No-Fault Divorce Applications
Sole and joint applications under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 — including service of papers and Acknowledgement of Service.
Divorce
Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 you no longer need a reason or your spouse's agreement to divorce. But the financial and child arrangements that follow still require careful legal handling — submit your request and a specialist divorce solicitor will be in touch.
Common Situations
Many couples reach agreement informally but never formalise it. Without a consent order sealed by the court, financial claims remain open indefinitely — your spouse could make claims years later, even after you've both moved on.
If negotiations have stalled — whether over the family home, pension sharing, or ongoing maintenance — a solicitor can open financial remedy proceedings in the Family Court. Early legal advice often unlocks settlement without the need for a contested hearing.
Informal separation offers no legal protection. Your spouse's financial position — assets, debts, pension growth — may change significantly over time, and you may remain liable for each other's financial obligations. A clean break order closes that exposure permanently.
What We Cover
From the initial application through to a sealed financial order — submit any of these matters and a specialist solicitor will be in touch.
Sole and joint applications under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 — including service of papers and Acknowledgement of Service.
Division of matrimonial assets — family home, savings, investments, and business interests — through negotiated settlement or Family Court proceedings.
Drafting and sealing consent orders to make a financial agreement legally binding, and clean break orders to permanently end all future financial claims.
Specialist advice on pension offsetting and pension sharing — often the largest matrimonial asset — including cash equivalent valuations and earmarking.
Legally drafted agreements recording terms of separation before or instead of divorce proceedings — covering assets, property, maintenance, and children.
Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings required before most family court applications, and supported mediation to resolve financial and child disputes without court.
Why It Matters
Several divorce-related rights are permanently extinguished by inaction or the wrong sequence of events. Early legal advice prevents irreversible mistakes.
Remarrying before issuing a financial remedy claim permanently extinguishes your right to bring financial proceedings against your former spouse. This applies even if you had a verbal agreement. No court can restore that right once lost.
The family home is visible; pensions are not. A defined benefit (final salary) pension can be worth far more than the equity in the property. Without a pension sharing or earmarking order, your entitlement disappears on final order.
A verbal or written agreement between spouses about finances has no legal force until sealed by the court as a consent order. Either party can resile from an unsigned or unsealed agreement at any time — including years later.
Divorce does not automatically end financial claims. Without a clean break order, your former spouse can bring financial claims against you years — even decades — after the marriage ended, including claims against future assets and inheritance.
The Process
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 replaced the old fault-based system in April 2022. The process is simpler — but the financial side still runs in parallel and requires careful handling.
Apply online as a sole applicant or jointly with your spouse. No grounds are needed — a statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down is sufficient. The court fee is currently £593.
For sole applications, your spouse has 14 days to acknowledge service. For joint applications, acknowledgment is automatic. A solicitor can serve papers and manage responses on your behalf.
A mandatory minimum of 20 weeks runs from the application date. This is the right time to negotiate finances and child arrangements — do not wait until after the final order. Financial remedy and divorce proceedings run in parallel.
After 20 weeks, you (or both of you jointly) apply for the conditional order — the court's confirmation that you are entitled to divorce. This was previously called the decree nisi.
At least 6 weeks after the conditional order, you can apply for the final order — the legal end of the marriage (previously decree absolute). Ensure a financial consent order is in place first, or financial claims will remain live.
Information That Helps
The more clearly you describe the situation, the easier it is to match you with the right solicitor and prioritise your matter appropriately.
Date of marriage, date of separation, and whether a divorce application has already been submitted.
Approximate value of the family home and outstanding mortgage balance.
Whether either party has a pension — defined benefit (final salary) or defined contribution — and a rough current value if known.
Children's ages and current living arrangements, and whether child arrangements are agreed or disputed.
Any existing court orders, consent orders, or injunctions you are party to.
Any upcoming deadlines, court dates, or legal correspondence requiring a response.
Submitting the form does not create a solicitor-client relationship and does not replace legal advice.
Common Questions
The minimum is around 26 weeks (20-week reflection period + 6-week wait for the final order), assuming the application is processed promptly. In practice, most divorces take 6–12 months. Instructing a solicitor early and resolving financial matters in parallel keeps things moving and avoids delays caused by unresolved finances blocking the final order.
No. Under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, either spouse can apply for divorce without the other's consent. No grounds are needed beyond a statement that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Your spouse cannot contest or block the divorce — they can only dispute procedural matters.
The family home is a matrimonial asset. Options include one spouse buying out the other's share, a deferred sale (common where dependent children are involved — the property is sold when the youngest reaches 18 or finishes full-time education), or an immediate sale with proceeds split. The right outcome depends on income, mortgage capacity, children's needs, and the overall asset picture.
Before — always. Once the final order is granted, you are legally divorced. If you remarry before obtaining a financial consent order, you permanently lose the right to bring financial remedy claims against your former spouse. Solicitors advise running financial remedy proceedings in parallel with — not after — the divorce.
No. A solicitor can only act for one party due to conflict of interest rules. However, both parties can each instruct their own solicitor while still reaching an amicable settlement — solicitors negotiate on your behalf without the matter becoming adversarial. Mediation is also available for resolving financial and child disputes outside court.
A clean break order is a court order that permanently ends all future financial claims between former spouses — including maintenance, inheritance rights, and claims on future assets and windfalls. Without one, either party can bring financial claims at any point in the future regardless of how many years have passed. Most solicitors strongly recommend obtaining one alongside, or shortly after, the divorce.
How It Works
You do not need to know the exact legal terminology. Describe what is happening, mention any urgency or upcoming deadlines, and your request will be reviewed.
Submit Your RequestUse the form to explain your divorce matter — where you are in the process, whether finances or children are involved, and any urgency or upcoming deadlines.
Your request is reviewed with matter type, urgency and location in mind. Requests involving imminent deadlines, remarriage risk or hidden assets are prioritised.
A specialist divorce solicitor contacts you for a free initial consultation — advising on your rights, the financial process, and the realistic next steps for your situation.
Divorce Solicitors
Describe your situation once and a specialist divorce solicitor will be in touch for a free initial consultation.
Submit Your Request