Family Law Divorce Solicitors
Divorce lawyers in Surrey, guiding you through your options
As of April 6th 2022, England and Wales introduced no-fault divorce. This law promotes a more constructive approach by removing the need to assign blame, allowing separating spouses to focus on important financial and child arrangements from the outset. It also applies to the dissolution of civil partnerships and legal (judicial) separation.
Under the previous law, the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage had to be evidenced by relying on one of five grounds: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, two years’ separation with mutual consent for divorce, five years’ separation or desertion. Today, there is no longer a requirement to cite one of these five grounds. Separating couples can obtain a divorce simply by making a statement of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage in the divorce application.
At Hart Brown, our family law solicitors in Surrey are here to guide you through the legal process with clarity. The current divorce law in England and Wales aims to reduce conflict and simplify the process for separating couples. Below is a summary:
- Divorce applications can be made online.
- Spouses can apply jointly or one spouse can apply individually.
- Divorces can no longer be contested, except on limited grounds such as jurisdiction or the validity of the marriage.
- Legal terminology has been updated: the petitioner is now the applicant, the decree nisi is now the conditional order and the decree absolute is now the final order.
- A minimum period of 20 weeks is required between the start of proceedings and the granting of the conditional order, allowing time for reflection.
- The divorce process will take a minimum of 26 weeks from start to finish.
While the current divorce law simplifies the process of ending a marriage, it does not automatically sever financial ties between spouses. It’s important to seek early legal advice from our Surrey divorce lawyers, especially if there are financial matters or arrangements for children to formalise. We are here to guide you through every step and ensure your interests are protected.
With our expertise and experience in no-fault divorces, our family law solicitors can guide you through the process. Our team is equipped with the knowledge and resources to handle even the most challenging of cases and we will work closely with you to achieve the best possible outcome.
For advice on the breakdown of your marriage, contact one of our experienced family law and divorce solicitors in Surrey. Please call us today on 01483 887766, email us or get in touch via live chat.