Guide to the Divorce Process

It will now take a minimum of 6 months to get divorced or dissolve a civil partnership. The process can take longer than this if you also need to resolve other matters including finances and arrangements for children.

Every divorce is different, and timings will vary according to the complexity of your case and how much you both agree on.

Common delays in divorce cases

There are a range of common issues that can delay the divorce process, including if:

• One of you isn't prepared to negotiate a settlement out of court
• Negotiations about a financial settlement take a long time
• One of you delays completing court forms, or completes them incorrectly
• The court itself has delays due to the amount of work it has to process.

Given that the no fault divorce process is new, some initial delays are to be expected.

In most cases you and your former partner will each pay your own legal costs.

The main thing that will put costs up during a divorce is where one or both partners are not willing to negotiate. It's common for couples not to agree about the financial settlement at first. But if you can't agree at all, it will make the process more expensive for you both as it will require extra work for your solicitors.

Court Fees

The Court Fee for starting a divorce in England and Wales is £593.

Couples often agree to share this cost. If you have a low disposable income, you may be able to pay a reduced court fee.

Solicitors’ Fees

How much you pay in solicitors fees will depend on:

Whether you and your partner are willing to negotiate

While it's normal for there to be disagreements about issues such as what should happen to your finances, or your children, it's usually cheaper if you're both willing to come to an agreement. If you cannot agree then more legal work will be required, as your solicitor will need to negotiate with the other party.

Whether you can settle your case out of court

Out of court divorce processes are normally more cost effective, and are suitable if you are willing to negotiate. If your case has to go to court then it can cost more in legal fees, as your solicitor will have to do more work to get you a fair settlement.

How complex your divorce is

If you have property in more than one country, or considerable wealth, then it's important to get specialist legal advice to ensure your interests are protected.

We'll provide you with clear information about costs at the start of your case, allowing you to manage your outgoings. We also offer a fixed fee divorce option if you and your former partner have reached an agreement and want a quick and easy divorce.

For many people, meeting a lawyer for the first time can be a daunting prospect. Our solicitors understand this and offer a friendly service, where we listen to what you're saying and work with you to get you the settlement you want. We'll be honest with you about what will happen as well as giving a clear estimate of the costs involved.

When you first meet one of our divorce solicitors they will want to get a clear picture of your case, including:

• The background of your marriage and the reason for separation
• Your finances
• If you have any children and how they may be affected
• Whether you have already agreed something with your ex-partner (we can advise on whether this is fair, but will listen to you about what you want to accept)
• Whether you have a prenuptial agreement in place.

This first meeting will normally take between 60 and 90 minutes. While you don't need to bring anything with you, it can be helpful to bring a rough estimate of your property, debts, income and outgoings. If you'd like us to file a divorce petition on your behalf then we'll also need your marriage certificate.

We understand that this first meeting can be a lot of information to take in, so we’ll provide you with a written note of our advice after your appointment.