Divorce, separation and civil partnership

At a difficult time, our family law solicitors offer guidance and support

Speak to an expert

Call us: 0161 475 7676

What we offer
Divorce and separation solicitors
Our specialist divorce lawyers can help you through all aspects of a relationship breakdown including divorce, separation, financial settlements and arrangements for children.
Our divorce and separation solicitors offer a 30 minute free initial consultation to allow you to understand your options.
Divorce services – how we can help you

In our family law team, the specialist divorce solicitors handle cases with the utmost sensitivity and always put clients first.

Our divorce solicitors can cover a variety of specific areas, including:

  • Starting divorce proceedings (applicants)

If you’re the individual wanting to begin proceedings, or you want to file a joint application, we can take you through the process.

 

  • Responding to divorce proceedings (respondents)

If your former partner has filed an application, we can explain your options and help you with what happens next.

 

  • Civil partnership dissolution

If you have been in a civil partnership for at least a year and want to bring it to an end, we can help you apply to the court for a dissolution.

 

  • Separation agreements

You may decide that you want a formal separation agreement instead of a divorce. We can draw up an agreement that clarifies your situation.

 

  • Financial settlements

The division of assets following a divorce can be complicated. For more information, see our page on financial claims.

 

  • Child arrangements

We can help with living arrangements, financial support agreements and contact arrangements. For more information, see our Children matters page.

 

  • High net worth divorce

We are specialists in cases which involve business ownership and/or a high level of net worth. These are often more complex and need our expert attention.

 

  • Spousal maintenance

We can assist in making sure you have enough income to meet your needs through any divorce process and for the longer term.

 

  • Separation involving a business

We can work with you to preserve a business despite domestic separation. Unlike many competitors, we have colleagues specialising in commercial and corporate work who will work with us to identify the status of a business, the options for a business structure, and process extrication from a business where appropriate.

 

  • Separation involving house sale or transfer

Unlike many competitors, we have colleagues specialising in conveyancing who will work with us to sell or transfer ownership of a property.

 

The divorce process

We’ve outlined the stages of the divorce process here; these all apply if you are in a same sex or opposite sex marriage. Our divorce solicitors can also take you through these should you take up the offer of a free 30 minute consultation.

 

  • Divorce application

One person makes an application to court to end the marriage. You can also apply jointly

 

  • Acknowledgment of service / confirmation of acknowledgement

Your partner is sent a copy of the divorce petition and has 14 days to complete and return to the court

 

  • Reflection period

This is a minimum of 20 weeks and allows practical arrangements such as care of children or financial agreements to be made

 

  • Conditional order

The court is asked to proceed with your divorce and if it is approved, there is a six-week period before you can apply for the final order.

If you have agreed on financial adjustments, (house transfers or sales, pension sharing or joint account allocation of funds for example), once the conditional order is granted you can submit your proposed financial order to the judge to approve.

If you can’t agree the financial division, a judge can make a final financial order after separate court proceedings.

 

  • Final order application

The court grants the final order which confirms your divorce

 

Fixed fee divorce

We can undertake the divorce process for you for a fixed fee of £450 plus vat plus court fee (applicant) or £250 plus vat (respondent). This simply covers bringing the marriage to an end. Any work on financial and child arrangements would be charged separately.

 

Basis for divorce

Following the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020), the new ‘no-fault’ divorce system is now in place. This allows couples to divorce without assigning blame to one party; instead, those wishing to divorce need simply state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

 

In order to begin proceedings, the couple must have been married for at least 12 months. There is now a minimum period of 20 weeks from the start of proceedings to a ‘Conditional Order’, designed to allow time for reflection and to make arrangements for finances and family matters. There is a further period between the Conditional Order and the Final Order which finalises the divorce, and this is a minimum of 6 weeks.

 

Whilst the process may now be more straightforward, there are often complex financial and practical arrangements involved. Speaking to a legal professional who can help you every step of the way can help resolve issues and come to the most positive conclusion possible.

 

Our specialist divorce lawyers can help you through all aspects of a relationship breakdown including divorce, separation, financial settlements and arrangements for children.
Our divorce and separation solicitors offer a 30 minute free initial consultation to allow you to understand your options.
Divorce services – how we can help you

In our family law team, the specialist divorce solicitors handle cases with the utmost sensitivity and always put clients first.

Our divorce solicitors can cover a variety of specific areas, including:

  • Starting divorce proceedings (applicants)

If you’re the individual wanting to begin proceedings, or you want to file a joint application, we can take you through the process.

 

  • Responding to divorce proceedings (respondents)

If your former partner has filed an application, we can explain your options and help you with what happens next.

 

  • Civil partnership dissolution

If you have been in a civil partnership for at least a year and want to bring it to an end, we can help you apply to the court for a dissolution.

 

  • Separation agreements

You may decide that you want a formal separation agreement instead of a divorce. We can draw up an agreement that clarifies your situation.

 

  • Financial settlements

The division of assets following a divorce can be complicated. For more information, see our page on financial claims.

 

  • Child arrangements

We can help with living arrangements, financial support agreements and contact arrangements. For more information, see our Children matters page.

 

  • High net worth divorce

We are specialists in cases which involve business ownership and/or a high level of net worth. These are often more complex and need our expert attention.

 

  • Spousal maintenance

We can assist in making sure you have enough income to meet your needs through any divorce process and for the longer term.

 

  • Separation involving a business

We can work with you to preserve a business despite domestic separation. Unlike many competitors, we have colleagues specialising in commercial and corporate work who will work with us to identify the status of a business, the options for a business structure, and process extrication from a business where appropriate.

 

  • Separation involving house sale or transfer

Unlike many competitors, we have colleagues specialising in conveyancing who will work with us to sell or transfer ownership of a property.

 

The divorce process

We’ve outlined the stages of the divorce process here; these all apply if you are in a same sex or opposite sex marriage. Our divorce solicitors can also take you through these should you take up the offer of a free 30 minute consultation.

 

  • Divorce application

One person makes an application to court to end the marriage. You can also apply jointly

 

  • Acknowledgment of service / confirmation of acknowledgement

Your partner is sent a copy of the divorce petition and has 14 days to complete and return to the court

 

  • Reflection period

This is a minimum of 20 weeks and allows practical arrangements such as care of children or financial agreements to be made

 

  • Conditional order

The court is asked to proceed with your divorce and if it is approved, there is a six-week period before you can apply for the final order.

If you have agreed on financial adjustments, (house transfers or sales, pension sharing or joint account allocation of funds for example), once the conditional order is granted you can submit your proposed financial order to the judge to approve.

If you can’t agree the financial division, a judge can make a final financial order after separate court proceedings.

 

  • Final order application

The court grants the final order which confirms your divorce

 

Fixed fee divorce

We can undertake the divorce process for you for a fixed fee of £450 plus vat plus court fee (applicant) or £250 plus vat (respondent). This simply covers bringing the marriage to an end. Any work on financial and child arrangements would be charged separately.

 

Basis for divorce

Following the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020), the new ‘no-fault’ divorce system is now in place. This allows couples to divorce without assigning blame to one party; instead, those wishing to divorce need simply state that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.

 

In order to begin proceedings, the couple must have been married for at least 12 months. There is now a minimum period of 20 weeks from the start of proceedings to a ‘Conditional Order’, designed to allow time for reflection and to make arrangements for finances and family matters. There is a further period between the Conditional Order and the Final Order which finalises the divorce, and this is a minimum of 6 weeks.

 

Whilst the process may now be more straightforward, there are often complex financial and practical arrangements involved. Speaking to a legal professional who can help you every step of the way can help resolve issues and come to the most positive conclusion possible.

 

 

 

Book a free 30-minute consultation with our family team on 0161 475 7676 or get in touch via our contact form

Book a free 30-minute consultation with our family team on 0161 475 7676 or get in touch via our contact form

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why work with us

Why choose SAS Daniels for family law support?

Our promise to you is ‘understanding your needs, protecting your interests’. We will get to know your individual circumstances in detail so any advice we give is tailored to your specific needs. We will also work hard to protect your interests and gain as positive a resolution as possible for you and your family.

 

Our divorce lawyers are members of Resolution, the national organisation of family law practitioners committed to a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family problems.

 

We are completely focused on minimising conflict and complications, negotiating the best possible settlement without the need for lengthy court proceedings and always putting the needs of children first.

 

We offer a free 30-minute consultation to get to know your situation and talk you through the process step-by-step. Our experienced team can deal with every type of family situation, no matter how complex, and each of our divorce lawyers will treat your case with the utmost compassion and respect.

 

Our team is recommended in both prominent independent UK legal directories Legal 500 UK and Chambers and Partners UK 2024.

Frequently asked questions - divorce

The questions our divorce lawyers get asked most frequently by clients
  • How long do divorce proceedings take?

    26 weeks from the application date (20 weeks from application to Conditional Order, plus 6 weeks from Conditional Order to Final Order) is the very earliest you can apply for the final divorce decree (previously called decree absolute). These are minimum timescales and in some cases the process may be longer.
  • What will happen to my children if I get a divorce?

    The court makes no order regarding the children as part of the divorce process, so if you can’t agree on arrangements for children, there are a number of other options available to you, increasing in formality, which your solicitor can explain to you at your free consultation appointment.
  • How much does a divorce cost?

    We can undertake the divorce process for you for a fixed fee of £450 plus vat plus court fee (applicant) or £250 plus vat (respondent). Alternatively, you can do this yourself and we’ll explain the process at your free meeting. These charges simply cover bringing the marriage to an end; any work on financial and child arrangements would be charged separately.
  • Which party pays for the divorce?

    The applicant pays for the divorce issue fee. Thereafter you both pay your own solicitor for their involvement.
  • Do I have to go to court for a divorce?

    Unless there is substantial dispute, the divorce, finances, and child arrangements can all be dealt with without anyone having to enter a court building.
  • Can a divorce be refused?

    A divorce can be refused but only in very specific and rare circumstances under the new procedure.
  • Can I separate without a divorce?

    You can separate without a divorce but if you’re making financial arrangements within that separation, it's wise to think about a separation agreement to clarify terms and provide enforceability.

Get in touch

Please fill in the contact form and one of our team will be in touch as soon as we can. Our working hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.

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