We recognise the breakdown of a marriage 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 best outcome for your future.

How do I apply for a divorce?

To apply for a divorce, you must have been married for at least a year. It doesn’t matter where in the world you were married, but you can only apply for a divorce in England and Wales if either you or your spouse meet certain residence conditions or are domiciled here. You should speak to us about this if you are in any doubt.

The document that starts the divorce is called a petition. The person starting the divorce is called the petitioner and the other spouse is called the respondent. The law in this country still requires one spouse to petition against the other, even if both of you agree that there should be a divorce. In terms of any financial or children arrangements that need to be made, it doesn’t matter in most cases who starts the divorce and why.

You must show the court the marriage has broken down irretrievably on the basis of one of the following facts:

• that your spouse has committed adultery
• that your spouse has behaved unreasonably
• that your spouse has deserted you for two years
• that you have lived apart for two years and your spouse consents to the divorce, or
• that you have lived apart for five years

The process is simple as long as your spouse does not ask the court not to grant your divorce. When this happens, it is called a defended divorce and is a different process, but defended divorces are costly and, largely, rare.

How long will my divorce take?

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

How much will my divorce cost?

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