Divorce and Separation
The end of a relationship can be a difficult time, with emotions running high. The last thing anyone wants to deal with are the legal repercussions of their decisions—whether it’s divorce or separation. Both options require careful consideration with many factors coming into play such as child arrangements, financial settlements and property division. Seeking legal advice can therefore help individuals make informed decisions and protect their rights during a stressful time. Whether you are seeking a divorce or separation, it is important you understand your options and the outcome of each. Our family law solicitors will help you make the right decision and will be with you every step of the way.
The Process
The divorce process can often be long and sometimes complicated. Here is a general outline of the process:
- Submitting an application – This can be done as either a sole applicant or a joint applicant with your partner.
- Acknowledgment of Service – Once the application has been submitted, your partner will have 14 days to acknowledge the divorce.
- Reflection Period – After the divorce has been acknowledged the court will order a 20-week reflection period. This period can be utilised to go through child arrangements and financial settlements.
- Conditional Order – Once the 20-week period has been completed you can apply for a conditional order where the court reviews the case and makes a decision on granting the order.
- Waiting Period – There is a further waiting period of 6 weeks and 1 day after the conditional order has been granted before you can apply for a final order.
- Final Order – After the 6-week period you can apply for a final order which legally terminates your marriage.
Things to Consider
- While you can represent yourself in the divorce there are many benefits of instructing a solicitor, we will be able to assist you with any financial matters that need to be resolved.
- It might also be important to consider mediation and use this time to go through child arrangements, financial settlements and anything else you may want to clarify.
- Having mediation with a solicitor present can help you feel at ease in the decisions you are making.
How long does it take?
The timeline for a divorce matter widely depends on the facts of each individual case. There are many factors such as whether both parties are willing to cooperate, the schedule of the court and the complexity of the case. On average it can take around 9 to 12 months for a divorce to be finalised. Where there are disputes over child arrangements and financial settlements, this timeframe can be even longer.
Once our solicitors have been instructed and have begun on your case, we will be able to give you a more accurate estimation of your file’s timeframe.
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