Partner in our Family Law Team Myerson Solicitors
In this article, Nichola Bright, Partner and Family Lawyer at Myerson Solicitors explores the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within family law and the implications for both professionals and clients.
The use of AI within the legal profession has expanded rapidly in recent years, and family law is no exception. In divorce and financial remedy proceedings, AI is now being used by solicitors, litigants and, indirectly, considered by the judiciary. While AI offers clear advantages in terms of efficiency and accessibility, its integration into family law raises significant questions about accuracy, ethics, data protection and the proper administration of justice.
This article examines the current and emerging role of AI in divorce proceedings, with particular reference to professional practice, judicial guidance issued in October 2025, and the broader implications for the future of family law.
The Use of AI by Solicitors in Divorce Proceedings
Family law practitioners are increasingly adopting AI-enabled tools to assist with a range of preparatory and analytical tasks. Importantly, these tools are generally used to support, rather than supplant, professional legal judgment.
AI-assisted document review is now commonly deployed in cases involving extensive financial disclosure. Machine-learning tools can efficiently review bank statements, tax returns and corporate documents, identifying trends, inconsistencies or potential non-disclosure. This can be particularly valuable in complex financial remedy cases or where disclosure is voluminous.
Certain AI platforms are capable of analysing financial data to support asset identification, valuation exercises and scenario modelling. While such tools do not determine outcomes, they can assist solicitors in stress-testing settlement proposals and identifying areas requiring further investigation.
AI-powered legal research tools allow practitioners to search legislation, case law and commentary more efficiently, surfacing relevant authorities and summarising legal principles. Used appropriately, this enhances rather than replaces doctrinal analysis.
AI is also being used to assist with drafting preliminary documents, including chronologies, case summaries and initial correspondence. Professional oversight remains essential, particularly in family proceedings where nuance and precision are critical.
Judicial Guidance on the Use of AI (October 2025)
In October 2025, the Court and Tribunals Judiciary issued formal guidance addressing the use of AI within legal proceedings. The guidance reflects a cautious but pragmatic approach, recognising the inevitability of AI’s growing presence while emphasising the primacy of human responsibility.
Key Principles of the Guidance:
The guidance confirms that AI may be used for administrative, organisational and preparatory tasks, such as document summarisation or research support. However, it expressly warns against reliance on AI-generated legal analysis without independent verification.
The judiciary discourages the use of AI for tasks involving evaluative judgment, discretion or the balancing of competing interests, functions that lie at the core of judicial decision-making, particularly in family law.
The guidance also addresses the increasing use of AI by unrepresented litigants. While acknowledging that AI may assist in improving access to justice, the judiciary highlights risks including legal inaccuracies, misunderstanding of procedural requirements and the submission of AI-generated material that has not been properly scrutinised.
The Use of AI by Clients and Litigants
Beyond professional practice, AI is increasingly used directly by clients involved in divorce proceedings.
Many individuals use AI tools to research divorce law, court processes and financial remedies. This reflects a broader trend towards self-education and digital engagement with legal processes.
Some litigants use AI to draft summaries of their circumstances, prepare correspondence or generate preliminary submissions. While this may assist in articulating issues, it also raises concerns about accuracy and the risk of overconfidence in AI-generated outputs.
Benefits of AI in Divorce Proceedings
AI has the potential to reduce the time spent on routine tasks, allowing solicitors to allocate more resources to strategic advice, negotiation and advocacy. This may assist in managing legal costs and improving access to representation.
AI tools can translate complex legal concepts into more accessible language, contributing to better-informed clients and more meaningful participation in the legal process.
The Importance of Legal-Specific AI
A critical distinction must be drawn between generic AI tools and legal-specific AI software. Legal AI platforms are typically jurisdiction-specific, regularly updated and designed with professional safeguards. These include research databases, document automation tools and disclosure analysis systems, which are better suited to legal practice than general-purpose AI.
Risks and Ethical Considerations
AI systems may produce outputs that are persuasive in tone but legally inaccurate or incomplete. In family law, where outcomes are highly fact-sensitive, such errors carry significant risk.
The use of AI raises serious data protection issues, particularly where sensitive personal or financial data is processed by third-party systems. Compliance with data protection and professional confidentiality obligations remains paramount.
AI systems may reflect inherent biases within their training data and may oversimplify complex legal or factual issues. Family law disputes rarely lend themselves to binary or formulaic solutions.
In cases involving domestic abuse or coercive control, AI may be misused as a tool of surveillance, manipulation or intimidation. Legal professionals must be alert to the potential for technology-facilitated abuse within family proceedings.
Can AI Replace Family Lawyers or Judges?
Despite its growing role, AI is unlikely to replace family lawyers or judges. Family law requires the exercise of discretion, empathy and moral judgment, qualities that remain uniquely human.
Legal advice involves interpreting law in context, negotiating outcomes and advocating for clients’ best interests. Judicial decision-making similarly requires the weighing of evidence, assessment of credibility and balancing of competing welfare considerations, particularly where children are concerned.
AI may assist with process and preparation, but it cannot replicate the human judgment essential to family justice.
Conclusion
To conclude, AI is becoming an increasingly influential tool in divorce proceedings, reshaping legal practice and client engagement. While it offers clear benefits in efficiency and accessibility, its use must be carefully regulated and ethically grounded. In family law, AI is no replacement for professional expertise and judicial discretion. The challenge for the legal profession lies in harnessing AI’s advantages while safeguarding the family justice system.
About Nichola Bright, Partner and Family Lawyer at Myerson Solicitors
Nichola has been practising family law since 2008 and has worked at highly regarded practices in Cheshire and Lancashire. Nichola joined Myerson in 2012 and was promoted to Senior Solicitor in 2015 and is now a Partner at the firm.
Nichola advises on a wide range of family matters, including divorce and high net-worth financial settlements, separation, co-habitation, pre-nuptial agreements, complex disputes regarding children, fertility law and surrogacy law.
Find out more about Nichola Bright here.