Sarah Whitelegge
With over 15 years of experience, Sarah specialises in private children law, domestic abuse, and financial settlements, and is a strong advocate for alternative dispute resolution through collaborative law.
Specialisms & Areas of Work
Legal 500
Biography
Sarah joined Myerson in 2018 having and has been practicing in family law since 2007.
She advises on a wide range of family matters including divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, financial settlements, cohabitation agreements, pre and postnuptial agreements, disputes regarding children and domestic violence protection. She is particularly experienced in matters concerning complex children matters and regularly acts for clients where there are serious allegations of domestic abuse.
Sarah is a member of Resolution and is committed to providing a constructive approach to family law, helping clients navigate matters with minimal conflict.
Sarah obtained her Resolution Accredited Specialist status in 2016 in private children law and domestic abuse.
Sarah has completed the Resolution Collaborative Foundation training and can offer clients an alternative way to resolve issues relating to the arrangements for children or the division of finances constructively via round a table meeting process. Sarah understands the emotional and financial costs that can come with litigation and works hard to consider alternative methods of dispute resolution with clients.
Sarah is a member of the South Manchester Collaborative Pod and the Cheshire Collaborative Family Law Group, two groups of specialist family lawyers all trained by Resolution as collaborative lawyers.
Sarah is a member of the Myerson community engagement and volunteering committee helping to find volunteering opportunities and community engagement ideas that the firm can get involved with.
Sarah is a member of the Trafford Law Society Committee and regularly runs with the Trafford Law Society running club who meet each month.
Client Feedback
Mr. Nash
I needed to conclude my protracted divorce and Sarah Whitelegge was assigned to assist me with matter. She advised me of timescales and costings, which I was happy with and the process concluded within a matter of just a few weeks. I was updated on a regular basis, even when I was abroad to advise me that the matter had been concluded, which I really appreciated.
Ms. Merriman
I would recommend Myerson's to a friend or colleague as I found them to be very professional and they explained the whole process from the start and gave me options of the best plan of action. Sarah kept me updated at every stage of my matter. In a very stressful situation I was reassured that my matter would be dealt with professionally and was given a timescale and approximate cost.
Ms. English
Sarah Whitelegge supported me through my divorce patiently and with professionalism.
She was patient, supportive and offered sound advice. I trusted that she had my best interests in mind at all times.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Sarah in any similar matrimonial matters.
Mr. Derbyshire
It's the first time I've had to use a solicitor and I must say I felt at ease as soon as I spoke to Sarah she is professional with a personal touch and is sensitive to what you are going through she is always there to answer questions no matter what it is and even when she was away the people I deal with there were extremely helpful I highly recommend Myerson and would use them again without hesitation.
Mr. H
Fantastic service from Sarah Whitelegge and Nichola Bright. Both highly knowledgeable, experienced and approachable dealing with all queries and concerns in a timely and professional manner.
Legal 500
Sarah Whitelegge is a calm and sensible solicitor who always provides good, carefully thought-out advice… always achieving the best for the client.
Legal 500
Very approachable, knowledgeable, and straightforward… her lay clients have always been confident.
Legal 500
Provides an extremely high level of service… produces court documents of a very high standard.
Legal 500
Shows adeptness representing clients in children cases involving abuse and habitual residence disputes.
Mr Reville
Would just like to say a big thank you for the smooth process for the name change. Both yourself and the team have been outstanding!
Recent Experience
Sarah is regularly instructed in private children law proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse, coercive control, and parental alienation.
Her recent work includes:
- Representing the mother in complex private law proceedings involving serious
- Acting for a mother in proceedings involving serious allegations of physical, emotional, and financial abuse, culminating in a three-day fact-finding hearing with multiple findings made against the father. She successfully defended the mother’s position on appeal, ensuring no interim contact took place until risk assessments were completed by an independent expert.
- Representing a mother in a case complicated by the father's mental health and alcohol misuse, as well as concerns surrounding the children's involvement in a Christian religious community. The case involved sensitive issues about the children’s right to maintain a relationship with their father despite religious tensions.
- Acting for a father in proceedings involving allegations of parental alienation, where the child was joined as a party. The case included expert psychological input and therapeutic support to address the child’s needs in the context of the dispute.
Sarah also has significant experience advising on financial disputes arising from divorce or separation, including cases involving international assets, third-party interests, and intergenerational wealth.
Highlights include
- Advising on a nuptial agreement designed to safeguard substantial family wealth, including £100 million in residential property and £400 million in capital assets.
- Representing a husband in financial remedy proceedings involving Section 37 applications by the wife regarding business interests. Successfully negotiated a consent order resulting in the withdrawal of all Section 37 claims and preventing four proposed intervenors from being joined to the proceedings.
- Acting in a complex variation and enforcement case involving spousal maintenance arrears, achieving a clean break settlement and bringing an end to the parties’ financial ties.
- Representing a wife in enforcement proceedings involving overseas properties in Dubai and Pakistan. Successfully secured an order enabling her to execute a power of attorney in the husband’s name to ensure implementation if he refused to cooperate.
Awards & Rankings
Legal 500 — Recommended Lawyer
2026
Legal 500 — Next Generation Lawyer
2019Memberships
- Member of Resolution
- Resolution Accredited Specialist in Private Children Law and Domestic Abuse (2016) and status maintained every three years
- Resolution Collaborative Lawyer Foundation training (2024)
- Member of South Manchester Collaborative Pod
- Member of Cheshire Collaborative Family Law Group
- Member of Trafford Law Society Committee
- Member of Family Separation Support Hub
Insights & Media
Supported & Supervised Contact: Expert Guidance for Separated Families
In this episode of My Family Pod , Sarah Whitelegge , Legal Director in the Family Team at Myerson Solicitors, is joined by Elaine Stokes, Director of Child Arrangement Resolutions, to discuss how specialist social work support can help families navigate child contact arrangements following separation. Together, they explore how supported and...
Listen to the Podcast
Family Mediation in the UK: How It Works, Costs and Benefits Explained
Family breakdown is never easy, and navigating the practical and emotional challenges that follow can feel overwhelming. The family team at Myerson are all members of Resolution, an organisation of family law professionals committed to helping separating couples with matters in a way which is constructive, cost‑effective and child‑focused. Our...
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Gifting Shares and Family Wealth: Legal Guidance and Protection
Many people consider how best to share their success with loved ones, from transferring property or company shares to gifting luxury items or substantial cash sums. While generosity is often well-intentioned, large gifts can have lasting legal, financial and personal consequences. In this blog, our Corporate , Residential Property and Family...
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Good Divorce Week: Promoting a Constructive Approach to Separation
Each year, Resolution promotes Good Divorce Week to raise awareness of the importance of managing separation in a constructive way. Too many families going through divorce or separation become involved in avoidable and acrimonious court proceedings. It does not have to be this way - there is a better approach. Resolution is a community of family...
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Collaborative Divorce and Separation: How Collaborative Law Works
At Myerson, we understand that the end of a relationship can be overwhelming, especially when children are involved. Our family team is passionate about helping separating couples resolve matters in a constructive, respectful, and compassionate way. One of the approaches we champion is collaborative law. In this blog, our Collaborative Lawyers...
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Are Prenups Just for Celebrities?
The recent engagement of pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce has attracted worldwide headlines. Alongside the congratulations, one topic has sparked speculation in both the media and legal circles: will they sign a prenuptial agreement? With both Taylor and Travis having considerable success in their respective fields, it is...
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What Is a Predatory Marriage? Legal Implications and How to Protect Loved Ones
There is an increasing concern about the issue of predatory marriages. These marriages can have devastating consequences when they are entered into by vulnerable individuals Our Family and Wills, Trusts and Probate Lawyers set out how the law treats marriages that may be voidable, and the impact marriage will have on someone’s will and estate. A...
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Exploring Routes To Parenthood For The LGBTQ+ Community
It has become increasingly accessible for members of the LGBTQ+ community to become parents, with some possibilities being available on the NHS. Whilst this is something to be celebrated, it can be overwhelming to determine which pathway to parenthood is the most suitable for you and your relationship. Becoming a parent is a deeply personal...
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How To Start Divorce Proceedings
Making the decision to get a divorce can be a particularly emotional and stressful time in someone’s life. However, the process of getting a divorce does not need to be complicated, especially with the use of the services of a specialist family lawyer . If you wish to get a divorce but are unsure where to start and what is required, we have put...
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Navigating Family Law: Supporting Families Living with Autism with Compassion and Understanding
To mark World Autism Awareness Day on 2 April, we wanted to highlight the importance of autism-friendly legal support in family law. The family team at Myerson understands that going through a divorce can be an emotional and stressful experience for any separating couple, and what is right for one family may not be right for another. We...
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How Can The Length Of Your Marriage Impact Your Divorce Settlement?
In England and Wales, you must have been married for at least one year before you can apply for a divorce. This can be frustrating, especially if you have separated soon after marriage. However, it does give you time to understand the divorce process, discuss finances, and make any necessary arrangements for the children. Our family lawyers...
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What Is Coercive And Controlling Behaviour?
With the introduction of The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 , the legal framework has been further strengthened to ensure better support and justice for those affected by coercive and controlling behaviour. Our Family Lawyers explore the serious issue of coercive and controlling behaviour, discuss what constitutes coercive control, provide...
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Understanding the Link Between Perimenopause and Divorce
Divorce is a significant life-altering event, just like menopause (the last menstrual period to take place and perimenopause, the time of fluctuating periods before this), since all can have profound impacts on a person’s emotional, physical and psychological well-being. As our society becomes more informed about the effects of perimenopause...
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Can You Divorce Without Sorting Out Finances?
Couples increasingly choose to separate and divorce without having sorted out their finances, which could be attributed to the advent of a more accessible online divorce service, but there are implications for not finalising financial matters by...
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What Happens When Children Are Swapped At Birth? Legal Lessons From ITV’s Playing Nice
Playing Nice, the psychological thriller by JP Delaney, follows two couples who discover that their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up and face a horrifying dilemma: do they keep the sons they have raised and loved or reclaim their biological child? As Pete and Maddie meet Theo’s biological parents, both families face a...
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What to Expect at Manchester Family Court
Attending family court can be daunting, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. Whether you are going through a divorce or trying to sort out the arrangements for your children , understanding the process and knowing how to deal with the court will help ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. Our Manchester Family Lawyers explain...
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Alienating Behaviours and Parental Alienation: Steps to Take
Unfortunately, when assisting in child contact arrangements on a relationship breakdown, it is not uncommon to hear statements such as My partner is telling lies about me to manipulate the childre n or The children do not want to see me because of what my partner has said to them . The undermining of a parent and child relationship is often...
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What Are the Most Common Mistakes When Divorcing?
We appreciate that separation and divorce can be a highly traumatic, emotional, and stressful time. It can feel very confusing, and it is important to try to take control of the situation and seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity. Our Divorce Lawyers have put together some points to consider if you are separating or thinking about...
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What Can I Do If My Ex Stops Me Seeing My Child?
If you have separated or are in the process of separating, we understand that one of the hardest things is not seeing your child every day. Knowing your rights regarding contact and what to do if either or both of you cannot reach an agreement about contact with your child can be very confusing and daunting. Below, our Family Law Solicitors have...
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10 Steps to Take When Leaving a Relationship
Our Family Solicitors appreciate that separation can be a highly traumatic, emotional, and stressful time. It is important to take control of the situation and seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity. In this blog, we set out the main considerations when starting the separation process and how you can begin the journey to separate...
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A Guide to Prenuptial Agreements
A prenup is a legal agreement made between two individuals before they marry or enter into a civil partnership. The agreement itself can set out a variety of provisions as to how the couple intend to divide their assets in the event of any future divorce or family dissolution. The agreement can also define which assets are classed as...
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Is Financial Abuse a Form of Domestic Abuse? A Complete Guide
Domestic abuse is defined as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour. It can take many different forms, such as coercive control, psychological or emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, online abuse or financial or economic abuse. Anyone can be the victim of domestic...
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Do I Have To Share My Inheritance In A Divorce?
It is well-known that sorting out the finances on divorce can be a complicated and lengthy process. It involves unravelling financial situations created and intertwined over the course of a marriage, which can span decades in some cases. Often, it is obvious what has built up during the marriage and that the fair outcome is for those assets to be...
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Divorce Considerations Around Christmas Time
For many separating couples, deciding to apply for a divorce is not an easy step, and our Family lawyers understand that Christmas can be a difficult time if you are considering separating. How do you initiate a divorce? The introduction of no-fault divorce means that the process of applying for a divorce is relatively straightforward, and a...
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Can I Travel with My Kids at Christmas Without the Other Parent's Consent, or Is It Abduction?
You may be planning to take your children away over the Christmas period to visit friends and family who do not live close by or to have a festive holiday. If this is your plan, you need to be aware of the legal requirements in relation to travelling with children when parents have separated. If you and the children's other parent have separated...
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Resolution Awareness Week: Mythbusting Common Law Marriage
Resolution is a group of family law professionals who are committed to promoting a constructive approach to family issues that consider the needs of the whole family. The annual Resolution Awareness Week takes place in the last week of November, and Resolution is currently campaigning for change for more protection to be provided for unmarried...
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I Can’t See My Children at Christmas – What Should I Do?
The festive period is a time for families to come together. However, child contact arrangements over Christmas can be difficult to navigate for parents who have separated, particularly in reaching an agreement as to who spends time with the children and when. Where possible, children should have a meaningful relationship with both parents...
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Inheritance and Divorce – Is Inheritance Included in a Divorce Settlement?
Upon divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership , both parties will usually have a strong claim to share all matrimonial property. Ordinarily, matrimonial assets (assets acquired throughout a marriage or civil partnership) are considered by the court as part of the matrimonial pot and are generally divided equally. Parties may have a less...
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The Importance of Obtaining a Clean Break Order
A clean break is a type of financial settlement that dismisses any future claims parties may make against the other. It is a court order that legally cuts financial ties between you and your former partner. The effect of a clean break order is to: terminate the financial obligations of each party towards the other in life and or death, and bring...
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Can a Maintenance Order be Varied?
A spousal maintenance order, also known as a periodical payments order, is an obligation for one party to pay the other a sum of money on a weekly or monthly basis. If the court grants a spousal maintenance order, it will need to determine whether to make a joint-lives order or if it is more appropriate to impose maintenance for a defined period...
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How Much Spousal Maintenance Can I Claim On Divorce?
Spousal or civil partner maintenance is also known as a periodical payments order. This is an order that either party to the marriage or civil partnership shall make to the other periodical payments (maintenance) for such term as specified by the order. Whilst there is an expectation in the eyes of the Family Law courts that both parties will...
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Changes to Capital Gains Tax Legislation and Lifetime Allowance Provisions
Recent changes to the rules in relation to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) apply to the transfer of assets between spouses and civil partners who are in the process of separating . The aim is to provide spouses/civil partners with more time to transfer assets without worrying about CGT's implications and how this would affect any future financial...
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January Blues – Managing Child Contact Arrangements Over Christmas
The festive period can be a very difficult time for parents who have separated when it comes to child contact arrangements. It can be extremely stressful given the expectations parents have for contact with their children over Christmas, and...
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How to Cope With Finances on Divorce in the Current Economic Climate
Given the current situation with the economic climate, there are a few practical steps you could consider in the hopes of alleviating some of the financial pressure faced during divorce and financial remedy proceedings. Council Tax reduction There...
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What Are The Common Reasons For Family Breakdown And Divorce?
There are all sorts of reasons why a marriage or a relationship can break down, and it is important that you obtain legal advice at an early stage if you are contemplating a divorce , to obtain advice on your finances, or to agree on arrangements for the children. The divorce rate in the United Kingdom is currently estimated at 42%. Common...
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Can I Stop Paying Child Maintenance if My Ex Stops Me Seeing the Kids?
Parents have a legal responsibility to provide financial support for their children even if they no longer live with or spend time with them. Often, children who have separated parents spend more or all of their time with one of their parents. The parent who has the greater amount of overnight contact with the children will be able to claim child...
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What Is the Difference Between Decree Nisi and Decree Absolute?
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 (DDSA 2020) came into force on 6 April 2022. The Act introduces 'no fault divorce’ in that it removes the requirement to establish a fact as to the reason for the divorce and allows either or both parties to a marriage to apply for a divorce order which dissolves the marriage on the ground that...
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Can I Use ChatGPT for My Divorce?
Although AI can be a helpful tool for simplifying complex areas of law, such as divorce, using it comes with risks. A common question on Google is whether ChatGPT can help with divorce. Our Family Lawyers outline why you should not rely on AI to handle divorce and financial settlement, and the benefits of instructing a specialist family lawyer.
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Domestic Abuse: Legal Protections and Support UK
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month , a global campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse, challenge harmful behaviours, and provide vital support for victims and survivors. This is followed by the 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence (25 November - 10 December), which highlights the legal and practical measures available to...
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Legal Guidance for LGBTQ+ Couples: Divorce, Parenting & Financial Settlements
LGBTQ+ couples and individuals often face unique and complex challenges when navigating separation and divorce. The family team at Myerson are highly experienced in assisting LGBTQ+ clients with divorces, civil partnership dissolution, matters involving children and financial remedy proceedings, all whilst ensuring that clients fully understand...
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Understanding the Link Between Perimenopause and Divorce
Divorce is a significant life-altering event, just like menopause (the last menstrual period to take place and perimenopause, the time of fluctuating periods before this), since all can have profound impacts on a person’s emotional, physical and psychological well-being. As our society becomes more informed about the effects of perimenopause...
Read Blog
What The Best Christmas Movies Can Teach Us About Family Law
The best Christmas movies, whether streamed on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or caught on Freeview are often filled with festive cheer, love, family bonding and togetherness, but have you ever thought about what your favourite Christmas classic could teach you about Family Law? While the movies are mostly meant to entertain and lift your Christmas...
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