What is the divorce process?

You can get divorced in England or Wales if all of the following are true of your situation: You've been married for at least a year Your relationship has permanently broken down Your marriage is legally recognised in the UK To get divorced, there are three key steps : Completing and submitting a divorce application either as a sole or joint applicant(s) Applying for a 'conditional order' or 'decree nisi' (a provisional certificate declaring that the divorce can proceed) Finalising your divorce by applying for a 'final order' or 'decree absolute' Once the three steps above are completed, you will be legally divorced. But this is only one part of the process. You'll still need to settle the financial relationship and child arrangements (if applicable) between you and your ex. This should be done at the same time as the divorce proceedings.

What should I consider when thinking of divorce?

If you are considering a divorce or an application has already been made, you need to understand: The cost of divorce, including the court fee for the application, and your options for dealing with this The timescales for a divorce What each stage of the divorce means and how that impacts other financial matters The rights you may give up when the divorce is made final

How long does a divorce take?

Since April 2022, a divorce under the no-fault divorce system takes a minimum of 26 weeks to complete. You can only apply for a conditional order 20 weeks after the other party has acknowledged the divorce, and you'll need to wait a further 6 weeks after the conditional order to apply for the final order. However, most divorces take around 8-12 months to conclude, as you and your ex should resolve your financial matters before the divorce is made final.

How much is a divorce in the UK?

We can't tell you how much your divorce will cost because every case and set of circumstances are different. However, what we can guarantee is, whatever your requirements, we'll always look to produce the best value solution for you. If you'd like a better idea of how much things could cost, make an enquiry with our team.

My partner and I are amicable, can we use the same lawyer for our divorce?

There are specific circumstances where it can work for both parties to use the same lawyer, such as splitting on good terms. We're one of the few divorce law firms in the UK to offer a service that allows us to act for both you and your partner. The service is called ‘ separate well with one lawyer ’ and offers a less confrontational, more collaborative method of divorce that carries a number of benefits.

Will I have to go to court to settle my divorce?

No, there are several ways to settle matters relating to your divorce, such as child arrangements and finances, without taking things to court : Collaborative law Mediation Arbitration These methods focus on reducing conflict wherever possible. They generally provide several benefits over standard court proceedings, including: Quicker processes Lower costs compared to taking your dispute through court (in some cases) Ability to tailor the process to your circumstances More control over proceedings More confidentiality Less stress and acrimony

What’s the difference between divorce and finances? Aren’t they the same thing?

No, they are different and separate issues. Divorce is purely the legal process of going from ‘married’ to ‘unmarried’. How you and your partner resolve your finances is a separate matter. This is usually the most complex part of the case, so you should speak to a specialist divorce lawyer about how finances should be resolved.

What happens to the children upon divorce?

Divorce does not have any say in what happens to the children. Like finances, arrangements for your children will need to be dealt with separately.

How can I speak to a divorce lawyer?

There are two ways to get started with us: Fill out our online form Contact us by phone or online enquiry

How long does a divorce take?

Most divorces take around 8-12 months to conclude, as you and your ex should resolve your financial matters before the divorce is made final.

Thinking about a divorce or separation

Going through a divorce can be stressful, both for the parties to the marriage and the wider family unit.

Divorce is something no one in a marriage wants to think about. But if your relationship reaches that point, it's essential that you get the right legal support to help you get through what can be a complicated and stressful process.

We're proud to have a leading UK divorce law team, with colleagues who played a key role in the introduction of the new no fault divorce laws to the UK in 2022. Our divorce lawyers have extensive experience working with clients from a variety of backgrounds at a local, national, and international level.

Our expertise and approach in the sector have made us an award-winning provider of divorce services , so you can trust us to handle your situation with the respect, sensitivity, and support you deserve.

Divorce is an unfamiliar, unsettling, and upsetting process for most people. Our job is to provide you with a legal package to see you through that process so you can move on with life.

Award-winning divorce services
91% client satisfaction
Extensive industry recognition
Offices across England

What is divorce law?

Divorce law is the legal process that ends a marriage or civil partnership (strictly speaking, the process is called "dissolution" for civil partnerships). Divorce can be complex and will often involve issues beyond the separation of the relationship itself, including child arrangements and division of property and finances. It can also be a tough process due to the often-emotional nature of the breakdown of a relationship.

Divorce law in the UK has changed thanks to the introduction of no fault divorce in April 2022. No fault divorce means you no longer need to blame each other for ending a relationship. Instead, you can simply state that there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This has streamlined the divorce process to some degree, but it remains a complicated legal procedure.

Divorce affects a lot of people, with with 23% of marriages in 2017 being predicted to get divorced in the first 15 years of marriage. Our divorce lawyers have a huge amount of experience and expertise in handling cases for people from all sorts of backgrounds. The way we operate is always the same, no matter who we're working with. We work hard to get you the right legal result while managing the process with sensitivity, integrity, and compassion.

If you need legal help with a divorce, you can get started by contacting us today.

What services do our divorce solicitors offer?

We're here to make your divorce as straightforward as possible. A specialist divorce lawyer can explain what it means and your role in the process as an applicant, joint applicant, or respondent.

We'll help you understand the impact on your family home, income, pensions, and children. We'll also point you towards other professional advice that you might need, such as tax, financial planning, and estate planning.

The divorce law services we offer include:

No fault divorce experts

We're experts in the recent legislation changes surrounding no fault divorce, having played a key role in its introduction following the Supreme Court case of Owens vs Owens.

We're long-time supporters of Resolution – a national organisation of family professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. Resolution spearheaded the campaign for no fault divorce for decades and we supported them. We're proud to say we represented Resolution when they were given permission to intervene in the Supreme Court of Owens vs Owens. Owens v Owens was the catalyst that eventually led to no fault divorce becoming law in the UK on 6 April 2022.

Caitlin Jenkins (@FamilyLawVlogger) and Nigel Shepherd provide more background on how the changes came into effect in the video below, which was recorded in April 2022.

The law on how you can get divorced in England and Wales changed today, 6 April 2022 and in this vlog, Caitlin Jenkins, the familylawvlogger and her colleague, Nigel Shepherd (known as Mr No Fault Divorce for his pivotal role in bringing about this change in the law) discuss the changes that came in to effect today. They also discuss the background to the law change including the academic research and key caselaw that prompted the change.

Separate well. Together.

Divorce is can be a difficult process, but there are better ways to separate if it's possible to work together. We understand that when divorcing, sorting out the finances and children arrangements can be challenging. This is why we take an innovative approach to divorce law that prioritises reducing conflict wherever possible. This makes the process as smooth as it can be and, most importantly, limits potential harm to those impacted by the divorce such as children.

We offer four key services to help you separate well, all of which offer constructive, collaborative, and settlement-focused legal solutions:

Contact us today to find out more about how these services could help your divorce process move smoother, more amicably and help you reach the best outcome for you and your family.

Our divorce lawyers

Part of our family law team, our divorce lawyers are renowned across the UK for their expertise, compassion, and proven track record for success. We'll get to grips with your situation and work to find a resolution that suits you.

Who do we work for?

We're divorce solicitors who are proud to work with a huge range of clients from a variety of backgrounds, including:

Business owners, entrepreneurs and their partners
Farming families
High net worth and ultra-high net worth families
International families
Medical professionals
Professional and family trustees
People with a high profile in the entertainment industry
Senior management and other professionals
Sports people

Why choose Mills & Reeve divorce lawyers?

We know how complicated, stressful, and emotionally draining divorce can be. We also know how valuable it is for you to work with a team that takes the time to understand your unique circumstances and offers tailored legal solutions to give you the best outcome.

We're proud to have one of the UK's leading divorce law teams. Here are just a few reasons why you can trust us to be your divorce solicitors:

Our divorce lawyers are members of Resolution – a national family justice organisation committed to finding non-confrontational methods of dealing with family law issues. Our work with Resolution helps us to provide you with a constructive and cost-effective service and defines our approach to everything we do.
We took home numerous awards in 2022, including Corporate Law Firm of the Year and recognition for our approach to innovation and being a great place to work
We have multiple offices across England, including in London, Manchester, and Leeds, so are likely to have divorce solicitors near you.
Our 2022 Fearless Feedback survey returned a 91% client satisfaction score, which we put down to our company values and commitment to you. And we're aiming for a 95% score by 2025.
We were featured in the Financial Times' Innovative Lawyers: Europe and Thomson Reuters' Top 20 UK Law Firm Brand Index 2022.
We're recognised by The Legal 500, Chambers and Partners, and The Law Society and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Get in touch with us today

We're experts in the field of family law and can help you through every step of the divorce process. Get started today by filling in our online form or contacting our divorce law team directly.

"A regional superpower, Mills & Reeve is very effective in high-value divorce cases with complex financial elements...the client care is second-to-none and it continues to provide an amazing Rolls-Royce service."

“One of the best firms practising in family law.”

"It is a standout firm."

"Mills & Reeve has a fantastic reputation and its talent across all UK regions is exceptional"

FAQ's about divorce

What is the divorce process?
You can get divorced in England or Wales if all of the following are true of your situation:
- You've been married for at least a year
- Your relationship has permanently broken down
- Your marriage is legally recognised in the UK
To get divorced, there are three key steps:
- Completing and submitting a divorce application either as a sole or joint applicant(s)
- Applying for a 'conditional order' or 'decree nisi' (a provisional certificate declaring that the divorce can proceed)
- Finalising your divorce by applying for a 'final order' or 'decree absolute'
Once the three steps above are completed, you will be legally divorced. But this is only one part of the process. You'll still need to settle the financial relationship and child arrangements (if applicable) between you and your ex. This should be done at the same time as the divorce proceedings.
What should I consider when thinking of divorce?
If you are considering a divorce or an application has already been made, you need to understand:
- The cost of divorce, including the court fee for the application, and your options for dealing with this
- The timescales for a divorce
- What each stage of the divorce means and how that impacts other financial matters
- The rights you may give up when the divorce is made final
How long does a divorce take?

Since April 2022, a divorce under the no-fault divorce system takes a minimum of 26 weeks to complete. You can only apply for a conditional order 20 weeks after the other party has acknowledged the divorce, and you'll need to wait a further 6 weeks after the conditional order to apply for the final order. However, most divorces take around 8-12 months to conclude, as you and your ex should resolve your financial matters before the divorce is made final.
How much is a divorce in the UK?

We can't tell you how much your divorce will cost because every case and set of circumstances are different. However, what we can guarantee is, whatever your requirements, we'll always look to produce the best value solution for you.

If you'd like a better idea of how much things could cost, make an enquiry with our team.
My partner and I are amicable, can we use the same lawyer for our divorce?

There are specific circumstances where it can work for both parties to use the same lawyer, such as splitting on good terms. We're one of the few divorce law firms in the UK to offer a service that allows us to act for both you and your partner.

The service is called ‘separate well with one lawyer’ and offers a less confrontational, more collaborative method of divorce that carries a number of benefits.
Will I have to go to court to settle my divorce?
No, there are several ways to settle matters relating to your divorce, such as child arrangements and finances, without taking things to court :
These methods focus on reducing conflict wherever possible. They generally provide several benefits over standard court proceedings, including:
- Quicker processes
- Lower costs compared to taking your dispute through court (in some cases)
- Ability to tailor the process to your circumstances
- More control over proceedings
- More confidentiality
- Less stress and acrimony
What’s the difference between divorce and finances? Aren’t they the same thing?

No, they are different and separate issues. Divorce is purely the legal process of going from ‘married’ to ‘unmarried’. How you and your partner resolve your finances is a separate matter. This is usually the most complex part of the case, so you should speak to a specialist divorce lawyer about how finances should be resolved.
What happens to the children upon divorce?

Divorce does not have any say in what happens to the children. Like finances, arrangements for your children will need to be dealt with separately.
How can I speak to a divorce lawyer?
There are two ways to get started with us:
- Fill out our online form
- Contact us by phone or online enquiry

Blog: No fault divorce - what is a joint application?

One of the biggest changes that took effect on 6 April was the introduction of joint applications for divorce. If you and your ex decide to separate you will be able to divorce together, as joint applicants...

More blogs from our legal experts...

Supporting clients through "faultless" divorces
On 6 April 2022 the law surrounding divorce and the dissolution of civil partnerships in England and Wales changed significantly. From this date "no fault divorce" will be available and individuals will no longer need to assign fault to prove the irretrievable breakdown of their marriage...
No fault divorce - what's happened to the five facts?
Today, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 comes into force and with it brings "no fault" divorce. It marks a major change in divorce law in England and Wales...
Owens v Owens - the catalyst for divorce law reform
"You have to know the past to understand the present" said Carl Sagan. On the eve of the biggest reform to our divorce laws in 50 years, it seems appropriate to reflect on one of the key moments in the campaign for change...
No fault divorce - how did we get here?
Ahead of "no fault" divorce coming into force on 6 April 2022, we will be looking at the history behind the new law, how Mills & Reeve lawyers have formed part of that history and what the new law means for separating couples...

Divorce solicitors

Thinking about a divorce or separation

What is divorce law?