Hopkins: On your side in challenging times
We provide personal, professional legal services to support you through the divorce process.
We'll be on your side along the way, to help you make the best decisions for both the short and the long term.
What you need to know:
Divorce must be based on one of five different "facts". These are:
a) The adultery of the other party or
b) The behaviour of the other party or
c) That you have been separated for two or more years and you both consent to a divorce or
d) That you have been separated for five or more years.
e) That your spouse has deserted you without your consent or without a reason and this happened two or more years ago.
- A Divorce Petition is prepared giving details of the fact chosen and other key details. For children under eighteen years a "Statement of Arrangements" is submitted to a County Court; the Court staff send out copies and ask your spouse to complete an "Acknowledgement of Service". If the Acknowledgement is properly completed and returned you must next submit the so called "application for Decree Nisi" (including a sworn statement or "Affidavit").
- A Judge considers the application for Decree Nisi. Usually he will certify that the divorce can proceed and set a date for the pronouncement of Decree Nisi.
- Six weeks after the grant of Decree Nisi you can apply for Decree Absolute - that is, the document confirming that your marriage is dissolved.If treated with co-operation, from issue to Decree Absolute is usually six to seven months.
- Attendance at Court is not generally required.
We can help make sense of the laws around divorce so that you can move on with your life.
