We recognise the breakdown of a civil partnership can be an emotional and stressful event. We offer straight forward advice and support to help you make the right decisions for your individual situation and the best outcome for your future.

How do I apply for a dissolution?

To apply for a civil partnership dissolution, your civil partnership must have been entered into at least a year prior to the application for dissolution. It doesn’t matter where in the world you formalised your relationship, but you can only apply for a dissolution in England and Wales if either you or your civil partner meet certain residence conditions or are domiciled here. You should speak to us about this if you are in any doubt.

The process is simple as long as your partner does not ask the court not to grant your dissolution. When this happens there is a different process, but defended proceedings are costly and, largely, very rare.

If you and your partner are not in agreement regarding arrangements for any children of the family and/or finances these will be dealt with separately (but at the same time) from the dissolution process.

The document that starts the dissolution is called a petition. The person starting the dissolution is called the petitioner and the other civil partner is called the respondent. The law in this country still requires one civil partner to ’petition’ against the other, even if both of you agree that there should be a dissolution.

To start a dissolution, you must file a petition at court. You must set out evidence that your civil partnership has broken down on the basis of one of the following facts:-

• that your civil partner has behaved unreasonably
• that your civil partner has deserted you for two years
• that you have lived apart for two years and your civil partner consents to the dissolution, or
• that you have lived apart for five years

Due to a legal technicality, it is not possible to ask for a dissolution on the basis of adultery, but the same circumstances can form the substance of a behaviour-related petition.

How long will my dissolution take?

If each step in the dissolution is taken promptly and financial arrangements do not hold things up, the dissolution process usually takes between four and six months.

How much will my dissolution cost?

The cost of the dissolution process can be an additional concern at a stressful time. We recognise this and offer a fixed fee scheme for undefended proceedings, which is designed to provide a cost effective solution to the dissolution process. This will provide you with the security and clarity of knowing exactly what your dissolution will cost, removing the financial uncertainties that are often associated with dissolution.