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Divorce is difficult. We’re here to help you untangle the knots.
Our family law solicitors offer a range of legal services dealing with children’s matters.
We help make the financial side of getting a divorce as simple as possible, whilst retaining what you deserve.
Our international divorce lawyers regularly advise on cases involving complex international aspects.
The breakdown of a relationship can often be a difficult and emotional time. Our separation and divorce lawyers support and offer advice on pre-civil partnership agreements, post-civil partnership agreements, civil partnership dissolution, and finances when a civil partnership ends.
Our family law solicitors are experienced in providing support for families experiencing difficult changes in their lives, including breakdowns in relationships and changes to family life.
At Austin Kemp, we’re here to help. Find out more about the divorce process, and other key information with our vast resource section.
Our industry-first Divorce Report combines numerous data sources and internal research, to bring you this specialist report.
Our expert divorce lawyers have listed questions which are commonly asked by our clients, to which we have provided an answer.
Our legal videos break down the complexity and jargon within our profession.
Our Legal Brochures detail the process for each area of Family Law. Download your brochure and learn more about what is involved in this complicated legal topic.
Our Legal Experts have written insights to help you navigate divorce and family law.
Thoroughly excellent service provided via Wikivorce. Was slightly apprehensive of how it would all work, especially at a distance. However, they were swift, efficient, immensely polite, accurate, and gave regular updates. I would recommend them to anyone.
Can't fault my experience in any way. Brilliant advice / available at short notice for any questions and most importantly swiftly achieved the desired result. Found Austin Kemp after feeling HCB Solicitors were not acting in my best interests and I was correct on all fronts - even including having an appreciation for the fact Divorce is already emotional situation. Also, rather than have to query every suggested next step and be charged for the pleasure; As I'd done a little research of my own and was able to challenge their advice - however we pay Solicitors for their expertise and need to put our trust in them. Austin Kemp thankfully achieved that for me during our first conversation I was already reassured they understood what I wanted and how best to achieve it. Resulting in 7-8 months less work and no court appearances as I had been previously advised by HCB. I THANK YOU DEARLY AUSTIN KEMP. I can start my life again earlier and with a healthier bank balance because of you!!!
Amazing service. For the first time in nearly two years I feel less in a spiral and more in control.
Thoroughly professional, straightforward, timely and reasonably priced. I would recommend this firm to anyone. Thank you Emma and Austen Kemp for a great service.
Thank you so much. You were great. I wasted so much time and money with my previous solicitors and only regret I did not contact you earlier. I have dropped a line to Paul to thank him for referring me to you. I hope you enjoyed the red I sent you as a token of our appreciation.
Austin Kemp provides a pragmatic and honest approach to the individual's journey through Family Law issues. They demonstrate a willingness and capacity to respond to challenging and unpredictable circumstances. The professional, yet personal, service is naturally client centred, but with a realistic and informed view of children's needs. And it has been heartening to have such a caring team walk beside me in the long journey.
I cannot recommend highly enough Austin Kemp as a strong, commercially intelligent and the most effective negotiators. Their negotiation skills are second to none. I have seen firsthand the excellent results this team achieves for their clients.
Just want to say thanks so much for everything. You have been brilliant and very patient. I always felt comfortable calling when asking to clarify certain points of the divorce.
I can honestly say that I am more than satisfied with the management of my case and of my then state of mind. I highly recommend this firm. Thank you.
Amandeep Kooner was not prepared to be swayed from a path of professionalism to accommodate my anxiety and frustration. He would not succumb to taking instructions tit for tat response. He ensured at all times that the response he gave reflected a dignified client with a pleasant demeanour. In so doing he demonstrated his commitment to protect and secure my interests and dignity off which I am most grateful.
Although he has a dual approached role which is business and a duty of care, Amandeep Kooner showed concerns for the level of expenditure that I had already put out with no resolve. His team contained the work to the minimum and produced the maximum results. My case was quickly progressed without compromising compassion and understanding.
Very professional service! Explained everything they were doing for my case every step of the way and really helped me to understand how we would proceed. Thank you!
Intellectually bright, hardworking and extremely professional - Amandeep Kooner took my case at it most difficult as I had come to the end of my ability to remain calm and patient. Up until I instructed Austin Kemp, I had lost all hope that any solicitor could convince me in pursuing a non-retaliatory approach as I was losing ground to allegations and fabrications. Tough, hardworking and extremely professional.
In this article, we’ll explain what the divorce petition is and how to file it.
The divorce petition is essentially a divorce application. In order to start the divorce process, one spouse must complete and file the divorce petition.
As long as everything is correct on the form, the divorce petition is then sent out to the other spouse.
The person who files the divorce petition is known as the petitioner. The other spouse is known as the respondent.
You will need to have been married for one year or more in order to file a divorce petition. It is not possible to get a divorce if you have been married for less than one year.
You will need to prove that your marriage has irretrievably broken down.
There are five grounds – or reasons – for divorce:
• Unreasonable behaviour
• Adultery
• Desertion
• Separation for 2 years or more (with consent from the other party)
• Separation for 5 years or more (no consent necessary)
You will need to give one or more of these reasons.
Your solicitor should be able to advise you which grounds for divorce are most suitable for your circumstances.
Yes, a divorce petition can be withdrawn and the divorce stopped at any point before the decree absolute.
Yes, divorce petitions can be returned. Usually, this happens due to errors or omissions on the divorce petition.
For example, a divorce petition can be rejected if a marriage certificate has not been included. Equally, if there are any mistakes on the form itself, such as an incorrect place of marriage, this can also cause a divorce petition to be rejected.
A divorce petition being returned can slow down the divorce process. Getting a solicitor to check over your divorce petition or help you complete the form, can help to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays to the process caused by mistakes on the divorce petition.
You can apply for a divorce online or via the post.
There is a £550 fee to apply for a divorce.
Your divorce petition will be checked and if it is correct, you will be sent a case number, a copy of your divorce petition stamped by the divorce centre and a notice that your divorce petition has been issued.
Your spouse will be sent the divorce petition and an acknowledgement or service form. They will then need to respond to your petition, stating whether they agree with the divorce or not. The next step, all being well, is the decree nisi.
It is vital that your divorce petition is completed correctly or your divorce may be delayed. You will need to prove that your marriage has irretrievably broken down, otherwise you may not be able to get a divorce.
A Divorce petition can be difficult legal document to deal with. With news that divorce rates peak after the summer and Christmas holidays, it seems that now is the time that many people, unhappy in their relationships, might be starting to think about filing for divorce.
A divorce petition is one of the first legal documents in the divorce process. Written by the petitioner and then sent on to the respondent through a Divorce Centre, a petition signals the beginning of the official divorce process – and it’s important to get it right. If you want to avoid any unnecessary delays at this stage of the divorce process, there are some things you should pay real attention to.
Last year, Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) reported that 40% of petitions are returned because of errors. Understanding the common pitfalls and filling in the petition correctly first time means that your workload isn’t added to in an already stressful and emotional time.
Avoiding these common errors when filling in the forms for your divorce petition can save you a great deal of time. If a petition has to be returned to you for alterations or additions, the process can take several months, eating into valuable time when you could be moving towards finalising your divorce.
Should you be contemplating completing your divorce petition yourself, we would advise you to speak to one of our expert divorce lawyers to avoid any of the common errors and resultant delays.
For more information on this subject please visit our Legal Library.
Our expert family law solicitors can help you with a range of legal issues relating to divorce, including:
For more information call our divorce solicitors on 0845 862 5001 or email mail@austinkemp.co.uk.
Our expert family law solicitors offer a nationwide service. We have client meeting office facilities available, in order to have face-to-face client meetings / conferences as and when required in:
Leeds Office: St Andrew House, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 5JW
Wakefield Office: Market Walk, Wakefield, WF1 1QR
Halifax Office: Old Lane, Halifax, HX3 5WP
Huddersfield Office: Northumberland Street Huddersfield, HD1 1RL
Coventry Office: Warwick Road, Coventry, CV1 2DY
Canary Wharf Office: 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LB
Please contact us for more details.
Find out how we can help you, call us on
0333 311 0925 or email us today.
We offer a free initial consulation for your peace of mind.