We value your privacy

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies.

Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

  • Cookie
    rc::a
  • Duration
    never
  • Description

    This cookie is set by the Google recaptcha service to identify bots to protect the website against malicious spam attacks.

  • Cookie
    rc::c
  • Duration
    session
  • Description

    This cookie is set by the Google recaptcha service to identify bots to protect the website against malicious spam attacks.

  • Cookie
    cookieyes-consent
  • Duration
    1 year
  • Description

    CookieYes sets this cookie to remember users' consent preferences so that their preferences are respected on their subsequent visits to this site. It does not collect or store any personal information of the site visitors.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

  • Cookie
    perfectportal-session
  • Duration
    4 days
  • Description

    This session cookie stores temporary data to maintain user login status or preferences while navigating the website.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

  • Cookie
    __utmz
  • Duration
    6 months
  • Description

    Google Analytics sets this cookie to store the traffic source or campaign by which the visitor reached the site.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

  • Cookie
    __utma
  • Duration
    1 year 1 month 4 days
  • Description

    This cookie is set by Google Analytics and is used to distinguish users and sessions. The cookie is created when the JavaScript library executes and there are no existing __utma cookies. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics.

  • Cookie
    __utmc
  • Duration
    session
  • Description

    The cookie is set by Google Analytics and is deleted when the user closes the browser. It is used to enable interoperability with urchin.js, which is an older version of Google Analytics and is used in conjunction with the __utmb cookie to determine new sessions/visits.

  • Cookie
    __utmt
  • Duration
    10 minutes
  • Description

    Google Analytics sets this cookie to inhibit request rate.

  • Cookie
    __utmb
  • Duration
    1 hour
  • Description

    Google Analytics sets this cookie, to determine new sessions/visits. __utmb cookie is created when the JavaScript library executes and there are no existing __utma cookies. It is updated every time data is sent to Google Analytics.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Skip to content

Clear Advice Feels Better

How do I apply for Divorce

Speak to an expert
Request a Callback Vincents Solicitors
Select date DD slash MM slash YYYY

Please press submit to tell us that you’re happy for us to contact you. We will only use the information you give us to contact you.
Home > Family and Divorce > How do I apply for Divorce?
Applying for a Divorce?

How do I Apply for Divorce?

At Vincents, we can help you with the process of applying for divorce, from issuing a petition for divorce through to the step of applying for a conditional order. An application to divorce can be made either jointly or individually.

A conditional order is a document declaring that the court sees no reason that you cannot finalise your divorce at a later stage. That later stage is your application for a Final order.

A minimum of 6 weeks after the date of your conditional order, you can apply for a final order (this use to be called the Decree Absolute). This will finalise your divorce and you will no longer be legally married.

The whole process takes 6 months. While some divorces are simple, some come with unforeseen problems that may extend that timetable. Whatever the case, Vincents will advise and guide you through the process.

What should I do if I receive a Divorce Petition?

If your spouse has filed for divorce against you, you should ordinarily receive the divorce application within 28 days of it being issued by the Court.

You must respond to the petition within 14 days. If you are unsure, we at Vincents can assist you.

Delaying the Final Order

In complex cases, you may want to seek an agreement to delay the divorce process until all financial issues have been dealt with. If an agreement is not forthcoming, you may need to apply to the Court for permission to delay. Again, Vincents can guide you on this.

Meet our team of experts

Childcare, Family Department

Val Shaw

01 / 06
Call today 01772 555 176 Email valshaw@vslaw.co.uk

Val is a solicitor with over 30 year’s experience in all aspects of Children’s Law.

Read Val’s full bio here

Val Shaw, Vincents Solicitors
Childcare, Family Department Val Shaw
Martin Stuart, Vincents Solicitors
Family Law Martin Stuart
Mark Mosley, Vincents Solicitors
Family Law Mark Mosley
Clear Advice Feels Better

Frequently asked questions

If you and your spouse have agreed all of your financial matters by consent then the costs are considerably reduced and once you have exchanged financial information, a draft consent order is prepared and approved and signed by both parties and their solicitors and it is then submitted to the Court for the Judge to approve accompanied by a D81 Form and the court fee.
Emotional Abuse is nonphysical behaviour that is to control, isolate, or frighten you. This includes threats, insults, constant monitoring, excessive jealousy, manipulation, humiliation, and intimidation.
An occupation Order allows the Court to decide who should live, or not live, in the home or any part of it. The Order can also exclude the other person from an area around the home.
A final order is a court order that is issued to legally dissolve your marriage.
What is a Conditional Order? A conditional order is the Court confirmation that there is no reason why you cannot get divorced.
What is TOLATA? The Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA) is the statute of law which governs how non married joint owners of property disputes are resolved.  for more information check out our What is TOLATA? page
Common law marriage does not exist in English law. The way in which income, pensions, and capital assets are dealt with on the breakdown of a non-marital relationship is very different from what happens on divorce. There is a perception that couples who are living together will automatically be seen as part of a “common law marriage” and offered many of the benefits and security that married couples enjoy. This is not the case.
This is the form that both parties must fill in and send to the Court if either applies for any financial or property orders. It contains full details of income, savings, investments, debts, and pension funds.
Prenuptial agreements are recognised by the Courts in the UK but crucially they are not binding. 
A “clean break” is where a divorcing couple’s financial claims against one another are dismissed. A clean break can be achieved by the consent of both parties or by an order of the Court.
A pension actuary is a specialist who can prepare a report to consider your options when dividing pensions in terms of pension income and value. Without an actuary, it is unlikely we will be able to provide an accurate report as to how pension provisions should be divided.
A particular issue in financial settlements that often causes concern is what happens to the Pension or Pensions.
You do not have to attend mediation if you have agreed all family and divorce matters. If you wish to apply to the Court relating to children or finances on a divorce matter, you will need to normally have attended a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before making the application to the Court.
A Lasting Power of Attorney sets out who will manage your affairs if you lose capacity through illness or injury. Consider all the things which will need doing.
You need to speak to a firm who has experts in dealing with whatever particular problem that you have whether that be Divorce, Writing your will, Conveyancing or something more specialist like Medical Negligence Misdiagnosis Claims or Trade Marks and Patents. At Vincents we have specialists across 7 locations who are approachable, knowledgeable and speak in plain english. Try and call us today and find out if we are the right fit for you.
Mediation helps couples going through separation or divorce to work out and agree arrangements for themselves and their children. If these issues can be agreed between you through mediation, it saves the cost of going through a Court to make the decisions for you.
Every case turns on its own facts. A review of your specific facts will allow us to answer this crucial question. What we can advise is that the Court has open to it a number of options.
It will take at least 20 weeks from the date the divorce application is acknowledged by the respondent to the date of the conditional order (the first stage). It will take a minimum of a further 6 weeks before you can apply for the final order ending your marriage or civil partnership. You may be advised to delay the final order until the financial arrangements are resolved.
Coercive Control is isolating you from friends and family, controlling what you eat, what you wear,  what you do, where you go, tracking you and preventing you to obtain support.
A Lasting Power of Attorney sets out who will manage your affairs if you lose capacity through illness or injury. Consider all the things which will need doing.

Family Law Testimonials

Clear Advice Feels Better

Clear Advice Feels Better

Divorce Client Review

Mr Mark Mosley has a wonderful manner ensuring that I understood all stages of the process.  He was always supportive.  I wish to take this opportunity to thank him, Mark is without doubt the person I would recommend to anyone going through a Divorce.

Anon, Preston Family Client Preston

Stay in the loop

Latest Industry news and insights

Commercial Property Family Law News Poulton Preston

Double delight for Vincents two newest solicitors

Continue Reading