor you’ll deal with, as some clients did say their solicitor responds quickly.
I have never met a more professional and informative lawyer
“Having dealt with Nicole for over 4 years for various family court matters. I have never met a more professional and informative lawyer. I had no clue about the process or the big fancy words but Nicole’s communication throughout and how to de stress me was second to none. In my opinion I would say she’s the #1 family lawyer in Edinburgh and is always first in my recommendations to friends and family in similar situations. Keep up the good work. Ps. I won every case”
Scott Parker, Google review
Very pleased with the end results
“Would highly recommend CSG Legal & Nicole for all aspects of family law, litigation and business needs. Having a law firm that goes the extra mile is rare now but you will find that with CSG. Very pleased with the end results they achieve both in and out of court.”
Allan’s Garage, Google review