When the majority of people are planning their wedding day, they are not considering the possibility that their marriage may end in divorce. This is a good thing! But, it can make the entire process seem a bit distant and complex, even though as many as 1 in 10 marriages in the UK end this way.
In April 2022, a new law was passed introducing no-fault divorces, which changed the names of the pieces of paperwork required to undertake a divorce, as well as removing the blame element. But even then, what is involved in having a no-fault divorce?
At Prentice Family Law, we are proud to be able to offer our clients no-fault divorces, and our team of divorce solicitors in Guildford is always happy to meet with couples who want to legally separate this way. So, if you want to end your marriage or civil partnership with as little hassle as possible, please call our team today.
Now, going back to the key point; what are the stages involved in a no-fault divorce? Our divorce solicitors in Guildford break down the stages right here.
Joint application
Remember when divorces revolved around one person wanting to separate?
Well, a no-fault divorce can be started by both of the people who are in a couple. This is known as a joint application and can be started online to save time and money. At this stage, our divorce solicitors in Guildford should be contacted, to help ensure that the paperwork is completed correctly, and prevent delays.
After the application is submitted, there is then a wait of around 20 weeks, during which a divorce court will decide whether or not to go ahead.
It is worth noting here that you can apply for a no-fault divorce on your own, which is known as a sole application.
Conditional order
This is the halfway stage to getting a no-fault divorce and this represents that a court does not see any reason as to why you cannot divorce.
During the aforementioned 20-week period, it is assumed by the courts that you and your former spouse will be working with our team to finalise issues relating to money, children and property. So, please use this time wisely.
Once the conditional order has been sent, you have 43 days before you can apply for the final order.
The final order
The final order is the last piece of the divorce process and is when your marital status will change from being married to divorced. After the final order has been received, you are free to remarry if you wish.
Final points
To apply for a no-fault divorce, you and your partner need to have been married for a minimum of 1 year, as you would have needed to be with previous divorce proceedings.
You will also need to consider that if your partner is applying for a no-fault divorce, you have no grounds to challenge it as you would have been able to with the older divorce law.