Dissolution of a civil partnership is a legal process in England and Wales that ends a civil partnership after the relationship between the civil partners has broken down irretrievably. Your civil partnership can be dissolved in England & Wales only after 1 year of registration of your civil partnership. An application for dissolution of a civil partnership in England & Wales is made using application form D8.
Dissolution lawyers at Premium Solicitors are specialists in dealing with civil partnership dissolution matters. Our civil partnership dissolution lawyers possess a wealth of knowledge and experience in this area.
- Page Contents
- Requirements For Dissolution Of Civil Partnership
- Ask a Question Online
- Court Procedure For Dissolution Of Civil Partnership
- Our Fixed Fees
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Requirements For Dissolution Of Civil Partnership
You can end your civil partnership in England & Wales if all of the following are true:
- you have been in civil partnership for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your civil partnership is legally recognised in England & Wales (including same-sex marriage)
- Either you or your civil partner is habitually resident in England & Wales
Ask a Question About Your Dissolution of Civil Partnership
At Premium Solicitors, we understand that dissolution of civil partnership issues can be sensitive, complex, and time-critical. Whether you are considering the dissolution of a civil partnership, or dealing with financial settlement, getting clear and reliable legal guidance at the right time is essential.
Our online enquiry form offers a simple, secure, and efficient way to ask questions about your family law matter and receive tailored guidance from experienced solicitors.
Court Procedure For Dissolution Of Civil Partnership
The following is the step-by-step procedure for getting a civil partnership dissolved in the UK:
- The petitioner will file the dissolution petition in court by completing the civil partnership dissolution form D8 and submitting the form, along with the relevant enclosures, to the court.
- Within a few days of getting the dissolution petition, the court would write to the petitioner or his/her solicitors confirming the receipt of the dissolution petition;
- The court will then send a copy of your dissolution petition to your civil partner (respondent). If your civil partner has instructed solicitors to act for him/her, a copy of the dissolution petition would be sent to them. If you applied for dissolution on adultery grounds and named the other party who committed adultery with your civil partner, a copy of the dissolution petition would also be sent to such other named party.
- Within 8 days of receiving the dissolution petition, the respondent is required to send a reply by post to your dissolution petition stating whether or not he/she intend to contest the dissolution. The respondent must respond within 7 days in case of an online response where the dissolution petition was filed by your civil partner online.
- If your civil partner (respondent) does not contest the dissolution, you can then apply for a Conditional Order of Dissolution. If your civil partner contests the dissolution, you’re still able to apply for a final dissolution order, but you’ll need to attend a court hearing where your case will be discussed. A family court judge will then decide whether to grant you a Conditional Order of Dissolution. If the court approves your dissolution petition, you and your civil partner (respondent) will be sent certificates stating the date and time the dissolution will be granted. If your dissolution petition is rejected, you may be sent a form called a ‘notice of refusal of judge’s certificate’ giving reasons why you are not permitted to dissolve. This form will also inform you of the next steps to take. For example, you might be asked to provide additional information, or you might be required to attend a hearing.
- After 6 weeks and 1 day of a conditional order of dissolution being granted by the court, you can then apply for a dissolution order. Before applying for a dissolution order, you have to submit a financial settlement application if there are assets and money for which a settlement is required. Once you have a decree absolute, your civil partnership is officially dissolved, and you are no longer considered to be in a civil partnership.
Our Fixed Fees for Dissolution of Civil Partnership
Our fixed fees for various applications to end marriage or civil partnership are as given in the fee table below: Where we can't estimate the volume of work due to the nature and complexity of the matter, we will act on an hourly rate basis. We charge an hourly rate of £200 + VAT for representing in divorce, dissolution of civil partnership, annulment of marriage and Judicial Separation matters.
Our Service
Our Fixed Fees Range
Full service for divorce, dissolution of civil partnership and annulment of marriage to cover all our work until the decision by the court to end the marriage or civil partnership, where neither party has contested or disputed the court proceedings.
From £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT
Full service for Judicial Separation to cover all the work until the decision by the court, where neither party has contested the court proceedings.
From £800 + VAT to £1,200 + VAT
FAQs- Dissolution Of Civil Partnership
The following are various frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the dissolution of civil partnerships in England and Wales:
Dissolution of a civil partnership is the legal process of ending a civil partnership, similar to divorce for married couples. It formally brings the relationship to an end through the court and resolves financial matters, property, and child arrangements where applicable.
The only ground for dissolution is that the civil partnership has irretrievably broken down. You are no longer required to prove fault (such as unreasonable behaviour or adultery), as the law now allows a no-fault dissolution process.
No. You must have been in a civil partnership for at least one year before you can apply for dissolution in England and Wales.
A no-fault dissolution means that neither party needs to blame the other for the breakdown of the relationship. The applicant simply confirms that the civil partnership has irretrievably broken down.
Yes. You can apply:
- As a sole applicant, or
- As joint applicants
Joint applications are often more amicable and can simplify the process.
The dissolution process typically involves:
- Filing the application
- 20-week reflection period
- Applying for the Conditional Order
- Waiting period (usually 6 weeks and 1 day)
- Applying for the Final Order
The Final Order legally ends the civil partnership.
The process usually takes approximately 6 to 8 months, depending on the court processing times and whether financial matters are resolved promptly.
In most cases, you do not need to attend court. The process is largely handled online or via paperwork unless there are disputes involving finances or children.
The court fee for dissolution is currently £612 (subject to change). Legal fees will depend on the complexity of your case, particularly if financial settlements or disputes are involved.
Yes. Financial issues such as:
- Division of property
- Savings and investments
- Pensions
- Spousal maintenance
can be resolved through a financial settlement agreement, which can be made legally binding by a court order.
Arrangements for children are handled separately. The court prioritises the best interests of the child, including:
- Living arrangements
- Contact with each parent
- Financial support
Yes. If both partners agree on finances and child arrangements, the process can be straightforward. However, it is advisable to formalise agreements through a consent order to ensure they are legally binding.
A Conditional Order is a court decision confirming that the court sees no reason why the civil partnership cannot be dissolved. It is the first legal stage before the Final Order.
The Final Order legally ends the civil partnership. After this order is granted, both parties are free to enter into a new civil partnership or marriage.
Under the current no-fault system, it is very difficult to contest a dissolution application. Challenges are limited to specific legal grounds such as jurisdiction or validity of the civil partnership.
While you can apply without legal representation, using experienced solicitors ensures:
- Correct preparation of documents
- Protection of your financial interests
- Proper legal advice on child arrangements
You can get civil partnership dissolved in England or Wales if all of the following are true:
- you’ve been in civil partnership for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your civil partnership is legally recognised in the UK
- the UK is your permanent home, or the permanent home of your civil partner
To end a civil partnership, you first need to fill in a civil partnership dissolution form D8. You must include your:
- full name and address
- civil partner’s full name and address
- civil partnership certificate - send the original certificate or get a copy from a register office
Include the names and dates of birth of any children (no matter how old they are). You must try to find your civil partner’s current address if you do not know it. The court will need it to send them a copy of the dissolution application.
You must send paperwork to a court to ask for permission to end your civil partnership.
Separate from the paperwork, you and your ex-partner may need to work out:
- arrangements for looking after any children
- child maintenance payments for any children
You also need to divide your money and property. There’s a deadline if you want to make this legally binding.
You can usually avoid going to court hearings if you agree about children, money and property and the reasons for ending your civil partnership.
You can get your civil partnership dissolved in England & Wales only after you have been in a civil partnership for at least one year.
If your civil partnership was not consummated, you may be able to apply for annulment of your civil partnership even if you have been in a civil partnership for less than a year.
You can end your civil partnership in England and Wales if all of the following are true:
- you’ve been in a civil partnership for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your civil partnership is legally recognised in England & Wales (including same-sex marriage)
- Either you or your civil partner is habitually resident in England & Wales
A clean break civil partnership is where no ongoing financial commitments remain between you and your civil partner. The phrase ‘a clean break’ is particularly used as the opposite of an order where there is ongoing spousal maintenance payable, usually monthly, from one partner to the other.
A clean break is only possible in relation to the financial claims between civil partners. It is not possible to have a clean break in relation to financial obligations towards your children.
In case you and your ex-partner have no assets to divide, you should also apply for a financial settlement order. It’s important to do so, even if you don’t have any assets to divide at the time of the civil partnership dissolution. There’s no guarantee you won’t come into some money in the future and if you haven’t obtained a financial settlement, your ex is still within their legal rights to make a financial claim.
Once a 'clean break' agreement of this kind has been ratified by court order, neither of you will be able to go back to court in the future to ask for maintenance or further transfer of assets. This gives both partners a much greater degree of certainty and allows them to completely disentangle their individual financial affairs.
Yes, you can start dissolution of civil partnership proceedings in England, provided you have a valid civil partnership certificate (and a certified translation if the certificate is not in English). The key issue is determining whether the civil partnership is valid and legal in the country where the ceremony took place, while local customs are observed. If the civil partnership has been carried out in accordance with the local laws and customs of the country in which it took place, it is usually a valid legal civil partnership.
You should also meet all of the following requirements for ending a civil partnership in England & Wales:
- you’ve been in a civil partnership for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your civil partnership is legally recognised in England & Wales (including same-sex marriage)
- Either you or your civil partner is habitually resident in England and Wales
A conditional order of dissolution is a document that says that the court does not see any reason why you cannot end a civil partnership. You can apply for a conditional order of dissolution if your civil partner does not defend your civil partnership dissolution petition.
The final dissolution order is the legal document that ends your civil partnership. You need to wait at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) after the date of the conditional order of dissolution before you can apply for a final dissolution order.
To apply for a civil partnership dissolution, you’ll need:
- your civil partner’s full name and address
- your original civil partnership certificate or a certified copy (and a certified translation if it’s not in English)
- proof of your name change if you’ve changed it since you registered your civil partnership - for example, your civil partnership certificate or a deed poll
You must try to find your civil partner’s current address if you do not know it. The court will need it to send them a copy of the civil partnership dissolution petition.
Yes. Premium Solicitors provide expert legal advice and representation for:
- Civil partnership dissolution applications
- Financial settlements and consent orders
- Child arrangement matters
- Complex and high-net-worth cases
Our experienced family law solicitors offer tailored support to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Yes. Premium Solicitors offer transparent fixed-fee services following an initial consultation, so you know the full cost upfront.
You can start by:
- Completing our online enquiry form, or
- Booking a consultation with our specialist solicitors
We will assess your case and provide clear legal advice and a fixed-fee quote.
- Specialist divorce and family law solicitors
- Fixed-fee and transparent pricing
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If you are considering dissolving your civil partnership, contact Premium Solicitors today for expert legal guidance and a tailored solution.