Divorce Procedure

The mechanics of obtaining a divorce nowadays can be quite straightforward particularly if the couple agree that the marriage is over. The difficulties tend to lie in resolving the related practical issues stemming from divorce such as how to separate, where to live, arrangements for the children and any money matters.

Your attention will probably be concentrated on those related issues and the process of actually obtaining the divorce may seem blurred. The purpose of this leaflet is to outline a broad framework of the divorce process to highlight key points and to set out the sort of timetable to expect.

1. Who can start divorce proceedings?
Anyone who has been married for over a year provided one or other of the couple is either domiciled here or has been resident in England or Wales during the preceding year. It does not matter where the couple were married.

2. On what grounds can a divorce Petition be started?
The only ground for divorce is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down but there is a complication. A divorce will only be granted if one of the five “facts” laid down by law, proving irretrievable breakdown, is established.

3. What are the “facts”?

• Your spouse has committed adultery and you find it intolerable to live with them.
• Your spouse has behaved in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect you to continue to live together.
• Your spouse has deserted you for a continuous period of two years or more.
• Your and your spouse have been living separately for two years or more and your spouse agrees to the divorce.
• You and your spouse have been living separately for five years or more, whether or not your spouse consents to the divorce.

4. If the marriage has “irretrievably broken down” and one of the five facts applies, what happens next?
This will depend upon your particular circumstances. It is sensible to try to obtain your spouse’s consent to the Petition and to try to reach agreement over the contents of the Petition. For example, if your spouse accepts that the Petition should be based on behaviour, only a brief outline of the particular behaviour may need to be given. Not saying all that might be said will not generally prejudice you. In the case of an adultery Petition it is unnecessary and generally undesirable to name “the other party”.

5. What does the Petition actually look like?
Every Petition follows the same form. It contains basic information about names, addresses, ages of children and a statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. It will also state the “fact” on which it is intended to rely.
The Petition will include a section (known as a “prayer”) which will include a request for the divorce to be granted. It may also include a request for an Order relating to the children; a claim regarding costs of the divorce; and an Order for financial provision.

6. What about the children?
A form is sent to the Court with the divorce Petition which will outline the arrangements relating to the children. The law encourages couples to try to agree those arrangements. The form (known as a “Statement of Arrangements”) is usually completed by the person filing the Petition. Preferably it should be sent to the other spouse for agreement before it is filed. If agreement is not reached, this does not prevent the divorce from proceeding.

7. How much does the divorce cost?
This depends on the finances of each party to the divorce. Those who are unemployed or on a low income are likely to be eligible for advice under the Legal Help Scheme. This means the state will pay the majority, if not all, of the solicitor’s costs. Those who are ineligible for Legal Help should ask his/her own solicitor for an estimate of the likely costs. Solicitors are obliged to provide an estimate of their costs at the beginning of the case.

8. Are financial issues dealt with before the divorce is finalised?
It is not necessary for financial discussions to be completed by the time the divorce is final. Frequently, they will still be in the early stages if finances are complicated. However, it should at least be possible to resolve immediate problems and make temporary maintenance arrangements.

9. Are the proceedings public?
Court proceedings in family law are usually private. This means that the public and press are not allowed access to the Court papers. However, the press are able to publish the fact that a divorce has been pronounced, though this is extremely rare. The information that they may disclose is very limited. They may disclose the “fact” on which the divorce is granted but they are not able to publish details of the adultery or behaviour.

10. Procedure:

10.1 After one year of marriage.
Either spouse may start the divorce. He or she is referred to as the “Petitioner”. The Petition and Statement of Arrangements about the children are sent to the Court together with the Marriage Certificate. A fee, currently £180, is payable unless the Petitioner is being advised under the Legal Help Scheme.

10.2 Within a few days of sending the Petition to the Court.
The Court sends a copy of the Petition and the Statement of Arrangements to the other spouse, referred to as the “Respondent”. A copy of the Petition is also sent to anyone named in an adultery Petition. That person may be referred to as a “Co-Respondent”. If the Respondent (or Co-Respondent) has instructed solicitors, the Petition may be sent to them.

10.3 From the date the documents are received the Respondent has strict time limits to observe.
Within 8 days
He or she should send to the Court a form called an “Acknowledgment of Service” which accompanied the Petition. The form asks the Respondent whether it is intended to defend the Petition, whether any claim for costs is disputed and whether orders affecting the children are sought.
Within 29 days (longer if the documents have to be sent to an address abroad).
Whether or not an Acknowledgment has been filed, the Respondent must, if he or she intends to defend the Petition, file a Defence (called an “Answer”). The Petition then becomes defended and the procedure outlined below does not apply. Defended divorce proceedings resulting in a fully contested hearing are very rare. However, a delay in finalising the divorce is inevitable.

10.4 Within a few days of receiving the Acknowledgment of Service from the Respondent (and Co-Respondent).
The Court sends to the Petitioner’s solicitor a copy of the form(s) of Acknowledgment of Service.

10.5 If the Respondent is not defending the Petition, the Petitioner can apply for the Decree Nisi to be pronounced.
The Petitioner’s solicitor prepares an Affidavit for the Petitioner to swear confirming that the contents of the Petition are true. It will also state whether any circumstances (including those relating to the children) have changed since the filing of the Petition. The Petitioner will swear the Affidavit before a solicitor or Court Official and it will then be sent to the Court with the request for a date for the first decree of divorce (“Decree Nisi”) to be pronounced.

10.6 If Acknowledgements of Service are not returned to the Court?
Proof that the Respondent and any named Co-Respondent have received the Petition will have to be obtained before the Petitioner can take the next step. This may involve arranging for someone to deliver the Petition to the Respondent and any named Co-Respondent personally or, exceptionally, obtaining a Court Order that proof does not need to be given that the Respondent and Co-Respondent have received the Petition.

10.7 On receipt by the Court of the application for a date for pronouncement of the Decree Nisi.
The District Judge looks through the papers and, if they are in order, gives a Certificate that he is satisfied with the arrangements for the children and a Certificate for the Decree Nisi to be pronounced. Both the Petitioner and the Respondent (through their solicitors) are then advised of the date fixed for Decree Nisi. Depending on the Court’s diary, the date is likely to be a few weeks after the application is lodged. The couple do not have to attend Court unless representations need to be made to the District Judge on the question of costs.

10.8 What normally happens with regard to the children?
If agreement has been reached, the District Judge is unlikely to interfere.
If agreement has not been reached, the District Judge may ask the Petitioner and the Respondent (accompanied by their solicitor) to attend an informal appointment to explore a solution to the difficulties. The District Judge may also ask for a Officer of the Children And Family Courts Advisory and Support Service to become involved. If a solution cannot be reached, this will delay the application for the final decree of divorce.

10.9 If the arrangements in relation to the children are settled between their parents.

• Six weeks after the date of the Decree Nisi
  The Petitioner may apply for the final decree (“Decree Absolute”) by sending the appropriate form and fee (currently £30.00 unless the Petitioner is being advised under the Legal Help Scheme) to the Court. This step is not automatic. This Decree will be processed and may be available as quickly as the same day. There are sometime reasons why it is inadvisable for the Petition to apply for the Decree Absolute as soon as it is available. Those reasons usually relate to the situation with regard to the financial negotiations and each Petitioner will be separately advised on the facts in their case.
• Three months after the Petitioner could first have applied for Decree Absolute.
  The Respondent may apply for the Decree Absolute if the Petitioner has not already done so.

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