The Divorce Process - a quick divorce takes 3 to 4 months to complete. |
| |
| |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
You |
|
Your Solicitor |
|
The Court |
|
Spouse |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step 1 - The Divorce Petition (Weeks 1 to 2) |
|
|
|
You provide personal details and send in your marriage certificate. You also complete a Statement of Arrangements for children (if applicable).
|
>
|
The solicitor completes the divorce petition. You need to pay the petition fee of £340. The solicitor then sends the forms and fee to court.
|
>
|
The court registers your divorce, opens a case file and assigns a case number. |
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step 2 - The Acknowledgement of Service (Weeks 3 to 4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The court sends the petition, Statement of Arrangements and Acknowledgement of Service forms to your spouse. |
>
< |
Your spouse has 7 days to respond, but may take longer, typically 2 to 3 weeks. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step 3 - The Affadavit and Application for Directions (Weeks 5 to 6) |
|
|
|
|
The solicitor, on your behalf, completes the Affadavit in support of the petition and the Application for Directions form.
|
<
>
|
The court sends the solicitor the Acknowledgement of Service and an updated copy of the Statement of Arrangements.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step 4 - The Decree Nisi (Weeks 7 to 8)
|
| |
|
You have reached the Decree Nisi milestone.
|
< |
Your solicitor notifies you that you of the Decree Nisi. |
< |
A judges reviews the documents and if satisfied, sets a date for the Decree Nisi. The Decree Nisi is pronounced and the court notifies your solicitor.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step 5 - Consent Order [Optional] (Weeks 9 to 14) |
 |
|
If you and your spouse can reach an agreement over finances it can be made legally binding in a Consent Order. |
> |
Your solicitor can draft a Consent Order based on your requirements and submit it to court. |
> |
A judge will review the Consent Order and as long as it is reasonably fair then it will be approved and made final and legally binding. |
< |
You spouse must agree to and sign the Consent Order, and you both have to provide a short financial disclosure.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Step 6 - Apply For Decree Absolute (Week 14) |
 |
|
You need to pay a final court fee of £45 for your Decree Absolute
You receive your Decree Absolute and are finally legally divorced.
|
>
< |
Six weeks after the Decree Nisi the solicitor applies to court for the absolute
The solicitor forwards the certificate on to you.
|
>
< |
If everything is in order, the court will issue the Decree Absolute.
The court sends the Decree Absolute to your solicitor.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do not believe websites that promise a "quickie" divorce in only 4 weeks, it is simply not possible, a quick divorce takes 3 to 4 months, these misleading promises just result in disappointed customers. |
- The Divorce Process 
