whatever you're going through, we'll get you through it
divorce and
family law
Divorce must be one of the most distressing and stressful times of someone's life. Where children are involved, the pain and problems can be even greater.
If you find yourself in this traumatic situation, you need a solicitor who will deal with your problems sympathetically, be on your side and fight your corner at all stages.
How do I go about
getting a divorce?
If you have been married for more than a year, you can apply for a divorce, if the marriage has "irretrievably broken down".
You prove this by one of five grounds:
1 Adultery
2 Unreasonable behaviour
3 Two years desertion
4 Living apart for two years and the divorce is by consent
5 Living apart for five years
What happens next?
We issue a petition setting out the facts and the arrangements to be made for any children. If your spouse co-operates, then a couple more documents are completed, an Affidavit is sworn by you and all the papers are then sent to the court. You would only have to attend court if there is a dispute about property, money or the children. A Decree Nisi is made and six weeks later you can apply for it to be made Absolute. Only then will you be divorced.
How long will it take?
If all goes well, then probably no more than three to six months.
What does it cost?
A simple straightforward case, where neither a residence order (formerly called 'custody') nor money are involved, will cost £420 including VAT, plus £340 Court fees. But please remember we can apply for an order for your spouse to pay these costs.
What about
the children?
The court must be satisfied about the arrangements for your children, not only concerning where they live but also maintenance and contact (formerly known as 'access') with their absent parent. Cases involving contact are very distressing. The court considers that the welfare of the children is of paramount importance and applies various criteria to ensure their safety and security. If there are arguments and disputes about contact, then these cases, unfortunately, take a long time to be resolved and inevitably are expensive.
What about the house
and maintenance payments?
This can be equally traumatic. If agreement cannot be reached, the court will consider the length of the marriage, the contributions made, the conduct of the parties and their future needs. Again, disputes over finances are expensive and disproportionate to the benefits ultimately achieved. We will fight your corner to get the best possible result for you.