A standard divorce usually takes around seven to eight months. If there are finances to sort out you may be advised to delay applying for the final order until such matters have been resolved.

The grounds for divorce

There is only one ground for divorce in England and Wales and that is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Before 6th April 2022 you could only obtain a divorce by relying on one of five facts, however “no-fault divorce” is now the sole reason for divorce and the five facts no longer apply.  This means that a divorce can be obtained without blaming the other person. While the "new" process is more straightforward, it also can take longer as there is a five-month "cooling off" period following issue of the divorce application.

For help with a divorce call 0113 320 5000

The divorce process 

Divorce proceedings can now be commenced either by one individual or as a couple by filing an application for divorce (what used to be referred to as the “divorce petition”) at court.  So, if you and your partner both agree that your marriage has irretrievably broken down, you will be able to make a joint application for divorce.

How long does it take to get a divorce?

Under the new process there is a required gap of 20 weeks from filing the application to being able to apply for a Conditional Order (what used to be called the decree nisi).  The period of waiting 6 weeks and 1 day after the making of the Conditional Order remains, so the whole process can usually take seven to eight months at least, unless there are exceptional reasons for potentially shortening the timescale.

How much does a divorce cost?

In addition to legal costs the court fee of issuing an application for divorce is currently £593.00.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help you make an application for divorce please call the family team on 0113 320 5000 or email family@winstonsolicitors.co.uk.