No-Fault Divorce in 2025: How the Landscape of Separation is Changing in the UK
Divorce in England and Wales has undergone a quiet but transformative shift since the introduction of the no-fault divorce regime. Although the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into effect on 6 April 2022, its practical consequences are only now being fully felt by the legal system and the families who pass through it. […]
Divorce Mediation: Practical Guide
Divorce mediation can offer separating couples a quicker, more cost-effective and risk averse approach to dealing with child arrangement and financial orders. In this practical guide, we look at what’s involved in the divorce mediation process when deciding post-separation financial arrangements. What is divorce mediation? When you decide to divorce or end a civil partnership, […]
Who Gets Custody of Child in a Divorce?
There are a number of factors to take into consideration when determining who will get custody of a child in a divorce. The biggest factor will be what is best for the child. How that is determined is dependent upon the parent’s current situation. It’s important to stress that ‘custody’ as a legal term and […]
Conditional Order/Decree Nisi in Divorce
Obtaining a conditional order is a crucial stage of the divorce process in England and Wales. You will need a conditional order before you can apply for a final order to legally end your marriage. In this guide, we explain what a conditional order is in divorce proceedings and the process you will need to follow to […]
Final Order/Decree Absolute in Divorce
A final order is the last stage of the divorce process in England and Wales. In this guide, we explain what a final order is and the steps you will need to follow to obtain one to legally bring your marriage to an end. This guidance equally applies to anyone looking to dissolve their civil partnership. […]
Divorce Process Step By Step
No-fault divorce rules were introduced in the UK in 2022 to help make the divorce process more straightforward. Under this system, divorcing couples no longer have to cite grounds for divorce or attribute blame to be able to end their marriage. But the divorce process can still be both emotionally and financially demanding, particularly if the relationship […]
Divorce Settlement FAQs
A divorce settlement is the part of the divorce process when assets are divided and any other financial arrangements are decided. In this guide, we answer frequently asked questions about financial settlements in divorce proceedings. Even in the most amicable scenarios, where agreement has already been reached between former spouses or civil partners on mutually […]
Form E Divorce Financial Statements: Everything You Need to Know
Courts rely on financial disclosures when determining financial remedies in divorce and dissolution of civil partnership proceedings. This guide to the Form E explains what Form E is, what information it requires parties to disclose, and the potential consequences of lying on Form E, including the consequences of lying about cohabiting on Form E. What […]
“Apocalyptic” Legal Bill Leads Judge to Call for Limits to Divorce Legal Costs
Divorce legal costs have come under the spotlight as a Hight Court Judge expressed concern at the “apocalyptic” legal bill facing a divorcing couple. Mr Justice Mostyn is ruling on divorce proceedings between Russian businesswoman Alla Rakshina and her Greek ex-husband, Lazaros Xanthopoulos. The case, being heard in London, began on 21 September 2020 and […]
No Fault Divorce Now Allowed in England & Wales
From today, separating couples in England and Wales will no longer need to apportion blame as part of the legal divorce process. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020) brings in the most far-reaching change in divorce laws in more than 50 years. Under the new no-fault divorce rules, either one or both of the […]
Divorce Portal to Close on 31 March as New System is Rolled Out
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) will be closing the MyHMCTS portal from 31 March 2022 as new no-fault divorce rules take effect in England and Wales. A new system for applications is expected to be available on 6 April. In practical terms, the closure means that from 31 March to 5 April, the digital […]
No Fault Divorce: Where Are We Now?
Getting a divorce can be an extremely difficult and emotionally challenging time for the former couple. Yet even where both ex-partners are in agreement that divorce is the only option, the law at present in England and Wales does not allow a ‘no-fault divorce’. Under current rules, to legally divorce, blame must be attributed to […]
How Does Divorce Affect Your Pension?
When it comes to divorce or civil partnership dissolution, all financial assets have to be put out in the open, and this includes all pensions you and your ex-partner have built up. Pensions are a valuable asset, particularly for older people who have amassed sizeable funds, so it will be vital to understand how they will […]
No-Fault Divorces Set To Start From Autumn 2021
No-fault divorces are set to become available to divorcing couples from autumn 2021. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill was backed by 231 MPs against 16 in a House of Commons vote on 8th June 2020, and concluded its passage through the House of Commons yesterday on 17th June 2020. The Bill will now be […]
No Fault Divorce Bill Set to Go Before Parliament
The Ministry of Justice has announced that the so-called ‘no fault’ divorce Bill is to be one of the first bills tabled in the new Parliament. In news welcomed by the national family justice body, Resolution, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill is being reintroduced into Parliament on 7th January having first been promised by […]
Spouse Visa After Divorce (How to Stay in the UK)
If you are living in the UK under a spouse visa, it will be important to understand how your immigration status will be affected in the event you divorce or separate from your British citizen spouse or civil partner. A spouse visa is the permission granted to a foreign national from outside the European Economic […]
What is Divorce?
The following guide summarises the current process for filing for divorce in England and Wales. Divorce defined Divorce is the formal process by which a marriage is officially brought to an end by the court. The party to the marriage who files for divorce is known as the petitioner, while the respondent is the individual […]
Divorce in England & Wales: What Does the Law Say?
Divorce is the formal process by which a marriage is officially brought to an end by the court. The party to the marriage who files for divorce is known as the petitioner, while the respondent is the individual petitioned against and therefore responding to those proceedings. By filing a petition to terminate the marriage, the […]
Filing for Divorce (Guide to the Divorce Process)
In England or Wales you can file for divorce if you have been married for at least one year and your relationship has irretrievably broken down. The following is a general guide to the process of filing for divorce, and the key legal considerations when completing the initial petition through to applying for a decree […]
What are the Grounds for Divorce?
To apply for divorce, you will have to show there has been an irretrievable break down in your marriage. This is the only ground for divorce under current law in England and Wales and it must be evidenced in the divorce petition by reference to at least one of five ‘facts’. 5 Facts that establish […]