A judicial separation allows you to live apart, without divorcing. You can apply for judicial separation for the same reasons as divorce. A judicial separation will enable you to live apart, without divorcing or ending a civil partnership. You can apply for a judicial separation for the same reasons/grounds you could file for a divorce or end a civil partnership. However, you do not need to show that the marriage or civil partnership has broken down irretrievably.
Want to get a judicial separation instead of a divorce or dissolution? Contact our expert team of divorce and financial settlement solicitors in London for fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee legal services for your judicial separation application.
How To Apply For Judicial Separation?
An application for legal separation is made by filling in a judicial separation petition - Form D8. You need to send three copies of the petition to your nearest divorce centre and keep one copy for yourself. You must include a certified copy of your marriage or civil partnership certificate when submitting the form.
Reasons for Seeking Judicial Separation
You may want a legal separation if:
- you have religious reasons against divorce
- you’ve been married or in a civil partnership for less than a year
- you want time and space to work out if you want to end the marriage or civil partnership
Difference Between Divorce and Judicial Separation
The difference between divorce and judicial separation is that a divorce ends the marriage, whereas a judicial separation does not.
It’s essential to understand the differences between the two, as this can help you choose the most suitable option for your individual circumstances. Although judicial separation is quite unusual, there are times when it will be preferable to divorce – for instance, if religious or cultural beliefs do not tally with divorce, or if one person has developed an illness such as dementia so that divorce seems like an excessive option.
How Much is the Court Fee For Filing for Judicial Separation?
The court fee for filing a legal separation petition in the family court is £365, which has to be paid at the time of filing for a legal separation petition. Petitioners with very low income may qualify for court fee exemption. If the legal separation matter gets complicated, there may be additional court fees to comply with court procedures.
How Can We Help?
Judicial separation is a very difficult decision to make and should never be taken lightly. Our team of family law solicitors is aware of the sensitivity in this matter, and every individual is in a different situation. To make your life easier, you can seek expert legal help from the family law solicitors at Sunrise Solicitors. Our team of family law solicitors is highly trained and experienced in all aspects of judicial separation law and will guide and support you every step of the way. We will cut through the legal jargon and ensure you understand exactly what’s happening at all times. Our team of expert family law solicitors will provide the necessary legal assistance and guidance, along with a step-by-step procedure for obtaining a legal separation in the UK.
Our team of family law solicitors will advise and assist to cater for your individual needs. We will discuss the possible grounds on which you can apply for judicial separation after gathering all the factual information from you. We will explain the court procedures to you in simple and straightforward terms, thoroughly guide you through the process, and carry out all follow-up work until the family court issues the judicial separation order.
We can also act for the respondent to the application for legal separation.
Our Fees For Applications To End Marriage
Our fixed fees for various applications to end marriage or civil partnership are as given in the fee table below:
| 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 |
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.
