.st0 { fill: #9DAE88; } Home - Family Law - Divorce Divorce and Dissolution of Civil Partnerships Here is some basic information, which we hope you will find helpful: The process for obtaining a divorce/dissolution follows a number of stages: Issue of Petition Decree Nisi or Conditional Order Decree Absolute or Final Order Getting to the Decree Nisi is, generally, fairly straightforward and quick. To grant a divorce, the Court simply requires to be satisfied that the marriage is irretrievably over. This can be established by one of five grounds: Unreasonable behaviour. (Beware! The Court requires genuinely unreasonable behaviour – not just squeezing the middle of the toothpaste tube….). Adultery (applies to divorce but not dissolution of civil partnerships). Two years’ separation with consent. Five years’ separation without consent. Two years' desertion. Once service of the Petition on the spouse is proved, and as long as no defence is lodged, the Court will grant a Decree Nisi as a paper exercise. This is the first step on the way to divorce – which will not be complete until the Decree Absolute has been granted. In the simplest of cases a Decree Absolute can also be obtained as a paper exercise six weeks after the Decree Nisi has been granted. Generally, it is advisable to deal with financial issues before applying for a Decree Absolute and an agreement or Court Order settling finances between you is often just as important as the divorce itself. Find out more information on financial settlements. Only after Decree Absolute are you free to remarry. The divorce itself is (usually) the easy bit. The headaches are most likely to arise regarding finances and children. We promise that we will Listen to you Communicate with you Advise you and, above all Fight for you It may be hard now – but we will see you through to the light at the end of the tunnel. Contact us by phone or email whenever you are ready. “ Both Jon Beck and Georgina Short provided excellent service. ” Case Ref. RES49206 VIEW TESTIMONIALS Our Divorce Team + CLIVE BARKER SOLICITOR CONSULTANT HEAD OF FAMILY LAW + JON BECK SOLICITOR/BARRISTER (NEW ZEALAND, NON-PRACTISING) FAMILY DEPARTMENT Contact Us 01252 375 376 enquire@woodfordstauffer.co.uk Talk to the right lawyer Contact us Careers Privacy & Security Terms of Use Accessibility Complaints Procedure About Price Transparency Tel: 01252 375 376 Fax: 01252 376 888 Email: enquire@woodfordstauffer.co.uk Church Path House, 63A Lynchford Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6EJ DX 59563 Farnborough VAT Number 641565048 © 2021 Woodford Stauffer Woodford Stauffer are Solicitors of England and Wales authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. SRA Number: 71894. For more information on the solicitors' code of conduct visit www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/handbook/code/content.page Our Professional Indemnity Insurance is placed with AON whose contact details are; The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3V 4AN Telephone 020 7623 5500. This insurance applies to the jurisdiction of England and Wales.