What is the process of getting a Divorce in the UK?

Sushma Awtani is a Senior Immigration and Divorce Solicitor based in our London Moorgate office.

Divorce in the UK

You may be thinking of starting a divorce to end an unhappy relationship, or you may be on the receiving end of a divorce petition. The issues involved in a divorce and separation may range from those covering any children you may have to dividing up your assets; it can be difficult and distressing to deal with.

To apply for a divorce, you must be married for at least twelve months.

Decide the grounds for divorce

The marriage or civil partnership must have irretrievably broken down and this can be proved by one of five reasons:

• Unreasonable behaviour

• Adultery

• A period of separation in excess of two years if both parties agree

• A period of desertion for two years

• A period of separation in excess of five years, where it does not matter if one party objects or not

The court process

If it’s you who is starting divorce proceedings, you are known as the ‘petitioner.’ Your spouse is the ‘respondent’.

• File petition - The petitioner files a petition at court with the original marriage certificate and the issue fee/fee exemption form.  A copy of the application and an ‘acknowledgment of service’ form will be served on the respondent who will have seven days to respond to say if they intend to defend the divorce.

• Decree nisi - If undefended, the petitioner will apply for the decree nisi as a paper exercise (no court hearing is needed). If defended, the petitioner will apply for directions for trial and a court hearing date.

• Decree absolute - When it comes to the decree absolute, I tend to advise clients not to apply for it until all the finances have been settled and the consent order has been approved by the court.  If one party obtains a decree absolute and then remarries, he/she may lose some or all of their rights in any subsequent attempt to claim from their former spouse.  So, whatever else happens, you should not remarry (at least not without careful thought!) until a financial settlement has been finalised by way of a sealed order of the court and having allowed time for an appeal and service of an appeal to elapse – in reality another 28 days.

Jewish divorce

A Get is a Jewish divorce document which is required by Jewish couples who wish to obtain a divorce.  Even if a civil divorce is granted by the court, many problems may occur if a Get is not obtained.

The Recognition of foreign decrees

An overseas divorce obtained by means of proceedings shall be recognised under section 46(1) of the Family Law Act 1986 if it is:

• Valid in the country in which it was obtained and

•  At the relevant date either party was either habitually resident in that country, domiciled in that country or a national of that country

Divorce is rarely a straightforward process. For legal advice to protect yourself and your family, or to understand the cost of a divorce in the UK, please contact us.