For many people, the first step towards understanding divorce is not a conversation with a friend or a solicitor. It is a search online and increasingly that search involves asking an AI tool such as ChatGPT for guidance.

Divorce can feel overwhelming, unfamiliar and emotionally exhausting. If you are at the stage of contemplating separation, or have only recently started proceedings, you may want quick answers to questions to help you understand the process or what you should do next.

AI can be helpful in that scenario, it can explain general concepts in plain English, give you a broad overview of the divorce process and even suggest questions to ask your lawyer.

However, there is a real difference between information and advice and where divorce and financial remedy proceedings are concerned, that difference matters. Divorce is not a generic legal problem. It is a deeply personal process, shaped by you, your children, your relationship and the realities of your family life. Every family is unique, and therefore every divorce is unique. That is where AI reaches its limits.

AI can sound confident, even when it is wrong

One of the main risks with AI tools is that they can produce answers that sound authoritative but are inaccurate or based on the wrong legal system. This is described as a “hallucination”, an AI-generated answer that presents something false as if it were fact. In a legal context, that can be particularly dangerous.

Family law in England and Wales is not a matter of applying a fixed formula to reach an outcome. The court has a wide discretion in financial remedy cases. Outcomes depend on the needs of each party, the resources available, the welfare of any children and many other factors. Two cases that look similar on the surface can lead to very different outcomes. An AI tool may not understand those distinctions.

Early decisions can shape the direction of a case. If you rely on inaccurate advice from an AI tool, be that about business assets, disclosure, or arrangements for children, you may make choices that later become stressful and costly to correct.

Family proceedings are private

Financial remedy proceedings in the Family Court usually take place in private. There are also specific rules about the use and disclosure of documents in family proceedings. Documents prepared for or filed within family proceedings should not generally be shared with third parties, unless court rules permit it or the court gives permission.

This is an important reason to be extremely careful about uploading information into an AI system. Even where an AI tool feels like a private conversation, it is not the same as speaking to your solicitor. Uploading case specific information or court documents into an AI tool is likely to result in a breach of the court rules and potentially place you and your case in real difficulty.

AI cannot understand the full picture

Divorce advice is not just about knowing what the law says. It is about correctly applying the law to the facts of your case. A family lawyer will ask questions that an AI tool may not know to ask. Those questions require judgement, experience and an understanding of people. The way advice is given can be as important as the advice itself. Sometimes the right legal strategy is not the most aggressive one. Sometimes the priority is  reducing conflict or preserving a co-parenting relationship.

AI can’t sense when a client is overwhelmed, when a negotiation needs to pause or when a proposed settlement appears simple but has long-term tax, pension or housing consequences.

Where AI may help — and where it should stop

Used carefully, AI has a place. It can help you understand general terminology, prepare a list of questions for your solicitor or organise your thoughts before a meeting. It may help you feel more confident about the process before you take legal advice.

But it should not be used to decide your legal strategy, draft case documents, assess whether a settlement is fair, interpret court orders, advise on disclosure, or tell you what you are likely to receive. Those are areas where personalised legal advice is essential.

The value of speaking to a family lawyer

The best family law advice is tailored, practical and human. It helps you understand your options, but it also helps you make decisions at a time when decision-making can feel incredibly hard. It considers not only what the law allows, but what is sensible, achievable and protective of your long-term interests.

At JMW, we understand that no two divorces are the same. Whether your circumstances are straightforward or complex, early advice can help you avoid common pitfalls and approach the next steps with greater confidence.

If you are considering divorce or are already in the early stages of the process, speaking to a specialist family lawyer can help you understand your options and make informed decisions from the outset. To discuss your circumstances in confidence, please contact the JMW family law team.