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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.
Whatever the reason for wanting to know how to annul a marriage or seeking an annulment, there are only specific ‘grounds’ under which a marriage can be annulled. In this insight, we’ll take a closer look at the grounds for annulment and the process involved in getting a marriage annulled.
By saying you wish to annul a marriage you are saying that, from the beginning, the marriage was not legally valid. You are effectively ‘cancelling’ the marriage.
In order to get an annulment, you will need to show either that your marriage was not legally valid (‘void’) or that your marriage is ‘defective’ (‘voidable’).
Marriage’s may be ‘void’ or not legally valid if:
If your marriage turns out to be ‘void’, it will be as if your marriage never took place (in a legal sense). If this applies to you, it may be worth obtaining legal documents to prove that this is the case, as they may be necessary if you want to re-marry, for example.
Marriages can be defective and therefore annulled for various reasons, including:
In order to have a marriage annulled, it is necessary to complete a nullity petition and send two copies of this to a divorce court. This costs £550, at the time of writing this insight.
A solicitor can help you to complete your nullity petition, to ensure that there are no mistakes which could unnecessarily delay the process.
After the forms have been submitted, the courts will then make contact with your spouse. Your spouse then has 8 days to respond.
If they are happy for the annulment to go ahead, a decree nisi can then be applied for, followed by a decree absolute (6 weeks after your receive the decree nisi), also known as a decree of nullity.
After this, your marriage will be annulled.
If the other spouse is not happy for the annulment to go ahead, it may be necessary to go to court.
As family solicitors, we’re often asked whether an annulment of a marriage is possible, rather than a divorce.
In this article, we’ll discuss what an annulment is, when an annulment of a marriage is possible (also known as the grounds for annulment) and the process involved in order to get a marriage annulled.
Sometimes, an annulment is requested because of religious reasons.
Alternatively, those who are not able to get a divorce because they have not been married a year, may want an annulment of their marriage instead.
However, an annulment is only possible in certain circumstances. We will discuss these in detail below.
Annulling a marriage is effectively ‘cancelling’ a marriage. Legally, at least, it will be as if it never took place.
In order to get an annulment, you will have to show either:
• your marriage is not legally valid (‘void’) or
• your marriage is legally valid but is ‘voidable’
Your marriage may not be legally valid (‘void’) – if:
• either you or your spouse were under the age of 16 when the marriage took place
• either you or your spouse were already married or in a civil partnership when you got married
• you and your spouse are close relations
If your marriage is not legally valid, the law sees it as never having happened in the first place. Your marriage will be void.
If you believe that your marriage is not legally valid and, as such, annulment of your marriage is possible, you may want to apply for the paperwork to prove it. This is known as a ‘decree of nullity’.
Annulment can also take place if a marriage is ‘voidable’.
Annulment under this category can happen for a number of reasons, including:
• if, when you married, one of you had a sexually transmitted disease
• if you and your spouse did not consummate the marriage (you have not had sex with each other since you were married) – this is not available for same-sex couples
• if one (or both) of you didn’t properly consent to your marriage e.g. you were drunk
• if the female spouse was pregnant with another man’s child when the wedding took place
• if one spouse is transitioning to a different gender
If your marriage is ‘voidable’, you will need to apply to the courts for an annulment of your marriage. Your marriage will still exist in the eyes of the law until you do this.
In order to apply for an annulment, you will need to complete a ‘nullity petition’ and send two copies to your nearest divorce court.
At the time of writing, this costs £550.
A family solicitor can help you to complete your nullity petition, to ensure that there are no mistakes which could delay the annulment.
Our expert divorce solicitors can help you on how to annul a marriage and advise on a range of legal issues:
For more information call our divorce solicitors on 0845 862 5001 or email mail@austinkemp.co.uk.
Our expert divorce 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 our:
Leeds Office: Princes Exchange, Princes Square, Leeds, LS1 4BY
Sheffield Office: Pinfold Street, The Balance, Sheffield, S1 2GU
Manchester Office: King Street, Manchester, M2 4PD
Wakefield Office: Market Walk, Wakefield, WF1 1QR
Canary Wharf Office: 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5LB
London Office: 01 Nothumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5BW
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.