Ruth Hetherington

Partner

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Ruth, previously a Partner and Head of the Family department for FDR Law, is a highly experienced family lawyer of more than 25 years and a specialist in Children Law, both public and private. She has been a member of the Law Society Children Panel for more than 20 years, is a Member of Resolution, Reunite and works closely with the Association of Lawyers for Children as a Member of their organisation, attending the executive committee meetings. She is also a representative on the Cheshire and Merseyside Family Justice Board, often arranging training courses for her fellow professionals. Ruth, who conducts her own advocacy, has acted for children, parents and grandparents on all areas of children law, including complex injury cases, sexual and physical abuse, infant death, jurisdictional issues, including trafficking, relocation cases, adoption and special guardianship. Her many Children public law cases include drug and alcohol issues, complex jurisdiction issues, injuries to children, child abduction and international matters. When acting for parents, she understands learning disabilities, the cycle of domestic abuse and deals with experts in other fields to ensure all matters are presented to the court. Her Children private law matters include living arrangements for children, parents wishing to move children to another jurisdiction, the interplay of domestic abuse, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse. This can lead to linked criminal proceedings, which Ruth has frequently dealt with.

  • Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority

  • Regulator ID: 37147

  • Based in Manchester, Greater Manchester
  • Licensed for 29 years

Accepting new clients via ReviewSolicitors

Ruth, previously a Partner and Head of the Family department for FDR Law, is a highly experienced family lawyer of more than 25 years and a specialist in Children Law, both public and private. She has been a member of the Law Society Children Panel for more than 20 years, is a Member of Resolution, Reunite and works closely with the Association of Lawyers for Children as a Member of their organisation, attending the executive committee meetings. She is also a representative on the Cheshire and Merseyside Family Justice Board, often arranging training courses for her fellow professionals. Ruth, who conducts her own advocacy, has acted for children, parents and grandparents on all areas of children law, including complex injury cases, sexual and physical abuse, infant death, jurisdictional issues, including trafficking, relocation cases, adoption and special guardianship. Her many Children public law cases include drug and alcohol issues, complex jurisdiction issues, injuries to children, child abduction and international matters. When acting for parents, she understands learning disabilities, the cycle of domestic abuse and deals with experts in other fields to ensure all matters are presented to the court. Her Children private law matters include living arrangements for children, parents wishing to move children to another jurisdiction, the interplay of domestic abuse, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse. This can lead to linked criminal proceedings, which Ruth has frequently dealt with.

  • Regulated by: The Solicitors Regulation Authority

  • Regulator ID: 37147

  • Based in Manchester, Greater Manchester
  • Licensed for 29 years

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Ruth Hetherington

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5.0
Excellent
95%+
Value for
Money
95%+
Success
Rate
95%+
Would
Recommend
Communication 5.0/5
Initial Impressions 5.0/5
Approachability 5.0/5
Documentation Accuracy 4.9/5
Legal Knowledge 5.0/5
Value for money 4.9/5
Expertise

Experience

  • Forshaws Davies Ridgway LLP

    Employee

    Until Present

Languages spoken

  • English

Opening hours

Monday 09:00–17:30
Tuesday 09:00–17:30
Wednesday 09:00–17:30
Thursday 09:00–17:30
Friday 09:00–17:30
Saturday (Closed)
Sunday (Closed)

4 Castle Street, Manchester, M3 4LZ

Reviews

5.0 /5 18 Reviews
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Julie Howsrth

Family Law

Grandchild Access

Ruth was very professional and provided compassionate and caring advice during my discussion with her in relation to perusing access to see my grandson. Additionally she has signposted us as a family to the most appropriate support for upcoming court appearance. I can’t thank Ruth enough and whilst I hope I won’t require any further services from her, she would be my first person to contact should I need too.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

from McAlister Family Law Limited

Dear Julie. Thank you for your kind feedback. We’re pleased to hear Ruth provided professional, compassionate advice and was able to support you and your family during a difficult time, including guiding you towards the appropriate next steps.

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Anonymous

Verified

Exceptional Representation in a Hague Convention Case

Vicky was the lead solicitor for an extremely challenging Hague Convention case for me and was never anything other than professional, strategic, proactive, and exceptionally hardworking throughout. From the outset, she inspired confidence and always made me feel supported, informed, and protected during an incredibly stressful period. She and her team dedicated countless hours to my case and consistently went above and beyond to make the process as manageable as possible for me and my son. Despite juggling multiple complex cases, I never once felt neglected or overlooked, even as proceedings became lengthy and demanding. I would also particularly like to thank Megan and Ruth for their support throughout the proceedings. Megan was consistently kind, responsive, and reassuring, while Ruth’s specialist knowledge and oversight were clearly invaluable to the case. What stood out most was the team’s calm, measured, and highly strategic approach. They were meticulous in preparation, compassionate in communication, and clearly deeply experienced in this area of law. Their work ultimately achieved the best possible outcome for us - a return refusal. I will always be incredibly grateful to Vicky and the wider team for believing in me, fighting tirelessly for my case, and helping secure our future.

Legal experts tagged in
this review

from McAlister Family Law Limited

Thank you for your kind feedback. We are delighted to hear that Vicky and the wider team provided such professional, strategic, and dedicated support throughout your Hague Convention case. It is especially pleasing to know that you felt supported, informed, and reassured during what must have been a very difficult time. We are also pleased to hear your positive comments about Megan and Ruth and the valuable contribution they made to your case. We really appreciate your recognition of the team’s hard work and commitment. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

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Sarah

Maverick in his field

Where do I start, Paul has been incredible, from the moment I spoke about my situation which was complex, difficult and challenging, Paul demonstrated a calm, passion and flair to help me get through this with as much confidence and strength I could muster. Paul worked tirelessly, above and beyond even out of hours on a Friday night. Even following up early Saturday morning, with a plan of how we will handle how to take it even further. I trusted him with my child’s safety as well as entrusting him with mine. I have no words to express my gratitude and respect for Paul. I would highly recommend him to anyone going through a challenging time, he is the absolute best! Thank you so much.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

from McAlister Family Law Limited

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind review, Sarah. We're truly grateful for the trust you placed in us during such a complex and challenging time. It was a privilege to work with you and to support the safety and wellbeing of you and your child. If you ever need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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Ceren

Family Law

Cannot Recommend Highly Enough

I cannot recommend Ruth highly enough. Ruth is quite simply outstanding and deserves the highest recognition for her work. Over the course of 4.5 years of on and off court proceedings, Ruth has been my absolute rock and has consistently gone above and beyond in every possible way. Ruth's knowledge and experience are truly exceptional. She is honestly a master of her field. But what genuinely set her apart was how she made me feel throughout this incredibly difficult process. As a woman supporting another woman through family court, she gave me strength when I didn't think I had any left. There were days I wasn't sure I could even walk into the courtroom, and Ruth's unwavering support and encouragement gave me the courage to carry on when I thought I couldn't. Her legal advice was nothing short of outstanding. Always clearly explained, strategic, and perfectly tailored to our unique situation. She demonstrated incredible skill in navigating complex legal matters and always anticipated potential challenges before they arose. Ruth was consistently available whenever I needed to reach out, responding promptly with professionalism, wisdom, and genuine care. Her dedication to our case was evident in every interaction. Beyond her brilliant legal mind, Ruth is also warm, friendly, and genuinely supportive. She treated me with dignity and compassion at every step, making an unbearable situation feel manageable. Her ability to balance professionalism with authentic human kindness is a rare and precious quality. We have finally achieved the best possible outcome for our son, and I am beyond grateful to Ruth for everything she has done. I honestly could not have done this without her expertise, support, and unwavering commitment to our case. Ruth is an absolute credit to your firm and to the legal profession. I would recommend her without hesitation to anyone facing similar challenges. She is simply the best.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

McAlister Family Law Limited

Thank you for your incredibly kind words, Ceren. We are delighted that Ruth was able to support you throughout such a challenging process and help achieve the best outcome for your son. Your feedback means a great deal, and we will be sure to share it with her. Kind regards, McAlister Family Law Limited

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Naz

Family Law

Would definitely recommend Ruth

I really appreciated all of Ruth’s advice and expertise. She gave me very good advice, and supported me throughout the whole process. Ruth is well-versed in recognising and dealing with domestic abuse cases.

Solicitors tagged in
this review

McAlister Family Law Limited

Thank you, Naz, for your feedback. We’re pleased that Ruth was able to provide expert guidance and support throughout your case, and we truly appreciate your recommendation.

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