Beginning a divorce

If you have decided that your marriage has come to an end, and you are ready to move onto getting a divorce, you can begin this process yourself, or arrange for a solicitor to handle it for you.

If you would like to go through the process yourself, you can do so via the government website. You must have been married for at least 1 year before you can apply for a divorce. You will need your marriage certificate or a certified copy. You will also be asked for your ex’s current address. This is so the court can send them a copy of the divorce application. If you give your ex’s email address, the court will send the divorce papers to them online. If you do not give an email address the papers will be sent by post, which usually makes the process lengthier.

If you aren’t sure where your ex is currently living, there are various steps you can take. You can find more information here, or contact a lawyer for some assistance.

The whole divorce process involves several stages, and take a minimum of 7 months to be completed due to the mandatory reflection periods. You can read more about that here.

The divorce fee is currently £593, although you may be eligible for help with fees if you are on benefits or a low income. Further information can be found here.

Outside of the actual divorce, which legally dissolves your marriage, you may need to make decisions and agreements with your ex-partner about how to divide money, property, pensions and debt, and how you are going to care for your children. These are three separate issues – (1) divorce, (2) financial arrangements and (3) children arrangements.

You can read more about these aspects of divorce and separation in this blog series. However, it is advisable to have your agreements documented in writing, and in the case of your financial arrangements made legally binding in a consent order approved by a court. Without a financial consent order, you may not be protected from your ex-partner changing their mind in the future, and if you don't get a consent order, your ex can still make financial claims against you (and vice versa) in the future, even after many years have passed.

Many of the people I work with contact me before they have made any firm decisions about their future. Whether you are considering separation, have recently separated, or simply want to understand your options, I offer a free initial conversation to discuss your circumstances and how I may be able to help. You can contact me by telephone - 0777 589 4910, email - polly@pollyjackman.com or by using the contact form on this website.