You can apply to get a divorce in England & Wales to end your marriage if your relationship with your spouse has broken down irretrievably. Divorce is a legal process that ends a marriage between a husband and wife after the relationship between them has irretrievably broken down. You can get a divorce in England & Wales only after you have been married for at least one year and you have valid grounds for seeking divorce. You can apply for divorce online or by completing a divorce application form D8 with valid grounds for divorce. You can also get a divorce in England & Wales if you do not know the whereabouts of your husband or wife.
As specialist divorce lawyers in London, we can help you get a divorce on a fixed fee basis. Our highly experienced divorce solicitors will:
- assess your personal circumstances and check if you can get a divorce.
- advise you on the steps you have to take before you file for a divorce and guide you on how to apply for divorce.
As one of the best divorce lawyers in London, our divorce solicitors have a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience in dealing with divorce matters.
Thinking of getting a divorce in England & Wales? Get divorce advice and representation from our fixed-fee divorce lawyers in London. Our team of fixed-fee divorce lawyers will provide you with fast, friendly, reliable and fixed-fee legal services for your divorce and financial settlement matters.
Our team of divorce lawyers in London can provide expert legal advice and representation on your divorce matter on a fixed-fee basis. At Premium Solicitors, our specialist divorce lawyers in London provide clear, practical, and compassionate legal advice to guide you through every stage of the divorce process. We understand that divorce can be one of the most stressful experiences in life, and we aim to protect your interests, minimise conflict, and achieve the best possible outcome for you and your family.
Whether you are considering starting divorce proceedings or have already been served with divorce papers, our experienced divorce solicitors in London can offer the legal expertise and emotional support you need.
Requirements to Get a Divorce in London
You can get divorced in England & Wales if all of the following are true:
- you’ve been married for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your marriage is legally recognised in England & Wales (including same-sex marriage)
- Either you or your husband/wife is habitually resident in England & Wales
Grounds for Getting a Divorce in England
You can apply for a divorce on the grounds that your marriage has broken down irretrievably and cannot be saved. This means that either one or both of you feel that you cannot stay married to each other. Either of you may apply to the divorce court in England and Wales for the marriage to be dissolved as long as you have been married for one year at least and that one of you has been a resident here for the year before your divorce petition is made. The application to the divorce court is called a Petition, and the spouse who files (sends) the Petition is called the Petitioner. The other spouse is then referred to as the Respondent.
From 6 April 2022, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 has reformed the divorce process and removed the requirement to provide evidence of conduct or separation facts and replaced this with a simple requirement to provide a statement of irretrievable breakdown of the marriage or civil partnership or to obtain a judicial separation.
It is no longer a requirement of the law to rely on the five facts, i.e. adultery, unreasonable behaviour, 2 years separation with consent, desertion and five years separation as grounds for divorce when applying for divorce in England & Wales. Instead, the petitioner is required to provide a statement of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
Divorce Advice Service London
Our divorce lawyers in London offer the best legal services for divorce on a fixed-fee basis. Our top divorce lawyers in London provide a divorce advice service for all divorce matters, drawing on extensive knowledge of divorce laws and a wealth of experience in successfully handling such matters. Our divorce and family law solicitors can provide detailed legal advice and consultation, either in person at our London offices or virtually via Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, or by phone. Click on the link below to book an appointment online with one of our specialist divorce and family law solicitors:
Our divorce lawyers in London will agree with you, upfront, the total fixed fee to handle your divorce matter during the divorce consultation session. If you later instruct us to handle your divorce or family law matter within 14 days of your advice and consultation session, we will deduct the consultation fee from the fixed fee quoted for your divorce case.
Our Divorce & Family Law Services in London
Our team can help with every aspect of divorce and separation, including:
- Filing for Divorce – Preparing and submitting all necessary paperwork.
- Financial Settlements – Negotiating a fair division of assets, property, savings, and pensions.
- Child Arrangements – Putting your children’s best interests first in custody and contact agreements.
- High Net Worth Divorce – Handling complex financial portfolios, business interests, and overseas property.
- Contested & Uncontested Divorce – Representing clients in both amicable and disputed divorce cases.
- International Divorce – Managing cases involving overseas assets or spouses living abroad.
Clean Break Divorce
A clean break divorce is where no ongoing financial commitments remain between you and your spouse. 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 spouse to the other.
A clean break is only possible about the financial claims between spouses. 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 essential to do so, even if you don’t have any assets to divide at the time of the divorce. 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 disentangle their individual financial affairs completely.
Fixed Fee Divorce Service London
Our expert team of fixed-fee divorce lawyers in London offers professional divorce services with very reasonable fixed fees for divorce cases, available under flexible payment terms for all our clients. A Fixed-Fee Arrangement for divorce matters is an alternative to the standard hourly rate used by divorce lawyers, offering a fixed price to cover all work on the divorce matter. An agreed fixed fee is not dictated by the time spent on the divorce case. The agreed fixed fee gives certainty of divorce solicitors' legal costs and thus enables you to budget for your lawyer’s fees for your divorce matter.
Why Choose Our Divorce Lawyers in London for Your Divorce Matter?
Our London-based team of divorce lawyers is highly experienced in dealing with divorce matters. Our top-rated divorce solicitors have a wealth of legal knowledge and experience in divorce matters. We have a good track record of successfully helping our clients with their matters.
Our practice combines a rich depth of experience with accessible, responsive, and affordable divorce services. We leave no stone unturned in our commitment to client satisfaction. Central to our beliefs is our commitment to providing exceptional, high-quality divorce services to our clients. We strive to provide pragmatic divorce advice & solutions, derived from a thorough understanding of our clients’ needs & objectives. More importantly, we believe in providing fully dedicated professional legal services in divorce matters.
Specialist Divorce Lawyers – Our team of divorce lawyers has decades of combined experience in divorce and separation matters.
Tailored Legal Strategies – We provide advice and representation based on your personal circumstances.
Clear & Transparent Fixed Fees – We provide fixed-fee initial consultations and upfront cost estimates.
Strong Negotiators & Litigators – We aim for amicable settlements but will robustly defend your rights in court if necessary.
Prime London Location – Conveniently located in Wimbledon, London, for serving clients across London and the surrounding areas.
How Can Our Divorce Lawyer Help with Your Divorce Matter?
Divorce and separation are very difficult decisions to make and should never be taken lightly. Our team of divorce lawyers is aware of the sensitivity and complexity involved in divorce matters. We understand that every individual is in a different situation. To make your life easier, our highly trained and experienced divorce lawyers will guide and support you each step of the divorce process. Our specialist divorce lawyers will cut through the legal jargon and ensure you understand exactly what’s happening at all times.
Our divorce lawyers will discuss the possible grounds on which you can apply for divorce after gathering all the factual information from you. We will explain the court procedures to you in straightforward and transparent terms, thoroughly guide you through the process, and carry out all follow-up work until the divorce court issues the Divorce Order.
FAQs - Divorce Lawyers London
The cost of a divorce lawyer in London depends on the complexity of your case. For straightforward, uncontested divorces, our divorce lawyers will offer fixed-fee divorce services starting from £800 + VAT. More complex cases involving disputes over finances, property, or child arrangements are charged at higher fixed fees or hourly rates. We provide clear, transparent costs from the outset.
The average divorce in England takes around 6 months from filing to final order, assuming it is uncontested. Disputes over finances or children can extend the timeline. Our London divorce solicitors work to minimise delays and help you get a divorce quickly.
Yes. At Premium Solicitors, we offer fixed-fee divorce packages for straightforward, uncontested cases. This ensures you know your legal costs in advance. For more complex divorces, we offer competitive fixed fees or hourly rates with no hidden fees.
Not always. Many divorces are resolved without court hearings, especially if both parties agree on the divorce and related matters. However, if disputes arise over finances or children, our London divorce lawyers can represent you in court.
Yes. If you or your spouse meets the jurisdiction requirements for England and Wales, you can apply for a divorce in London even if one of you lives overseas. Our international divorce solicitors have experience handling cross-border divorce cases.
A divorce lawyer specialises in legal matters relating to the end of a marriage, including financial settlements and child arrangements. A family solicitor covers a broader range of family law issues, including cohabitation agreements, domestic abuse, and adoption. Our team of divorce and family law solicitors provides comprehensive services in both divorce and general family law in London.
When choosing a divorce lawyer, consider:
- Their experience in handling similar cases.
- Whether they offer clear fee structures.
- Their approach - whether they focus on amicable solutions or are willing to take strong court action when needed.
At Premium Solicitors, we combine legal expertise with a supportive and pragmatic approach.
Divorce in England & Wales is a legal process to end a marriage between husband and wife after the relationship between them has broken down irretrievably. An application for divorce in England & Wales is made online using the application form D8.
You can get divorced in England & Wales only after you have been married for at least one year.
If your marriage was not consummated, you may be able to apply for annulment of your marriage even if you are married for less than a year.
You can get divorced in England & Wales if all of the following are true:
- you’ve been married for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your marriage is legally recognised in England & Wales (including same-sex marriage)
- Either you or your husband/wife is habitually resident in England & Wales
A clean break divorce is where no ongoing financial commitments remain between you and your spouse. 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 spouse to the other.
A clean break is only possible about the financial claims between spouses. It is not possible to have a clean break regarding 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 divorce. 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 disentangle their individual financial affairs completely.
Yes, you can start divorce proceedings in England provided that you have a valid marriage certificate (and a certified translation, if the marriage certificate is not written in English). The key issue is determining whether the marriage is valid and legal in the country where the ceremony took place, with local customs being observed. If the marriage 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 marriage.
You should also meet all of the following requirements for getting divorced in England & Wales:
- you’ve been married for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your marriage is legally recognised in England & Wales (including same-sex marriage)
- Either you or your husband/wife is habitually resident in England & Wales
The court fee for filing a divorce in England & Wales is £593, which needs to be paid at the time of submitting your divorce petition to the family court.
Additionally, you will pay the legal costs of divorce solicitors if you are represented by divorce lawyers in your divorce matter.
Uncontested Divorce
An uncontested divorce is a divorce process in which the respondent does not defend or contest the divorce.
Contested Divorce
A contested divorce is one where the Respondent to the divorce petition decides to challenge or defend the divorce. In other words, the Respondent objects to divorce taking place in a contested divorce. A contested divorce is a more complicated procedure that will involve the divorcing couple attending family court for hearings.
The new law has removed the possibility of contesting the divorce, as the statement of irretrievable breakdown is taken as conclusive evidence that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. However, divorce proceedings may still be challenged based on jurisdiction, validity of the marriage, fraud and procedural compliance.
A Conditional Order (previously known as Decree Nisi) is a document that says that the court does not see any reason why you cannot get a divorce. You can apply for a Conditional Order if your husband or wife does not defend your divorce petition based on jurisdiction, validity of the marriage, fraud and procedural compliance.
The Divorce Order (previously known as Decree Absolute) is the legal document that ends your marriage. You need to wait at least 43 days (6 weeks and 1 day) after the date of the Conditional Order (previously known as Decree Nisi) before you can apply for a Divorce Order.
To apply for a divorce, you’ll need:
- your husband or wife’s full name and address
- your original marriage 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 got married - for example, your marriage certificate or a deed poll
You must try to find your husband or wife’s current address if you do not know it. The court will need it to send them a copy of the divorce petition.
If you can prove that your spouse received the divorce petition, you can apply for the deemed or substituted service. You can prove service by using a court bailiff or process server.
Who pays the divorce legal costs will normally depend on the grounds for divorce.
You should reach an agreement on the issue of costs at the outset of the divorce so that needless conflict is avoided down the line. If you are hoping that the other side will cover your costs, then be sure to discuss the matter with your divorce solicitor during your first interview.
Whether or not you need a divorce solicitor to handle your divorce case is dependent on the complexity of the divorce matter and your ability to handle legal matters on your own. You normally engage a divorce solicitor for your divorce case in the following circumstances:
- if you know that your spouse is likely to contest the divorce and will be unwilling to divorce;
- if there are children involved, and your spouse may not be willing to reach a mutual agreement regarding child arrangements;
- If you and your spouse own significant assets or are in business together;
- if there are overseas connections;
- if one of you has been declared bankrupt;
- if you wish to claim spousal maintenance and be financially dependent on your spouse;
- if the whereabouts of your spouse are unknown;
- if your spouse is unlikely to respond to your divorce petition.
Divorce mediation is a method by which separating couples can agree and resolve the typical issues involving finances and children that arise during the divorce process. The mediator is a trained individual who is impartial and will act much like an umpire, guiding you and your spouse through face to face discussions about important matters such as divorce financial settlement and child arrangements.
Once an agreement has been reached, the mediator will draft a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ to set out the proposals formally. Your divorce solicitor will then use the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ to draw up your official agreement and further advise you.
Mediation is not suitable for all situations, but it is the right approach for many people, and if there is a need for court proceedings to be issued, then you will usually be expected to at least have attended a meeting concerning mediation (a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting – MIAM).
If your divorce solicitor believes that a MIAM is not appropriate or necessary, perhaps because divorce proceedings need to commence urgently or because domestic violence is involved, then they will let you know.
Unless the parents have reached an agreement with regards to child arrangements, one of the parties to the divorce proceedings will have to file a ‘Statement of Arrangements for Children’. This form provides the court with basic details about the children including their dates of birth, where they go to school and who is responsible for their care when the parents are working, if relevant. The form is intended solely to provide information and will not be used as the basis for any court decision.
In most cases, parents will make these decisions themselves, where possible, sometimes using mediation to help keep discussions on track and in the best interests of the children.
It is worth noting that the court does hold the power to order that a Divorce Order is not granted until it is satisfied with the arrangements for the children, although it is rarely the case that there will be any objection by the court, provided the arrangements are reasonable and there are no concerns surrounding child protection.
You can get a divorce in England & Wales if all of the following are true:
- you’ve been married for over a year
- your relationship has permanently broken down
- your marriage is legally recognised in England & Wales (including same-sex marriage)
- Either you or your husband/wife is habitually resident in England & Wales
You can still get a divorce in England & Wales if your husband or wife is missing. Our divorce lawyers will help you with the procedures to follow when you do not know the whereabouts of your husband or wife. The divorce process will take longer than usual in cases where the respondent's whereabouts are unknown.
