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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 will explain how to apply for divorce or how to divorce and reveal whether using a divorce solicitor is really necessary.
Before going into detail on how to apply for divorce, you need to understand the basis on which you are able to get a divorce in England and Wales.
You must have been married for at least one year and the UK must be your permanent home (or the permanent home of your spouse) in order to get a divorce here.
As well as working out how to apply for divorce, it is important to understand the ‘why’. In order to file for divorce in England and Wales, your marriage must have irretrievably broken down. This is the only reason you can apply to officially end your marriage.
You will need to prove that your marriage has irretrievably broken down by providing one (or more) of five grounds for divorce. These are:
• Unreasonable behaviour
• Adultery
• Desertion
• Separation for 2 years (with consent from your spouse)
• Separation for 5 years or more (no consent necessary)
Agreeing the grounds for divorce with your spouse before you submit your divorce application to the court, can help to ensure that there are no delays caused by your spouse disagreeing with the grounds further down the line. However, this is not recommended in every instance, so it is important to seek legal advice for your circumstances when discussing how to apply for divorce with your solicitor.
Next, you will need to complete and file (submit) your divorce petition. This is arguably the most important part of the ‘how to apply for divorce’ process, as it is at this moment that the divorce process officially begins.
It is crucial to ensure that your divorce petition is filled in correctly, in order to avoid any unnecessary delays. Once your solicitor has explained how to apply for divorce and you have agreed that you would like to go ahead, they can complete your divorce petition for you under your instruction.
You can find a copy of the divorce petition on the government website, if you would like to look through it before your appointment.
Be aware that when we discuss how to apply for divorce, this does not include financial arrangements with your spouse. The financial side is not dealt with in the divorce proceedings and must be considered separately.
Every divorce is different and no two families’ circumstances are the same. We would highly recommend that anyone wondering how to apply for divorce book an appointment with a specialist family solicitor, such as Austin Kemp, in order to receive legal advice tailored to their circumstances.
Going through a divorce can be an extremely difficult time, both emotionally and financially. Getting an understanding of how to divorce and how divorce proceedings work, as early on in the process as possible, can help to relieve some of the stress and put your mind at rest.
When considering how to divorce, it can be helpful to have an overview of the process.
1. Decide your grounds for divorce
2. Complete your divorce petition
3. Submit your divorce petition to the court
4. Your spouse will receive the divorce application and an acknowledgement of service form
5. Your spouse will have to respond within 8 days
6. If they agree with the divorce, you can apply for the decree nisi
7. If they do not agree with the divorce, they must complete an ‘answer to divorce’ form (if you haven’t sought legal advice already, we would highly recommend you do so at this stage)
8. After you have applied for the decree nisi, the decree nisi will then be pronounced in court (you will be provided with a date for this)
9. Six weeks and one day after the decree nisi is pronounced, you can apply for the decree absolute
10. The decree absolute is the legal end of your marriage
Your divorce petition will include:
• the names and birthdays of any children (even if they are over 18)
• a copy of your marriage certificate
• the name and address of your spouse
There is no legal requirement to have a solicitor in order to get a divorce. You could do your research on how to divorce and deal with the divorce proceedings by yourself. There are also companies offering you information on how to divorce online for a fee.
However, we would highly recommend anyone considering how to divorce obtain legal advice from a specialist divorce solicitor, that is tailored to their circumstances. Getting the right legal advice early on in the process, can help to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays from any mistakes on the divorce paperwork (incorrect grounds, for example).
As well as guiding you through the various stages of divorce proceedings, a solicitor can also help you work towards agreeing a fair financial settlement with your spouse and hopefully avoid a lengthy and expensive court battle. Although the financial settlement is separate to the divorce process itself, it is crucial to deal with how your assets will be split, or you could find yourself in trouble in the future.
A good divorce solicitor can advise you on not only the divorce process itself, but the implications of getting a divorce on, for example, your inheritance and pensions.
Solicitors deal with how to divorce every day and can spot and anticipate any potential problems or delays – and help you navigate through them.
What’s more, using a solicitor means you don’t have to worry about deadlines and paperwork and can focus on moving on with your life.
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
Sheffield Office: Pinfold Street, The Balance, Sheffield, S1 2GU
Manchester Office: King Street, Manchester, M2 4PD
Wakefield Office: Market Walk, Wakefield, WF1 1QR
London Office: 01 Nothumberland Avenue, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5BW
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.