Divorce and separation

Divorce is never an easy thing, but it can be made easier with the right support.

A separation can be one of the most stressful times in someone’s life. Dealing with matters impacted by a divorce – such as children, finances, and shared assets – can cause severe emotional stress and have you feeling like you don’t know where to begin.

If you’re going through a separation and need support, our friendly divorce lawyers will provide you with honest, sensitive advice to make sure you know where you stand. We will work with you to secure the outcome you need, so that you can focus on moving onto your next chapter with confidence.

The divorce process

Since the introduction of ‘no-fault’ divorce in 2022, you no longer have cite a legal ground for divorce, meaning that you can separate without having to place the blame on your former partner. This aims to reduce conflict and allow more time to be awarded to matters like children or shared property.

It will take a minimum of 26 weeks to complete the divorce process – However, in cases where financial issues or arrangements for children need to be resolved, it can take longer.

There are five main steps in the divorce process:

1. The application –

You first need to complete a divorce application. This can be done as either a sole applicant or as joint applicants. We can help you complete this part of the process, and it is all done online.

The court receives the application online, along with the court fee.

2. A 20-week period to allow detailed arrangements to be made –

Once the application for a divorce has been made, you’ll then need to wait a minimum of 20 weeks before the court makes a conditional order. This is to allow time for any dispute proceedings to take place or for productive and amicable conversations around matrimonial finances and arrangements for children.

3. Conditional order

Following these proceedings, a conditional order from the court will be made. This will contain the full details of the divorce. We will work with you to check the order and ensure that everything is as it should be.

4. A six-week ‘conditional order to final order’ period

From the day the conditional order is received, there is a further six-week period to allow for final arrangements to be made. If either applicant has any issues with the conditional order, then this period may be extended. Either way, our experienced divorce lawyers will be with you throughout, to protect your position.

5. The final order

Assuming everything is agreed, after a minimum of 26 weeks, a final order will be made. At this point the divorce process is complete.