No-Fault Divorce
What is a No-Fault Divorce?
On 6th April 2022, the divorce laws in England and Wales changed, bringing into force, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. This new act requires no ‘fault’ or blame to be assigned to either party as to the reason or ‘grounds’ for granting a divorce, as it once did in the past when couples had to rely on evidence and admissions of adultery, unreasonable behaviour, or separation as a means of proving the marriage had broken down irretrievably. Now, the only reason for divorce in all cases is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, and importantly, there is no burden of evidence, proof or admission required, making the process much more amicable for separating parties and reducing the opportunity for unnecessary conflict. What’s more, divorce applications can be made either separately or jointly.
How Long Will a No-Fault Divorce Take?
As before, couples will have to be married for at least 12 months before they can start a divorce application. The new procedure for divorce now includes a 20-week ‘reflection period’. This occurs before the application for a conditional order is submitted and is designed to give couples time to agree that reconciliation is not an option, and the divorce should proceed, and on matters such as the division of assets, finances and arrangements regarding children. In the most efficient and straightforward of cases, the entire process of divorce typically takes 6-7 months from starting the divorce application through to the court granting the final order.
What’s the Process for a No-Fault Divorce?
We’ve outlined the basic steps in our graphic below. If you have questions about your particular circumstances or are simply wondering at what stage in the no-fault divorce process are finances, property and child arrangements agreed upon, please contact us to request a consultation with one of our experienced team.
Request a Consultation
We are able to offer a fixed-fee consultation to discuss your requirements and ensure you’re matched with the best lawyer from our experienced team to take your case forward to a successful conclusion.
Typically, our clients are homeowners, those with the means to pay for their legal fees privately, or those who qualify for litigation funding. Unfortunately, we are unable to assist clients requiring Legal Aid or those on low income or universal credit.