Divorce, calmly considered — starting with information, not pressure.

Since the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 came into force on 6 April 2022, you no longer need to prove blame (adultery, unreasonable behaviour, etc.). Either spouse — or both jointly — applies online stating the marriage has irretrievably broken down. After a 20-week reflection period, you apply for the Conditional Order; six weeks later, the Final Order. End-to-end the divorce itself typically takes 6-8 months. The financial side and child arrangements are dealt with separately.

A consent order is a court-approved record of a financial settlement (who keeps what, pension arrangements, any maintenance). Without one, financial claims between former spouses can remain open indefinitely — meaning years later one party could come back to claim against an inheritance or business windfall. A consent order makes the settlement legally final. Where both parties agree on the terms, it's typically sealed by the court without a hearing. Whether one is appropriate for your matter, and what it would cost, would be a conversation with the solicitor taking it on.

For most financial and child-related disputes, yes — you would typically need to attend a Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before applying to court. There are exceptions for domestic abuse, urgent matters, or where mediation has already failed. Many matters settle through mediation without ever issuing court proceedings.

There's no fixed formula. The court applies a checklist under section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973: each party's income, earning capacity, needs (especially housing), age, length of marriage, contributions (financial and non-financial), and the welfare of any children. The starting point for medium-to-long marriages is often equal sharing of matrimonial assets, but needs frequently shift the balance. Pensions can be a major asset and may need a pension-sharing order. Outcomes are fact-specific.

Child arrangements (who children live with, how often they see the other parent) are dealt with separately from divorce and financial matters. The starting point is what's in the children's best interests — courts strongly prefer arrangements both parents agree on. MIAM is typically required before any court application except in safeguarding cases. Where agreement isn't possible, Child Arrangements Orders set out the pattern. CAFCASS (the children's welfare service) usually reports to the court on what the children want and what arrangements would work.

The divorce itself takes a minimum of around 6-8 months end-to-end because of the statutory 20-week reflection period plus a 6-week wait between Conditional and Final Order. Sorting the finances and any children's arrangements is separate, and timings vary widely depending on whether agreement is possible and the complexity of the assets. We don't give committed timelines for any specific matter on this page.

Your safety is the priority, not the legal process. Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) — free, 24/7, confidential. In immediate danger, dial 999 (press 55 when prompted if you can't speak). Once you're safe, family-law specialists can apply for emergency protective orders (non-molestation order, occupation order), and Legal Aid may be available regardless of normal means tests in many domestic-abuse cases. The Divorce Path Finder above routes safety-first answers directly to the helpline before any solicitor route.