Last year, I wrote a blog about the new divorce law which was due to come into effect in the Autumn of 2021. It has now come into effect and the online divorce portal is up and running
So, what’s new? Well, now, provided one spouse considers the marriage to have broken down irretrievably, that spouse can apply for a divorce online, and it will be granted. The only way the other spouse can “defend” the proceedings, or as it is now termed, dispute, is to show either that the English court does not have jurisdiction to deal with the case or to question the validity of the marriage at all
There is now provision for a joint application for a divorce, which can be used where both spouses can communicate civilly. Otherwise, one spouse issues an application and then there is a wait of 20 weeks. After 20 weeks, the court will issue a “conditional order” and six weeks and one day later, the applicant can apply for a final order and that is the divorce concluded
It is important to remember that there will probably be financial issues that need to be dealt with so getting divorced, although simplified, does not end financial ties and I would urge anyone going through divorce to obtain early advice on the financial implications. I am always here to help