Islamic Marriages & Sharia Divorce Solicitors

We understand how important it is to obtain legal advice before entering a Nikah agreement. Our specialist solicitors can advise you on the impact legally and considerations you may want to make to protect your assets.

Our specialist team can also work with you to draft a Nikah agreement to ensure that you understand your rights under Sharia and the impact on the law in England and Wales.

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Choosing the right services for you

We understand how torn you can feel when going through an Islamic divorce. If it’s no longer possible to have a harmonious relationship with your spouse, we can support you through the religious and legal processes.

We value the differences between Sharia laws and recognise that Islamic laws need to be considered along with any UK legal requirements.

Our Islamic divorce solicitors are particularly experienced in cases involving high net worth individuals, senior executives, and business owners. Our lawyers can also help you if your divorce has international elements. For instance, you may have property in other countries, or your spouse or children live abroad.

How can we help you with your Islamic and Sharia divorce?

Our Islamic family law solicitors can help you with:

Marriage contracts (Nikah) and pre-nuptial agreements – we can advise you on and provide these contracts
Deciding on the dowry (Mahr) that should be given, and if it should be returned if you divorce
Islamic divorce initiated by the man (Talaq) or woman (Khula)
International divorces, where you may be living in a different country to your spouse
Annulments – it may be possible to annul a marriage rather than divorce in some situations
Domestic abuse – we can help you with a range of protective legal measures
Financial settlement following divorce
Arrangements for your children, including who they should live with and issues around parents wishing to relocate
Matrimonial assets on divorce – we can help you make or defend claims about family assets – especially jewellery
Sharia Council, we can handle Islamic divorces connected with the Sharia Council.

Many of our solicitors are multilingual, able to speak:

Arabic
Hindi
Urdu
Punjabi.

Why choose Irwin Mitchell’s Islamic and Sharia divorce solicitors?

We work very closely with Islamic Councils around the country and are sensitive to the subtle cultural and religious differences between communities. We have appeared on several Punjabi radio stations and presented to West Midlands Police about Islamic family law.

Sarah Al-Jourani, our lead Sharia family law solicitor, works very closely with the Sharia Council to provide clients with expert knowledge. Sarah has been appointed UK Chair for Intercultural dialogue due to her work in the field of Sharia family law and sits as Vice Chair for the American Bar Association International Family Law Committee.

Sarah regularly hosts webinars on the topic of Sharia family law and has spoken for organisations such as Thought Leaders 4 and Family Law Weekly.

Mark Hands, one of our Islamic divorce solicitors, has built a reputation advising Asian families. He regularly writes and lectures on Islamic family law issues.

Read our divorce experts' series of articles.

We were delighted to win Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion award at The Asian Today’s Signature Awards in 2020.

Our Islamic family solicitors help clients across the country, particularly in and around:

We also offer a cost-effective mediation support service. Mediation can be a more relaxed way of resolving any disputes you and your spouse have. We offer a 30-minute consultation with a solicitor, where we can discuss whether mediation is appropriate.

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Speak to our experts

We have the largest private client team in the UK; our team of experts are here to provide discreet legal advice to support you and your family.

Sarah Al-Jourani

Solicitor

Find out more

Meet our experts

Sarah Al-Jourani

Solicitor

Find out more

Making an enquiry

We have several ways you can contact us, either by completing our online contact form, by phone, or using our live chat. If you start your journey online, here are the first steps to working together.

Complete our online form
We need a few details to understand your situation and the kind of support you need.
We’ll contact you by phone
On the call our experts will ask you a few more questions to make sure we connect you with the right legal advice from our team.
We arrange a full appointment
Your next step is an in-depth appointment with a specialist solicitor to discuss how we could advise you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Islamic marriage recognised under English law?

An Islamic marriage that takes place in England and Wales is not legally recognised unless a civil ceremony also takes place. If you haven’t gone through the civil process, it may mean that you can’t make the same level of financial claim if you divorce.

This is an area of the law that needs reform, as it disadvantages Muslims getting married in England and Wales. If you were married in a foreign country where Islamic marriage is recognised, your marriage may be recognised in England and Wales. In this case, you would not need a civil ceremony.

We have experience helping people married in the UK, as well as those married in Egypt, Pakistan and elsewhere. We can advise you on the legal status of your marriage, and what that could mean for the financial settlement with your spouse.

Can I get an automatic divorce in Islam?

Under English law, there’s no provision for an automatic divorce in Islam or any other religion. It doesn’t matter how long you and your spouse may have been separated.

You’ll still need to submit a formal divorce application to begin the proceedings. You don’t need to have been separated from your spouse for a set period in a no-fault divorce, but you’ll need to have been married for at least six months before submitting a divorce application.

How long does an Islamic divorce take?

This depends on the type of divorce sought and whether there’s a need for an external body, such as the Sharia Council, to be involved.

However long your divorce takes, our solicitors will be with you every step of the way. We will make sure you’re informed and feel fully supported throughout the entire process. Once we take on your divorce, we’ll be fully available for you to contact us to discuss anything you’re concerned about.

What should I do if I don’t have a copy of my Nikah certificate?

If you haven’t got a copy of your Nikah certificate, don’t worry. This is a common issue, and we can still help you to get divorced.

However, you’ll still need to try and get a copy, as this will show you’re actively trying to find it. Organisations that oversee Nikah ceremonies normally have a copy of the certificate, so that’s the best place to start trying to locate it.

If you’re unable to track down your Nikah certificate, you’ll need different evidence to prove your marriage was valid. This allows the divorce panel to authorise your divorce.

What should I do if my spouse doesn’t respond?

As is the case in any culture, you may find that your spouse doesn’t cooperate in the divorce proceedings. They may not consent to the divorce or may try to make it as difficult as possible.

Providing we can prove your spouse got the divorce paperwork, or knows that you’ve made arrangements for a divorce, the panel can still progress your divorce to the next stage. With this proof, the divorce panel doesn’t need your spouse’s acknowledgement.

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Our commitment to you

Our experts always start by listening, so we understand what matters most from day one.

01
Clear legal guidance
You will always get straightforward, honest advice, with regular updates to keep you clear on the way forward.
02
Specialist knowledge
A wide-ranging team of trusted specialists who understand what it takes to protect your future, your family or your business.
03
Your needs first
Whether you’re navigating complex personal situations or business decisions, we take the time to understand your world and what’s at stake.