Many people now turn to AI tools for quick answers to legal questions. While they can be useful for general information, they cannot replace tailored legal advice from a qualified solicitor. This is a situation our family law team is seeing more often, where AI has provided an incomplete answer that could have led to unnecessary delay, additional costs and a less favourable outcome.
When AI gets legal advice wrong
A father contacted Tees on behalf of his daughter, who had married just three months earlier. Although the legal marriage had taken place, the planned religious ceremony had been cancelled, and the couple had continued to live separately. The marriage had effectively broken down almost immediately.
Before contacting us, the father had asked an AI platform what options were available. The advice suggested that the only course of action was for the couple to enter into a separation agreement and wait until they had been married for 12 months before applying for a divorce.
How Tees helped
When our family law experts reviewed the circumstances, they identified another legal option that had not been mentioned by the AI tool.
Depending on the facts, the marriage could potentially be annulled through nullity proceedings. This would allow the legal process to move forward much sooner than waiting for the minimum 12-month period required before a divorce application can be made.
We also explained an important point that the AI response had overlooked. A separation agreement alone would not permanently dismiss future financial claims between the parties. Even if the couple followed the AI’s suggested route, they would still need to obtain a legally binding court order during the divorce process, potentially increasing both the time involved and the overall legal costs.
After discussing the advice with his daughter, the family instructed Tees to begin nullity proceedings.
The outcome
The application for nullity was issued around six months after the marriage. Once the conditional order is granted, the parties will be able to apply for an agreed financial consent order that dismisses future financial claims, achieving certainty significantly earlier than would have been possible had they relied solely on the AI-generated advice.
The importance of not relying solely on AI for legal advice
This case highlights an increasingly common issue. AI tools generate responses based on the information they are given and the patterns in the data they have been trained on. They do not investigate the facts, ask follow-up questions or apply legal judgement in the way a practising solicitor does.
A different legal route was available in this case, but it was not identified by AI. Had the family relied on that advice alone, they could have faced unnecessary delays, duplicated legal work and avoidable costs.
AI can be a useful starting point for understanding a legal issue, but it should never be treated as a substitute for professional legal advice. Every family’s circumstances are different, and the right legal solution depends on the facts of each individual case.
Giving you the full picture
If you are facing a family law issue, speaking to an experienced solicitor can help ensure you understand all of the options available and choose the one that is right for you.
